Habakkuk's Question

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Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-4 (ESV)

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

2     O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,

and you will not hear?

       Or cry to you “Violence!”

and you will not save?

3     Why do you make me see iniquity,

and why do you idly look at wrong?

       Destruction and violence are before me;

strife and contention arise.

4     So the law is paralyzed,

and justice never goes forth.

       For the wicked surround the righteous;

so justice goes forth perverted.

 

Meditation

            This reading from the prophet Habakkuk is definitely a prayer that God’s people can and should pray today. We as God’s faithful people need to continue to ask these questions of our God until God answers us. We must be like the widow in the Gospel story who kept bothering the judge until she got justice.

            Our world is a violent and dangerous place. It seems like the wicked abound. God’s answer to Habakkuk was that God would send a nation to take Israel into captivity as the punishment for her sins. Let us hope that God does not have to take such drastic action today. The problem of wickedness was Israel’s problem in Habakkuk’s time. So today’s wickedness problem is with the wickedness we do or put up with others doing.

            Let us pray this prayer today and not be afraid of the answer we may receive. This world is in the grip of violence and only the Prince of Peace can save us from ourselves.

            Prayer

            Lord, hear our prayer of complaint. We hear of violence throughout the nations. The crying of the poor and needy of every land for justice reaches our ears. Surly you must hear this as well. Show us today how we participate in this violent world system and bring us to repentance. Help us to show others the way of peace by pursuing it ourselves. Make us responsive to your world today. Amen.  

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