Habakkuk: Life-Giving Hope
Monday Morning Commentary
Yesterday, Pastor Craig delved into the major mission of the minor prophet Habakkuk. Unlike other prophets whose words are directly spoken to God’s people, Habakkuk presents us with a dialogue between the prophet and God. Habakkuk lived in a time of social and economic crisis due to Israel’s captivity. His hardship led him to ask God bold questions that generations have continued to struggle with:
1. How am I going to make it through this season? Habakkuk 3:17
2. God, where are you? I thought you loved us? Habakkuk 1:2-3
3. God, how is this fair? Habakkuk 1:13
And what does God answer when He is doubted and questioned? He answers!
His answer is that He is working to show forth His glory to the nations. Habakkuk 1:5; 2:14 – the salvation of humanity is always the driving force behind the acts of God. Out of human suffering God displays his glory. In God’s eyes, your pain is worth it if it brings others to Christ! The price of God’s purpose is often pain. If you want to escape pain, you do so at the cost of God’s purpose.
His answer is that He is leading you to live by faith and not by sight. Habakkuk 2:4 – you must begin to allow your focus to be on God’s overall intent of showing forth His glory for the sake of the salvation of others if you are going to be able to endure the pain. Jesus was so wrapped up in the purpose of God attached to His suffering that He was able to endure pain. The purpose ministered hope and joy to Him and it empowered Him to suffer; but not just to suffer – to overcome!
His answer is that He is on the throne! We are not innocent people suffering (redeemed and forgiven people still suffer the consequences of a fallen humanity). But God, is not short on power. God has authority over your pain! He will not allow it to overcome you. Instead, He will use it to grow you. There are aspects of the nature and character of God that you can only learn and experience through suffering. Hope then can exist alongside grief.
We must learn to live in hope!
Hope is a choice – Habakkuk 3:18 – “yet I will rejoice” – make the decision to hope because you know God is on the throne. Make a decision to hope because God is working to demonstrate His glory and power through your life!
Hope comes from remembering and repeating – Habakkuk 3:3-15 – your spiritual health is directly determined by how often you review the benefits of your salvation and the God behind it all.
The heights of hope come from the depths of faith – Habakkuk 3:19 – God is your joy and God is your strength.
Hope in the future leads to prayer in the present – Habakkuk 3:1-2 –consistently pursue His presence and you will consistently be filled with hope.
If you are in a difficult season, be like Habakkuk and ask God about it. His answers are not always what we expect or want to hear but when received bring peace. God is a good Father who wants to bring hope in the midst of despair. Allow the Lord to help you learn to hope in Him over and over ag