‘Yet I will exult in the Lord , I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.’ Habakkuk 3:18-19
These are the last 2 verses of Habakkuk. Chapter 3 is Habakkuk’s worship to the Lord. In chapter 1, he is crying out to God to do something about the violence that plagues Judah. The nation has fallen into debauchery, brother behaving wickedly toward brother, violence, adultery, idol worship and the like. Habakkuk pleads with God to intervene. Sound familiar?
However, when God reveals, to him, His plan of bringing the Chaldeans to destroy and displace the people, Habakkuk is taken aback. He had prayed and pleaded for God’s intercession, then questions His methods. There are righteous amongst them, surely it is not fair to destroy the righteous with the wicked. God is most assuredly a just God and therefore makes provision. He will protect those that are carried away with the wicked and in time a remnant will return. God gives him a warning to inscribe and present to the people, that fear might envelop them. But, he also states “the righteous shall live by his faith”. Habakkuk obeys and submits to God then responds in worship and supplication, trusting that God’s way is good, just and necessary.
When I read this book, I wonder how often I pray and then question or doubt God’s response to it. Too often, I believe, I pray for His intercession, then don’t like His response. I want it my way, in my timing, on my terms. Even if what I am praying for is seemingly selfless and with good intentions, how arrogant is it to believe that I know a better route and means to resolution than God.
God, I want to exalt you and rejoice in the God of my salvation. Forgive me for doubting You, or resisting Your course and means. I will strive to live by faith. Amen
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy
