The blog below was inspired by this episode of “What’s God Doing”

What would it look like for the awareness of glory of the Lord to fill the whole earth?

That really is a good question. Has anyone read the book of Habakkuk? Lets take a look at this together, shall we…

Imagine a cozy home. A man kneels on the floor. This man lived in the time of the Good King Josiah when the kingdom of Judah prospered and was blessed by God because of this king. Yet Habakkuk was now seeing their downfall. He cries out to the Lord in discouragement, “do you hear me Lord? I have been begging you for years to do something about these people! They are destroying our land with their wickedness. What is to be done? Help us, Lord.”

He waits in silence still not sure if he is heard. Doubts begin to crowd his mind. But he knows who God is and he will not give up.

Finally, his answer comes, but it is not the kind of answer he expected. He begins to tremble as God’s words fill his mind: “I am doing something don’t you see. Look around. I know you won’t believe it but even now the Babylonians are rising up at my hand. They are quick and evil. They are destroying the nations and carrying the people away. They laugh at the strength of other kings for they are stronger and have more skill at war. But they are deeply guilty for they worship their strength and do not honor me.”

Habakkuk is horrified and begins to pace the room, remembering the things he had heard about the Babylonians’ cruelty; he knows his people are wicked, but they are one hundred times worse. He had heard how they build ramps to climb into the cities; they treat the captives like they aren’t even human, stringing fishhooks through their noses and leading them away. The Israelites are still Gods chosen people, aren’t they? Why can’t God just change the hearts of the people again, or send a new good king. That worked before, did it not? He could not possibly mean to use Babylon! Should they not have a worse judgment coming to them? They do not even worship the one true God. What was He planning to do? We could not possibly be deserving of the kind of destruction that Babylon would bring!

Finally, he brings his complaint before the Lord, kneeling down again and spreading out his hands: “Oh, Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal… surely, you don’t plan to wipe us out? You are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people who are more righteous than they? They will probably worship they things they use to capture us. Will you let them get away with their evil forever and will their conquest succeed forever?”

This time as he waits for the Lord to respond, he goes to his post in the gate watchtower. He looks out over the land, pondering all the troubling things the Lord spoke to him. He wonders if being a watchmen he would see this great army with his own eyes. Would he himself die by the hands of his enemies? He could almost see them now as he watched. Fear griped him.

Then the Lord answered him, “Look around you and write this down; this will be a message to the people. See the proud, how they trust in themselves and scheme wickedness.” As he looks from his tower the things he had been telling God about his people play out before his eyes. As he hears God’s words, he begins to understand and get a glimpse of how God sees His world. ‘See the proud,’ God had said; not “your people”, not the Babylonians, but the proud. Rich men in the streets yelled and bullied the poor that asked for help. An innocent man was being stoned for the sins of another. A man shamelessly sells his carved idols to crowds. A women collects a large sum of money for a house that was worth much less. A young man buries the body of a man he had just killed with his own hands.

Was it not the same? These were also acts of violence and injustice.  Yet his people were God’s People; they were supposed to be different, displaying the character of God.  However there was no difference in the way they acted. All were acting pridefully. “How much longer can this go on?” God asks, returning Habakkuk’s question to him. “Prideful people will get the same things they have done in return and they will stand trembling and helpless. What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained from murder and dishonesty! I have promised their wealth will turn to ashes; they work in vain! For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of My glory. What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, wake up and save us! To the speechless stone images, you say, rise up and teach us! But they are lifeless inside. But I the Lord am in the holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before me.”

Habakkuk falls to the ground in horror and fear, unable to control his trembling. Finally, when he was able to speak, he begged for mercy, “Oh, Lord I have heard all the stories about you and I am in awe of your amazing works. In this time of deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by.” Tears slide down his face as he envisions the destruction of him home and nation. “And in your anger, remember your mercy.” He begins to sing praises to God, reminding God of His past mercies as he also reminds himself who God is. “God, you destroyed the nations to protect your people before. Your splendor fills the heavens and the earth is full of Your praise. Your majestic glory is so brilliant, and Your power cannot be hidden. You have caused plagues and natural disasters. The nations tremble before You. You are the Eternal One! You saved Your people, Your anointed ones, parting waters and making them. You stopped the sun and defeated our enemies with Your powerful mighty hand.”

After all this, he resolved to wait quietly for this time God foretold, even though he knew the hardship that was to come. His story ends with this…

“Yet I will rejoice in the lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”
Habakkuk 3:18-19

This is but one instance of how God has and will show His glory to the world. Often in the Bible it comes through saving His righteous people while judging another, in other times everyone is judged. Yet throughout the whole Bible He shows His desire and plans to display His glory through the people He created and loves. He wants to display His glory by having relationship with us and shining through us with the story He is writing through our lives.

This story of Habakkuk really shows God’s sovereignty and how He sees the world; I also see His heart for the people who are victims of injustice and how offensive that is to the Lord.

I would encourage you to read Habakkuk for yourselves, for I took creative liberties with it. As you read it tell us how you see the glory and character of God displayed in his story. Don’t forget to watch the video!

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