O LORD, I have heard of what you have done, and I am filled with awe. Now do again in our times the great deeds you used to do. Be merciful, even when You are angry. Habakkuk 3: 2, Good News Bible.
Gracious God, we are truly filled with awe when we consider how great is Your love for us. We experience it every day. We come once again to hear from You. Please speak to us we pray, in the holy name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ! Amen.
We have finally come to the message of mercy in this dialogue between Habakkuk and the LORD. Yesterday we ended on the note when Habakkuk speaks from his own knowledge of God. The truth of the matter is, that it does not get any better than that, my friends! We can enjoy the testimony of others. We can rejoice in their victories! But what ultimately satisfies our soul, is what we have experienced on our journey with the Lord! We lived those moments. We remember exactly where we were when mercy found us, and the Lord rescued us! We can actually feel the thrill of the Lord “catching our falling souls” and saving our lives! We take these memories to our grave! No circumstance, or, no one, can take them away from us!
The following dialogue between the LORD and the prophet is perhaps my favorite. I see in this portion of Scripture, the application of Psalm 46: 10: “Be still, and know that I am God” (emphasis provided)! The prophet has questioned, he has reasoned, he has argued. Now he decides to just stand upon the walls to watch and listen to what is coming next, and prepare his answer, as he waits to be corrected! How interesting! “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected” (Habakkuk 2: 1). From this settling down, by the prophet, and waiting to see life from God’s perspective, will come one of the most soothing, most filling, most encouraging, message; I believe, in all Christendom. Many individuals, as well as communities of faith, have found the courage to keep on their pilgrimage, because of its message.
“Then the LORD answered me and said: ‘ “ Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. ‘ “ Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith” ‘ ” (2: 2-4). After listening to God, the prophet prays. Here is a segment of that prayer: “O LORD, I have heard of what you have done, and I am filled with awe. Now do again in our times the great deeds you used to do. Be merciful, even when You are angry. God is coming again from Edom; the holy God is coming from the hills of Paran. His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise. He comes with the brightness of lightning; light flashes from his hand, there where his power is hidden. . . His ways are eternal. . .” (3: 2-4, 6c).
You will notice that our Scripture is a part of that prayer. When God speaks, His mercy shows! The prophet realizes that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3: 9, emphasis provided). It is His mercy that we oftentimes mistake with inaction. We tend to forget that, “indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you—” (Psalm 121: 4, 5a, emphasis provided). Now the prophet breaks into a hymn of faith:
“Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights. . .” (Habakkuk 3: 17-19).
When all seems lost, lay hold on your faith, and live by it! Remember God’s mercy!
NOTE: Some editing has been done to yesterday’s devotional.
Sometimes we read books, articles, Christian Literature, and we just say “hay that’s great.”
But what a true blessing it is when you actually know the author who writes the devotional. As I read, I can almost see you in the pulpit preaching. The nice thing is that, if I did not understand it, I can re-read it.
It is a pleasure knowing you.
God Bless you and your Ministry
Sometimes we read books, articles, Christian Literature, and we just say “hay that’s great.”
But what a true blessing it is when you actually know the author who writes the devotional. As I read, I can almost see you in the pulpit preaching. The nice thing is that, if I did not understand it, I can re-read it.
It is a pleasure knowing you.
God Bless you and your Ministry