TUESDAY, 2 APRIL 2024
TEXT:
Habakkuk 1:1-11
1.
The oracle (a burdensome message-a pronouncement from God) which Habakkuk the
prophet saw.
2.
O LORD, how long will I call for help And You will not hear? I cry out to You,
“Violence!” Yet You do not save.
3.
Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness? For
destruction and violence are before me; Strife continues and contention arises.
4.
Therefore, the law is ineffective and ignored And justice is never upheld, For
the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore, justice becomes perverted.
5.
[The LORD replied,] “Look among the nations! See! Be astonished! Wonder! For I
am doing something in your days- You would not believe it if you were told.
6.
“For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans [who rule in Babylon], That fierce
and impetuous nation Who march throughout the earth To take possession of
dwelling places that do not belong to them.
7.
“The Chaldeans are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate
with themselves and are defined only by their decree.
8.
“Their horses are swifter than leopards And keener than [hungry] wolves in the
evening, Their horsemen come galloping, Their horsemen come from far away; They
fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.
9.
“They all come for violence; Their horde of faces moves [eagerly] forward, They
gather prisoners like sand.
10.
“They make fun of kings And rulers are a laughing matter to them. They ridicule
every stronghold And heap up rubble [for earth mounds] and capture it.
11.
“Then they will sweep by like the wind and pass on. But they will be held
guilty, They [and all men] whose own power and strength is their god.”
(Amplified Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
WHEN RIGHTEOUS PRAYERS SEEM UNANSWERED
Prophet
Habakkuk was frustrated by the seeming refusal of God to answer the prayers he
had been offering for His intervention in a society full of violence,
injustice, strife, corruption and many other evils just as we are experiencing
today.
Judah,
an assumed nation of God’s people, had been suffering under wicked leaders and
in the hands of neighbouring nations.
The
prophet asked, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?”
This is similar to believers’ prayers to God without the anticipated outcome.
Instead
of a positive response, read God’s word to the prophet in vs. 5-11 and note how
confused he was about His plan to further deal with His people using a more
wicked nation.
When
God wants to punish or discipline His disobedience children, He can use anyone
or anything to achieve His purpose.
QUESTION:
Are you perplexed and confused that while we are experiencing the pains of
injustice, it seems the prayers of the saints are not being answered.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, grant us the grace not to fall under Your wrath when You judge
a nation that refused to turn away from sin. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
No comments:
Post a Comment