Habakkuk: Hope Beyond the HeadlinesNäide

PRAYER & PRAISE FUEL HOPE

Recall Habakkuk’s initial complaint to God regarding the sins of his own people, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?” (Habakkuk 1:2-3, NIV). In his dialogue with God, Habakkuk has shown us how to be honest in prayer, how to humbly receive the word of the Lord, and how to remember the Lord’s faithfulness and mercy.

In Habakkuk’s final prayer, he reviews the events of the Exodus, considering the mighty work of salvation that God had done for his people. Perhaps God gave Habakkuk a vision of the Exodus events, or perhaps his meditation was so earnest that he was able to put himself in the shoes of those who had witnessed these things. Either way, his reaction in verse 16 tells us that Habakkuk is completely overcome by the power and wonder of the God who, at the right time, defeats injustice with perfect justice.

God hasn’t changed his plans- Israel will suffer the consequences of their sin and idolatry. But God had promised that Israel will be delivered and her enemies will be defeated. Imagine Habakkuk lifting his head to gaze at the land and the people around him. Even if everything he sees is destroyed by the Babylonians, he has the promise of the Lord that salvation will come. Habakkuk uses prayer and praise to fuel hope for the future. He won’t get to see Jesus face-to-face in his lifetime, but he points all of God’s people to the Savior.

Even if you lose your job. Even if you get the dreaded phone call. Even if the doctor has bad news. Even if that friend betrays you. Even if it rains endlessly. Even if it feels like the whole world has gone dark. Even then, Habakkuk teaches us to rejoice in the Lord, for He is our Savior.

Pause to Pray: Prayer and praise will fuel your hope in God’s goodness, mercy, love, and faithfulness. Make Habakkuk’s prayer your prayer by replacing the bold words and phrases with your own circumstances:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:17-19, NIV

Take a Next Step: Write out your prayer and place it where you will see it so that you will remember to pray and praise.

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