The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Habakkuk 1-3
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Background Information: Habakkuk 1-3
In the final decades before Israel’s fall to Babylon, the prophet Habakkuk addresses God, not the people. First, he asks, “Why, don’t you do something about all this evil?” God answers by saying he will send Babylon to judge the sins of the people. This answer created the second question, “Why Babylon? They are even worse than us!” God then says, “I will judge Babylon as well.” This is how the cycles of history have gone and will go until the end of this age. Nations will rise and fall as they all become “Babylon-like” in their rebellion against God. God will judge the nations even as he uses them for his own larger purposes. This macro answer often isn’t all that helpful, as we live in the micro struggles of our day-to-day lives. The large epic movements of God among the nations can simply be too much for our minds to take in, as we live in simple moments. Habakkuk gets one macro movement answer from God that provides hope in his micro moment questions. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the water covers the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14). Our question is often, “God, why don’t you do something about this?” God’s answer to us now is, “I have done something– look to Jesus on the cross and see the empty tomb.” His answer is also, “I will do something–look to his return, when all will be made right.” From Habakkuk’s valley of discouragement, God provides a view from the mountain top. This new perspective shows up in his magnificent confession of faith:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord;
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!
Habakkuk 3:17-19
There in the details of his agrarian life, with failed crops and empty stalls, he is determined to worship and trust God. He will rejoice in his salvation, though his day-to-day life is filled with want and lack. He has been given a view from the heights that enables him to live in the strength of the Lord. See God’s larger movement in your small, daily moments. Right perspective empowers righteous perseverance.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for Joey & Lia as they adjust to their new location in South Asia. Pray for God to soften their landlords’ and neighbors’ hearts toward the gospel.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.