Jan 8, 2023
Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 2
The book of Habakkuk begins with a heartfelt question as to why God had allowed the protracted sins of the people of Judah to go on, unchecked and unjudged. God gives his prophet a clear, if surprising, answer. He would, indeed, mete out His justice by means of the Chaldeans … a dreaded and fearsome people.
Habakkuk, then, has a second (we might say 'follow-up') question. In light of the fact that the Chaldeans (Babylonians) were more sinful than the people of Judah, Habakkuk asks how God could use them as instruments of divine justice?
God's answer, in Habakkuk 2, highlights both His sovereignty and His justice. Unbeknownst to the Babylonian leaders, by their warring designs, they would be carrying out the plan of the Almighty. Then, at the appropriate time, "The cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you and utter shame will come upon your glory" (Hab 2:16).
The justice of God is on display in this book, both in the destruction of Judah and in the destruction of Babylon. The proper response to the design and hand of God is this … "Let all the earth keep silence before Him" (Hab 2:20).
Nestled into this account is a monumental sentence that is quoted three times in the New Testament (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38) … "The righteous shall live by his faith." In contrast to the wicked people described in this chapter, people who are acceptable to God are people who come to Him in faith, hoping in Him for mercy and for life itself.