Habakkuk Provides Our Answer

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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If you’re like me, you groan under the weight of the level of evil and corruption in the USA and throughout many areas of the world. It’s as though a thick, dark cloud has increased to the point of almost completely blotting out the sun. As Christians, we long for a respite and we look desperately for justice. Unfortunately, to us, it seems as though justice is the furthest thing from happening.

Aside from everything we have previously highlighted that works against the global economy, there is the constant growth and display of moral depravity and decay that has deeply affected us with lassitude. We are tired, fatigued, fighting against listlessness. We experience diminished energy that affects us to our bones, though we try to keep looking up.

Aside from all the truth coming out about the pandemic, its origins and deliberate healthcare mistakes, as well as the struggling economy, the Bidens and other politicians are free to continue doing what they do. According to MarcoPolo Telegram channel[1], which has published a full downloadable copy of the Hunter Biden laptop contents (you know, the one that 50 top tier people in DC said was Russian disinfo, but it is not), it is clear that Hunter lived outside the law and not only got away with it, but was rewarded handsomely for his efforts to the tune of millions of dollars, along with father Joe and other members of the Biden clan also benefited monetarily. Much of what Hunter Biden allegedly did was with foreign governments in exchange for access to Joe, first as Vice President and then as President. Hunter apparently had dealings with President Xi of China who wanted to buy/invest in an energy company in the USA.

BREAKING – President Joe Biden’s brother, James Biden, told FBI agents that Hunter Biden and the Biden family attempted to help a Chinese energy company purchase U.S. energy assets while believing the Chinese company’s chairman was directly tied to Chinese President Xi Jinping.[2]

So much is literally out in the open with nothing being done to deal with it that frankly, moral people have grown weary. We wonder why God seems to be doing nothing at all. Is He blind? Is He deaf? Is He completely unconcerned about all the corruption throughout our government that is seemingly purposefully destroying America, with the same thing happening in other countries throughout the world? Why does God seem so silent and without concern?

When we turn to the prophet Habakkuk, we get our answer. The book of Habakkuk is composed of three short chapters. Robert Lee, in his The Outlined Bible breaks it down like this:

1. The First Conversation (Habakkuk 1:1-4)
   1. Lord’s neglect of the prophet’s prayers
   2. And apparent indifference to sin and suffering
2. God’s Reply (Habakkuk 1:5-11)
   1. He was about to do something incredible
   2. He would use the Chaldeans to chastise Israel for their sin
   3. God gives a graphic sketch of the Chaldeans
3. The Second Conversation (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1)
   1. Prophet declared his difficulty to believe that…
      1. The Eternal and Holy God…
      2. Could chasten a sinful people by a people more sinful
      3. And permit them to catch men as fishes when they glorified themselves
      4. The prophet’s patience was failing
4. God’s Reply (Habakkuk 2:2-20)
   1. God told the prophet to write very plainly what God was about to say
   2. What God was about to do would come to pass
   3. Those counted righteous through their faith would be preserved from those terrible sorrows
   4. And then God gives five woes against the Chaldeans
5. Prophet’s Hymn and Doxology (Habakkuk 3)
   1. Habakkuk prays that God would revive His delivering grace
   2. And that, in the execution of judgment, He would remember mercy
   3. Then Habakkuk gives a description of the majesty of the Lord at Sinai and in going before Israel to possess Canaan
   4. Remembering all of this brings rest to the prophet’s soul
   5. And a renewed confidence in God

As I read through those three chapters this morning, I was struck with one thought: If God chose an evil foreign nation like the Chaldeans to chastise Israel for her sins (and this happened roughly five years after Habakkuk wrote), why would He not do the same with any nation that also adopted the same type of immoral standards?

How can God continue to ignore what is happening throughout America? How can He simply turn His face away from the many egregious and continued moral failures of this country? Corrupt people in charge, who at every turn, chip away at the rule of law, have reduced America to virtual ruins. These people don’t care what happens to the average American citizen as long as they can enrich themselves. They are sold out to foreign interests and have no qualms about raking in millions for quid pro quo, which destroys the autonomy of the United States of America.

So what is God doing? I’ve noted before that America is on a collision course with God’s judgment and if that is the case, it is highly probable that God will use a foreign foe to chastise America; a foreign foe even more wicked than those who currently run America. Why would He not do this considering this is how He has meted out judgment in past history? It is so clear from many instances in His Word. While God may solely judge America economically, it appears that war may well be part of the picture too.

So while the first two chapters of Habakkuk paint a dismal picture of Israel and her sins as well as her coming judgment, it is also clear that God was not blind to any of it. The nation of Israel had become exceedingly wicked because wicked people gained power and overruled God’s moral code. Those powerful rulers and the priests of God Most High consented to it and encouraged it among the people. This was likely during the reign of King Jehoakim (609-598 BC), and during the decline of Judah beginning with the death of King Josiah (609 BC).

If America has become incorrigibly evil without restraint – where all sorts of sin and moral depravity are not only allowed but encouraged and even celebrated – then how can America not receive God’s judgment? Do we really believe God will continue to do nothing? God is going to judge the underlying moral problem and it won’t be pretty, but likely painful.

God is fully aware of America’s sins, but His seeming disinterest in doing anything about it is really a sign of His grace and patience. We know He wants no one to perish (2 Peter 3:9). So because of grace, He gives people time to see their error and repent of those errors. However, it often seems God is completely unconcerned about what ails the world. His grace/patience allows things to go for only so long and then He will take action.

The prophet Habakkuk simply could not understand how God would use a ruthless and more evil nation like the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylon), to chastise the people/nation God had personally created. It boggled his mind until He heard from God. God essentially told Habakkuk that He was fully aware of just how wicked the Chaldeans were as a nation, which made them the perfect instrument for punishing Israel for her sins because they would show no mercy. The punishment the Chaldeans would inflict on the Israelites would be very difficult and painful.

Yet, in spite of this, God held out a promise to those within Israel who were faithful in relying on Him (Habakkuk 2:2-4; emphasis added).

2 Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 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.
4 “Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.

God would not ignore the faithful. He would preserve them in the midst of pouring out His judgment. We are familiar with the statement, “The just shall live by faith.” Paul quoted it numerous times. The Reformation was based on this simple yet deeply profound truth.

Authentic Christians – saved by faith in our Lord’s finished work on Calvary’s cross, and who persevere in that faith – will be preserved with whatever God has in store not only for the USA, but for all the nations of the world. God will punish those who need punishment and preserve those who rely on His mercy. This is the clear message of Habakkuk‘s three short chapters.

As we focus on God’s sublime care and concern for His own, we should take great comfort in knowing that God preserves us in the midst of troubling times. In fact, God always preserves us whether we are fully aware of that or not. He preserves us to the day when we will see Him face to face and He preserves us in the midst of all the trials that the enemy can throw at us. This does not mean that we ourselves will not experience difficulties. It means we will not experience His judgment and He will make a way for us to continue to receive His blessings in the midst of His judgment.

I don’t know about you, but my biggest difficulty is when I find myself losing sight of my faith when difficult situations come my way. Some are of my own making and others simply happen. In either case though, my responsibility is to do what Habakkuk the prophet did. That is, to turn my attention from my trial(s) and onto Him who supports me, embraces me, hides me under His wing, and spiritually prospers me. When I can do that, I begin to see the majesty of God, His all-surpassing greatness and how He cares for my soul and my temporal needs.

According to Habakkuk, God will not allow me to go it alone. He is always with me. He is always concerned for me and He always has His best for me as well.

In the midst of coming judgment – whatever it turns out to be – God extends mercy to those who love Him, who are called by His Name, and who are dedicated to serve Him regardless of the temptations and evil of this world.

The entirety of Habakkuk 3 is the prophet’s prayer of praise to Almighty God. The book of Habakkuk ends with these words:

¹⁷ Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

May God grant us insight to embrace these same beliefs, that we will deliberately turn from our difficulties in the days ahead to showering Him with the praise that He fully deserves.

[1] http://marcopolo501c3.org

[2] https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/1707198784894312949

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective