Tag Archives: Habakkuk

Habakkuk: Watching and Waiting on God

Habakkuk: Watching and Waiting on God by Patti Greene, 28 April 2019

As a new believer, one of the first Bible jokes I ever heard was about Habakkuk—a great prophet in the Old Testament.

Q: What Bible character stood on his watch?

A: Habakkuk, because he said, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.” (Habakkuk 2:1)

I’m not sure why I thought that joke was so funny, or whether I was thinking the ancient prophet really stood on a wristwatch. However, it caused me to read The Book of Habakkuk for the first time. And what I learned was a valuable lesson in how God works when we come to Him with heartful prayers during times of stress and anxiety.

About Habakkuk

The author of the book is the prophet Habakkuk. Written between 615-605 BC, we see the prophecies declared during this time come to fruition in the decade to follow.

In Books of the Bible: At a Glance, a short summary of the book’s three chapters states, “Habakkuk cried out to God during a very dark time in Israel. [He] likely prophesied in the first five years of King Jehoiakim’s reign…The Assyrians had control of the Northern Kingdom (Kingdom of Israel) after a brutal invasion more than 100 years earlier. Habakkuk preached from the Southern Kingdom (Kingdom of Judah), which was still intact but less than 50 years away from its own invasion by Babylon that destroyed the Temple.” ¹

In Chapter 1, Habakkuk questioned God when he saw injustice and violent behavior unpunished. Furthermore, he could not understand why evil Chaldeans were being used to punish Judah. His complaining to the Lord, and God’s reassurance to wait for an answer, led him into Chapter 2, where God is revealed as a righteous God with a purpose for doing what He was doing. In closing, the book’s final chapter consists of a faithful prayer by Habakkuk that contains a compelling argument that, with faith, God can work in any situation or circumstance.

Besides my personal favorite verse of Habakkuk 2:1 which is noted above, there are other vital and Spirit-led verses that walk us through the book of Habakkuk. Henceforth, the following verses should give you the gist of what transpired in the book.

Habakkuk and God’s Dialogue—Chapters 1 and 2

Habakkuk: How long, O Lord, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save. Why do You make me see iniquity, and cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises. (Habakkuk 1:2-3)

God: Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days—You would not believe if you were told. (Habakkuk 1:5)

Habakkuk: Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look on wickedness with favor.
Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they? (Habakkuk 1:13)

Habakkuk: I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. (Habakkuk 2:1)

God: For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3)

God: [God continues with how the righteous will live by his faith. Furthermore, God communicates five “WOES” against evil people.] (Habakkuk 2:4-19)

Habakkuk: But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him. (Habakkuk 2:20)

Habakkuk’s Prayer—Chapter 3

Habakkuk: Lord, I have heard the report about You, and I fear. O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:1-2)

Habakkuk: Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:18)

Habakkuk: The GOD is my strength. And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet and makes me walk on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:19)

Habakkuk is like many of us. We ask, “How can a holy God stand by and watch evil continue?” God assures Habakkuk that He has everything under control and that He knows what He is doing. All the time while possessing a complaining spirit, Habakkuk continues to dialogue with His Lord God. As their communication continues, we eventually see that their discussion finally leads Habakkuk to a faith in God’s plan that, in His timing, God will deliver His people.

What Truths Can We Learn from Habakkuk?

  1. Communicating with God is beneficial.
  2. Realize God answers us when we pray within His will.
  3. Understand that you can talk to God about anything.
  4. Have faith while waiting on God.
  5. Accept that sin will be punished in God’s timing.
  6. Continue to rejoice during periods of hardship and suffering.
  7. Trust in God to protect us from calamity.
  8. Rest in the LORD while awaiting His answers.
  9. Turn to prayer and praise when frustrated.
  10. Know God is still working out all things for our good even when He is silent.
  11. Be strong when encountering hard circumstances.
  12. Recognize that God is working even when a situation seems dire.

Conclusion

While starting with “What Bible character stood on his watch?” I conclude with another Bible joke.

Q: What Bible character is a locksmith?

A: Zaccheus. (pronounced “za-KEY-us”)

Maybe we will study him next! We shall see.

Bible Verses:

But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31)

But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. (Psalm 5:11)

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I see so much sin and evil in this world. I wonder why You allow it to exist, and to continue indefinitely. Let me remember that You always know exactly what You are doing. Let me trust in You as I patiently wait on Your timetable. And, as I wait, let me rejoice, knowing that Your timing and Your ways of handling what we face in life is best.

God Bless,

Works Cited

¹ Books of the Bible: At a glance. Teach Sunday School. Accessed March 2019.

All verses are taken from The New American Standard Bible.

Edited by E. Johnson

Books by Patti Greene

Christian Caregiving

Christian Caregiving: Practical Advice for a Happy Ending

Devotional Prayer Journals

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer

.@PattiGreene13

 

Down-in-the-Dumps

Have you ever felt down-in-the-dumps, blue, or sad? We all have at some point. So, don’t feel bad when your emotions experience a little melancholy every once in a while!

One morning I noticed that too many of my friends were down-in-the-dumps. I realized they were all experiencing sadness as I was writing down their prayer requests in my prayer journal.

My prayer list that day included:

  • A friend who was dealing with a child getting involved in a deviant and criminal lifestyle;
  • Another friend was grieving over the loss of a close friend whose move was imminent; and
  • My third friend was dealing with a psychiatric situation in her family.

The bottom denominator was that they were all sad – one maybe more than another, but all were feeling blue. So, I thought back to some moments in my life when I was down. I remember being so sad when no one asked me to my senior prom. I remember sitting on my bed around 7:30 p.m. that night thinking about all my friends who were out having a good time. [I was in high school at a time when unaccompanied students did not go to prom, so that wasn’t an option.] Then, when our daughter was not accepted into the college she dreamed about going to her entire life, I felt sad feeling sorry for her.

Most definitions of sadness call it an emotional feeling usually triggered by some kind of a loss, sorrow, disappointment, or helplessness. Many times it is an event that is out of our control that leads us to sadness we wish we could avoid.

Being down-in-the-dumps usually starts rapidly and lasts for a relatively short period of time, while depression is persistent and can last for a long time and can reoccur. While sadness is not the same as depression, it can lead into depression.

Vince Havner, a Southern Baptist preacher, wrote in his book Though I Walk through the Valley, about three different levels of experience that Christians go through. First there are the “mountaintop days”when everything is going well and the world looks bright. These experiences are temporary: they can’t go on forever. It is unrealistic to expect, as many people do, that we can spend life leaping from one mountain peak to another as if there were no plains or valleys in-between. Instead, most of life consists of “ordinary days” when we work at our usual tasks, neither elated or depressed. Then, third, there are “dark days” when we trudge heavily through confusion, doubt, despair, and discouragement. Sometimes these days string out into months or even years before we begin to experience a sense of relief or victory. When they persist, dark days are days of depression.¹

When sadness turns into depression, it is time to seek out help. Many Christian counselors or physicians are trained and insightful to help with your situation.

But, what about those days you just feel a little blue? During these times, I have had people say:

“Don’t feel sad.”
“Just trust God.”
“It’s not that big of a deal.”

And honestly, while those friends may be trying to help, those phrases just don’t work most of the time.

Let’s look at two Biblical examples to see how Jesus and Habakkuk dealt with their sadness.

  • Habakkuk rejoiced when facing an international crisis.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no heard in the stalls, yet I will rejoice I the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19.

  • Jesus wept when Mary and Martha were leading Jesus to see Lazarus’ dead body. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” they said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. John 11:32-35

On a practical basis, what are some things we can do when we are in a slump or are feeling sad?

  • First, look to see if some sin is causing your sadness, and the Lord to forgive you for whatever it may be, i.e. an action, a thought;
  • Cry. Let off some steam;
  • Listen to some calming music;
  • Read the Bible;
  • Exercise;
  • Find a friend to talk to;
  • Continue to eat and drink to keep your strength up;
  • Pray and ask others to pray for you;
  • Realize that with a little time, your blues will fade; and
  • Be grateful for your down-in-the-dump days.

In my opinion, the last suggestion is the hardest to follow. But, per the Mayo Clinic, “Scientists are finding that gratitude . . . not only helps explain a high sense of well-being, but also can be fostered in simple ways to increase happiness and fulfillment.” Interesting how the Bible says the same thing. In Colossians 3:16, scripture says, “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Throughout the day, be thankful for little improvements in your situation, acknowledge that God knows what you are going through, and thank Him for His help in seeing you through this sad and difficult time.

Having a sad day or two does not mean you are not a good Christian. It is just life happening, “. . . but, joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:6.

And guess what? I did end up going to PROM! Not in high school, but as a chaperone at the high school where I worked and my date was the absolute best – It was my husband and best friend. And, my daughter was finally accepted into her dream school. In the end she decided to go elsewhere, which was a blessing, as she went to the college where she met her husband.

On our way to PROM! And, I was so EXCITED!
On our way to PROM! And, I was so EXCITED!

God always knows what He is doing even when we can’t see it. Trust Him always.

Be blessed.

Patti Greene
Bible Verses for when you feel sad:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.1Thessalonians 5:16-18

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:7
Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.Ecclesiastes 7:3
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh.Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4
Prayer:
Oh Lord, help me to remember that periods of sadness will come upon me at times and for various reasons. Give me assurance that you are with me throughout these days. Let me cry if I need to. Let me rejoice as I seek your guidance. Let me be joyful as I strive to look at everything from your perspective. Let me stay in your Word. And, may the Holy Spirit’s presence be upon me daily. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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