When It's Hard To Rejoice

How could Habakkuk find anything to sing and rejoice about and what does that have to do with us?

05/17/16 10:44:am

Have you ever read the book of Job? Because of Job’s suffering, he had some questions for God. Habakkuk, another Old Testament character, also had questions for God. Job was asking why God was punishing him while Habakkuk was asking why God wasn’t punishing the nation of Judah.

Habakkuk was a prophet during the final days of Judah’s history. He witnessed people violate God’s law without any remorse, shame, or guilt. He watched the Israelites act as if God, who had continuously protected and delivered them, didn’t even exist. The first part of the book of Habakkuk records two conversations between God and His prophet. Habakkuk asked God why He was letting the sins of Judah go unpunished. God responds by stating He’s preparing Babylon as a way to punish and judge Judah. Habakkuk then asks God why He would use the Babylonians, a pagan nation, to punish a sinful Judah. God answered by saying that He would punish both Judah and Babylon because sin cannot go unpunished. The book of Habakkuk concludes with a prayer of praise sung by the prophet.

Knowing how bad society was, how could Habakkuk find anything to sing and rejoice about? Everywhere he looked, people were worshipping idols and had no respect for God. We can see many parallels between today and the time of Habakkuk. While we may not have idols in the same sense as the Israelites, we, like the Israelites, allow things to come between us and God. Where you spend most of your time, energy, and money will show what you truly love the most. So how do we rejoice in times that seem dark? The same way as our friend Habakkuk. Habakkuk learned that God is in control. No matter what happens, God is in control. When it seems He isn’t hearing your prayers, take confidence that He does and is answering them in the correct time. He loves us and has not forgotten us. That’s something worth singing and rejoicing over!

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