“Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, Thou hast ordained them for judgment; and O mighty God, Thou hast established them for correction.” Habakkuk 1:12
The moral and spiritual conditions in Israel, in Habakkuk’s day, were similar to those in our world today. Habakkuk characterizes them in this way: “…for spoiling and violence are before me,” “…the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth,” and “…the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefor wrong judgment proceedeth.” (1:3,4) Faithlessness always results in lawlessness and decline, and this is because the true Object of faith, Christ, does not respond to this attitude except in order to correct it, and bring the believer back to faith. Faith is essential, and God’s certain way of blessing and Life, for God always responds to it, intervening in the circumstance, whether in an individual life or in a nation, to bring about His kingdom, and His will. It most certainly could be said that the blessing of God, and the doing of the will of God, are synonymous terms, for both unveil and provide for the intervention of God. The condition of Israel in Habakkuk’s day was one of faithlessness, hence, the manifest presence of God was known little. The result, and consequence, of such a circumstance is God’s corrective intervention. The disturbing issue for Habakkuk was that God would use the Chaldeans to administer the correction, a people who were ruthless. Habakkuk writes of them: “They shall come all for violence.” (v.9) “…He shall pass over, and offend, imputing his power unto his god.” (v.12) In other words, God would use an ungodly, cruel, and violent people to humble Israel, in order to shatter her false, sinful ideas and attitude of heart, this to reveal to her that her only salvation is in God alone. The objective of the Lord is to bring Israel again to this: “The just shall live by his faith.” (2:4) Habakkuk intercedes for His people, by praying for God to “revive His work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” (3:2) What now does Habakkuk do to face and endure the coming storm?
After the revelation of God to Habakkuk concerning the coming invasion by the Chaldeans, Habakkuk turns to the Lord in prayer. The first thing this man does is take a stand of faith, one that is according to the truth of the nature and character of God. He writes: “Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One?” (1:12) Habakkuk comes to God in all honesty, according to the truth of His character and nature, declaring his own position of faith in Christ, and right relation to Him: “O Lord MY God, MINE Holy One.” Here is a man rightly oriented with God, who comes in faith on the basis of the truth of who God is, and what he is to God. Habakkuk addresses God using the truth of what God has revealed to Him of Himself: “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.” Here is the beginning of Habakkuk’s plea, the appeal to Him to refrain from using the Chaldeans to administer His rod. The problem with this, at this time, is that Habakkuk does not grasp the extent to which Israel has fallen.
Habakkuk then proceeds to be very specific in seeking God concerning the situation, especially as he is willing to see and accept God’s perspective in the matter. He sets himself upon the tower, calling unto God, to speak to him. God does respond clearly, and tells him to write down what He reveals, so that there will be a “righteous” response to His will and way. The one who will live by faith will “run” in response to the vision, and its certain accomplishment. The pressure of the coming storm, and the present revelation of it, will either cause disarray, or, if believed and embraced, will be used to thrust the believer forward, giving him stability in it.
O our Father and God, Be Thou our shelter and pathway in the storm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.