Do I Have Habakkuk's Resolve in Times of Crisis?
2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost Thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
It doesn't seem to make any sense that God will allow the godless Chaldeans to do what they did. The Babylonians were no less ungodly than the Assyrians. Yet, God allowed the Babylonians to ransack the Assyrians. Nobody missed the Assyrians. Now, the Babylonians had their turn to do chaos as God willed it. The Babylonians finally took over Jerusalem and many men were sent to King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Nebuchadnezzar's father, Nabopolassar, already defeated the Assyrian Empire earlier on. Now, we see how Habakkuk fell into distress as to why the godless Babylonians. The incident caused Habakkuk (or just anyone) to question God's sovereignty with a shadow of a doubt:
2 Art Thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, Thou hast established them for correction. 13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? 14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? 15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
It always made me ask why God allowed such wicked people to violate quarantine guidelines. I look at the news about America and the headlines are so bad. You can see so many people violate health protocol that could've helped lessen the epidemic. You have the wicked demanding for their so-called freedom back when it's not appropriate. You have foolish anti-vaccination campaigners who are spreading misinformation as the COVID-19 vaccine is getting administered. You have people who still look for chaos and organize mischief during the COVID-19 epidemic. God has been allowing it for a reason yet I feel like questioning God. Habakkuk was already feeling doubt in that issue.
Habakkuk 2 then writes about God's answer to Habakkuk. The answer is that God has a reason and that the Chaldeans are soon going to be punished in due time. The fall of the Babylonian Empire happened during the reign of Belshazzar (son of Nabonidus and a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar) when the Persian Empire finally subdued Babylon. Habakkuk started to see his sin of doubt and declared what would be very absurd in human eyes. Psalm 34 also feels absurd, humanly speaking. Yet, Habakkuk decided not to take the highway by complaining but by being thankful to God all the time. It does feel God is being cruel by taking away things. Yet, Job declares in Job 1:20 and 2:10 that God is in charge. Job eventually learned it better upon the end of the Book of Job when God chastised him for his doubt. This really has me thinking why do I keep complaining even when God is still blessing me in some way in the midst of difficulties?
See also:
- A Friendly Reminder to Myself: God Is Still in Control!
- Am I Allowing Petty Insults From Unbelievers to Get the Best of Me?
- Am I Aware That My Bad Temper Doesn't Work God's Righteousness?
- Am I Blessing God At All Times or Only When Something Good Happens?
- How Often Have I Displeased God by Complaining Non-Stop?
- I'm Amazed at God's Longsuffering
- Maybe, Some Losses I Have Today is a Punishment for Self-Righteousness
- My Thoughts on Habakkuk 2:4 and Its Citation in the New Testament
- My Thoughts on Waiting on the LORD
- So Why Am I Getting Surprised and Frustrated Over Life's Trials When God Wills That His Own Must Also Suffer for the Greater Good?
- The Book of Job Helps Me to Be Thankful That God Has a Perfect Purpose for Letting Satan Do What He Does