Once again I’m late in making my post for the week. While I could say that life has been hectic and my busy pace delayed this post, the truth is I have been too disappointed to write. If your like me the events of the last couple of weeks have left you wondering which way is up. Thank God we know that He is in Control! Still even thought I know that none of the current economic upheavals in our society have caught God by surprise still it’s hard not to feel a disappointment with soaring prices, a weakening dollar, and ever increasing chaos all around us. Anxious looks from people you thought were secure in their faith can erode one’s own sense of protection. Yet again, I acknowledge God is in control and none of this junk surprised Him and shouldn’t surprise us.
Yesterday I was prompted to read the short book of the prophet Habakkuk. Interestingly his society was filled with much of the same shame and corruption that America is in today. Habakkuk boldly asked God why He allowed this situation to continue. God quickly answered and told him in Habakkuk 2:2 to write down the vision so that he could read it to the people at the right time. The Lord told his servant that judgment would come through their enemy, the Chaldeans. The Lord tells him that even though it may be delayed it will surely come.
Habakkuk’s response was like yours and mine. When he heard the message the scriptures say his body trembled and his lips quivered. Rottenness entered his bones. In the terms of our day we could say that he was scared out of his wits and he felt like he was going to puck. However even though news of the coming invasion had left him feeling tired and weighed down, Habakkuk tells us that he could rest because he knew that the Lord’s judgment would be moral and just. He then goes on to sing a song of faith. In John MacArthur’s Study Bible he explains at the end of the book that , “If everything that was normal and predicable collapsed, the prophet would still rejoice. Obedience to the covenant was a requisite element to the enjoyment of agricultural and pastoral prosperity (Deut. 28:1-14). Security and hope were not based upon temporal blessings but on the Lord Himself. This is the essence of Habakkuk 2:4:’ the just shall live by his faith.” Then our Lord gives Habakkuk a beautiful word picture at the very end of the book of feet being like deer’s feet. Even though there would be rocky mountain terrain ahead, the Lord would make him sure-footed and able to climb without his foot slipping. MacArthur goes on to say that, ”Habakkuk’s faith in the Lord enabled him to endure the hardships of the imminent invasion and all his perplexing questions.”
With the Wall Street crashes, inflation, and panic all around us I think most of us can sense the unrest in the air. Like Habakkuk I feel the Lord has called me a deeper faith walk. One of my Sunday School teacher’s Bobby Monet has been leading us in a study of worship leader, Israel Houghton’s book, A DEEPER LEVEL. In one of the later chapters the book discusses Worship and Justice. Israel begins the chapter with a frightening quote from Amos 5:21-24 from the Message Bible. Here God speaks: “I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice – oceans of it. I want fairness – rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want. “
When I read that passage I could hardly believe it was in the Bible. Even though it is a paraphrased version I found it hard to escape God’s blatant call for justice. As Christians we can no longer blame our problems all on the politicians, law makers, and corporate executives. If we look deep inside ourselves we each have at the very least a small root of selfishness. By world standards almost any American would be considered rich. I pray that you take a deep look within yourself as well and examine your response to Justice. In Micah 6:8 the Word says, “He (God) has showed you O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (NIV) Another more familiar version says that we must DO justice. But I like the word ACT because it calls us all to action.
I’m almost haunted by the words in Amos 5:24: “Do you know what I want? I want justice – oceans of it. I want fairness – rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want!” But just as I was about to close this blog entry the Lord showed me another familiar passage found in Isaiah 30:18. In this time of turmoil and stress I sensed that He was reminding us of just who He is and his commitment to us. “And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!” (Amplified Version).
