Posted in Habakkuk

“Silence Please!”

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Often a court official or the chairperson of a gathering, will request “Silence please!” when a judge or magistrate enters a courtroom, or when introducing a special guest or in bringing a gathering to order. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Habakkuk 2:20 GNB

‘The LORD is in his holy Temple; let everyone on earth be silent in his presence.’

Churches Unite for Prayer

There was an occasion during my ministry in Harare, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) that called for silence.

Christians were deeply concerned about the effect the bush war was having upon the economy and safety of the country. At that time Bob Bosworth an itinerant preacher visited our city. He encouraged Christians to devote more time to early morning prayer meetings. After he preached at my own church, the Hatfield Presbyterian Church, we held 5 am prayer meetings in our church hall every morning for a whole week.

A similar meeting was held once a week for all Christians in the Harry Margolis Hall in the centre of Harare (Salisbury at that time). There was an amazing response as hundreds of Christians gathered each week at 5 am. A wonderful uniting of the denominations, everyone there to pray for the Lord to intervene and bring an end to the bloodshed. 

Silence Please!

The coming together of Christians from different persuasions meant that the prayer times became very loud at times. Leaders from the different denominations had a turn in leading the prayer gathering. When it was my turn, I felt that before launching into loud prayers we needed to first focus on the Lord. I quoted Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.” and encouraged folk to be silent and just focus on our gracious and powerful God giving Him honour and glory before presenting our prayer requests. There was an amazing sense of God’s presence amongst us.

  • Do you launch into a prayer list without really getting your focus on our awesome God first?    

It is important that we take time to tune out earthly distractions and endeavour to tune in to the Lord by focussing our thoughts on Him. This may be through a time of praise or listening to music or a time of silence.

The word LISTEN contains the same letters as the word SILENT- Alfred Brendel Share on X

The LORD is in His Temple

By contrast with the lifeless idols we thought about last week, we worship the living and true God. He does not live in man-made edifices but in His heavenly, holy temple.

Whereas the idols remain silent, the living, sovereign Ruler of the universe calls us at times to be silent before Him. We do this out of respect and awe, after all everything belongs to Him, for He created it and us.

“Lord, You are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because You created all things, and through Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11 LITV)

Corporate Worship blocked

It has been a tradition for us Christians to gather each week in a church for a worship service. Most Christians found themselves at a loss when due to the Coronavirus pandemic governments around the world banned all gatherings, including church services.

Church leaderships found new ways to hold services and minister to their members. Many resorted to holding online services and even Bible Studies. Unfortunately, there were some countries and areas, especially in the poorer parts of town, that did not have the finances to purchase the necessary equipment and their parishioners were deprived of opportunities to meet together as a body.

As I write, in most countries even though churches are open for worship, they remain under strict protocol restrictions of wearing masks,  sanitizing one’s hands upon entering the church and observing social distancing. This doesn’t apply to all countries, and with the COVID-10 pandemic, this could change at any point.

There is one thing that has become certain to us all during this time and that is, nothing is ever certain!

Worship a precious moment

  • What is the main motivation for worshipping God?

‘Oh, thank GOD–he’s so good! His love never runs out.’ (Psalm 107:1 The Message)

God deserves our worship because of His amazing love amongst many other benefits.

In one of his devotions, Max Lucado’s wrote:

‘Worship is when you’re aware that what you’ve been given is far greater than what you can give.

Worship is the awareness that were it not for His touch, you’d still be hobbling and hurting, bitter and broken. Worship is the “thank you” that refuses to be silenced. 

Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude offered by the saved to the Savior, by the healed to the Healer, and by the delivered to the Deliverer.’ (In the Eye of the Storm’ – Max Lucado)

Worshipful in Silence?

I am sure that you’ve heard people say ‘I received nothing from that service.’  But is worship really purely about receiving?

If that is true, then it all depends upon the preacher’s message. And the service needs to have as its focus ‘the message’. We should call it a Message Service or a Preacher’s Service.

But we call it a Worship Service. Why?

Surely because the focus is meant to be on the worship of Almighty God. Our purpose for gathering is to express to God the gratitude we feel for His amazing love and provision of salvation from sin.

Max Lucado comments, ‘If worship did nothing for you—it would still be right to do. God warrants our worship.’ (Cure for the Common Life – Max Lucado)

In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul has this to say:

‘This is what I mean, my friends. When you meet for worship, one person has a hymn, another a teaching, another a revelation from God.’ (1 Corinthians 14:26 GNB)

These words indicate that true worship is not a one-man or woman show but those gathered participating in one way or another.

Motivation for Worship

When speaking to the woman of Sychar Jesus indicated that true worship is not focused on a place. (John 4:20-24)

True worship depends upon a person—the person of the Holy Spirit.

‘But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him.

God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth.” (John 4:23,24 Contemporary English Version)

As you come to the end of this study, ask the Holy Spirit now to teach you how to truly focus your worship on the the Father through the Son.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Do You Listen? Or Do You Just Hear?

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Do you respond to every comment or instruction given to you? Why not?

 

Do the words, “I talk to the trees but …”
mean anything to you? The songwriters Lerner and Loewe wrote a song containing these words for the musical ‘Paint your wagon”.
These words sum up what Habakkuk is seeking to get across in our verse for this week. Like the trees, the stars, the breeze, dumb idols lack the ability to listen and hear our requests. Our communication with them is all in vain.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Habakkuk 2:19 GNB

‘You are doomed! You say to a piece of wood, “Wake up!” or to a block of stone, “Get up!” Can an idol reveal anything to you? It may be covered with silver and gold, but there is no life in it.’

  • If you have a pet, I am sure that you have taught it some neat tricks. What are some of the things you have taught your pet to do?

I know that there are times when parents of young children feel frustrated. They talk and talk but the kids often never seem to listen. It’s like talking to a tree … and they never hear you.

Dumbstruck idols

Habakkuk focuses on the foolishness of idolatry. We may be able to teach our pets things. Yet in fact, you can’t teach an idol a single thing.

Our text verse highlights the Lord’s announcement of how stupid it is for the Babylonians to expect their dumb idols constructed out of wood or stone to actually speak to them. Even though these idols had either gold or silver overlays that made no difference. Idols, created and/or manufactured by people, remain speechless, unmoving, unresponsive, unseeing, and powerless.

This foolishness is evident in the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.  (See Kings 18:26-29).

Elijah taunted the prophets of Baal because they worshipped dumb idols. No matter what these Baal worshipers did in trying to coax their gods to bring down fire from heaven to consume their sacrifices there was no response. Regardless of their appearance or material construction, their idols remained lifeless objects.

The Psalmist and idols

In Psalm 135 we read :

“The gods of the godless nations are mere trinkets, made for quick sale in the markets:
 Chiseled mouths that can’t talk, painted eyes that can’t see,
 Carved ears that can’t hear—dead wood! cold metal!
Those who make and trust them become like them.”(Psalm 135:15-21 The Message)

By contrast with these lifeless idols,

“The LORD will defend his people; he will take pity on his servants.” (Psalm 135:14 GNB)

Who will listen?

  • When you have a serious problem and you are seeking guidance who do you first turn to? Your partner, your friend, a family member, your minister?

The prophet mocks the Babylonians because no matter how they tried there was no way their dumb idols could counsel them.

What answer could the Babylonians possibly expect to get from the dumb idols they had made with their own hands?

An idol will certainly make no effort to correct any of us if we become involved in a sinful lifestyle. 

In other words, it is pointless for anyone to seek lasting happiness in anything made by our own hands—in anything other than our almighty heavenly Father.

Conforming to God’s image

God is who He is. Not who we would like Him to be. He is self-sufficient, self-existent and omnipresent. God has His own standards. Therefore we need to conform to His standards. Yet do we sometimes attempt to get Him to comply with our own ideas?

“I know that the Lord is great. That our Lord is greater than all the gods.” (Psalm 135:5 TNIV)

God listens 

Even if the Babylonians spoke, screamed or shouted until they were blue in the face, their gods would not hear them. They couldn’t! They were idols!

By contrast, we have a God who encourages us to be silent and listen for His voice.

Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God. Share on X

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIrV)

In John 5:24, Jesus is quoted as saying:

“It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider.This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.” (The Message)

God hears and answers

Through this step of faith, God promises to hear and answer our requests.

“Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.” (Matthew 11:24 CEV)

“Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.” (John 15:7 CEV)

“The prayer of an innocent person is powerful, and it can help a lot.” (James 5:16c CEV)

Hallelujah! The God we serve is no handmade idol but a living, loving Father who takes an intimate interest in every one of His children and has promised that He will not only hear our prayer but answer in a way that will be most beneficial to us.

Identify one specific issue you need to hear about from God. Ask Him now to provide you with a clear answer. Then this week, keep listening for an answer!

To end on a lighter note, would you like to sing along to the words of the song I referred to at the beginning of this study? As you sing, see God as the “Someone” you’re talking to, and give thanks that talking to God is not at all like talking to the trees!

P.S.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Have a great week!

Posted in Habakkuk

Popular Idols

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Who do you regard as the most popular singing idol of your era?

We are all inclined to have our favourite movie star, sportsman/woman, sports team, singer,  singing group, pastime, whatever. Who or what is your favourite?

The danger arises when we actually idolise that person, that team, that group, that pastime.

In today’s study, Habakkuk speaks about the images the Babylonians idolised.

Habakkuk 2:18 NIrV

‘”If someone carves a statue of a god, what is it worth? What value is there in a god that teaches lies? The one who trusts in another god worships his own creation. He makes statues of gods that can’t speak.

Photo by Chad Kirchoff from Pexels

  • Take a close look at the picture above what do you think is happening?

This could be a photo of a congregation of Christians responding to a Gospel message or worshipping Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alternatively, it could represent folk at a music festival swaying in time with the music coming from the band on the platform.

Maybe even a political gathering.

In effect, one could say that in each situation there is a danger of those gathered worshipping those up front.

Even Christians face the danger of idolizing someone in leadership.

  • I wish I could affect lives as Billy Graham did.
  • If only I was as good at leading a bible study as…….
  • I attend this church because the pastor is so down to earth.

It is so easy for us to become caught up in making idols of performance, publicity, personalities,  personal ability, popularity, pleasure, prosperity.

A created idol

“What you are to a paper airplane, God is to you. Take a sheet of paper and make one  [a paper airplane]. Contrast yourself with your creation. …The thing has no brainwaves. no pulse. It exists only because you formed it and flies only when someone throws it.” (Max Lucado – ‘It’s not about me.’)

No way can an idol created by human hands, be of help to the one who created it. As Max Lucado points out the person who creates is always greater than whatever he has created. It is pure foolishness to believe that a man-made object is able to actively guide and direct humans. Idols cannot speak, so they cannot provide any form of true guidance. 

But then Christians do not make idols and worship them, do they?

  • Do you perhaps have the idol of pagan religion in a prominent place in your home? a little buddha? an African mask?, a Muslim prayer mat? a Koran? I trust you don’t worship that item.
  • But is it wise to even have an object that is worshipped or used by pagans in your home?

“Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. Don’t bow down and worship idols. I am the LORD your God, and I demand all your love.…” (Exodus 20:3-5a CEV)

Idolised objects

  • What about other items that are worshipped by mankind today?

People are often inclined to worship man-made things like motor cars, houses, boats, jewellery, and art. All of us appreciate beautiful and useful things, but to become so passionate about possessing them makes them the centre of our worship.

If you own something you cannot give away, then you don’t own it, it owns you. (Albert Schweitzer - Quotefancy.com) Share on X

A Human idol

  • As I mentioned at the start of this study, we all have an inclination to indulge in hero worship at times. Who do you tend to idolize? Be honest.

A very real area of idolatry is our inclination to focus our attention and admiration on man rather than on God. Famous people such as politicians, sportsmen and women, the wealthy, and movie stars are so readily idolized.

Popularity, success or a high IQ can all become idols too.

Unfortunately, people we care a lot for can also slip into the category of an idol – boyfriend, girlfriend, parent, child, pastor, team leader, marriage partner to the extent that they take the place that only God should hold.

Self-worth is another dangerous area of ungodly worship. We become so absorbed with our self-worth that it upsets us when others don’t show us the respect that we feel we deserve.

Satanic worship

Our adversary the devil is the chief exponent of this degree of self-worship.

In Isaiah 14:12-14 (CEV) we find reference to Lucifer who is identified with Satan. Lucifer was a fallen angel whom Isaiah calls the ‘son of the morning’. He is accused of having tried to be like God. For this pride-filled ambition, he was cast down to the deep world of the dead (Isaiah 14:15 CEV)

Ever since he has sought to thwart any and all human effort to worship the one true God, Satan has enticed us to focus our attention on things, on people, on ourselves. He even tried to get our Lord to worship him.

The devil said to him (Jesus), “I will give all this to you (all the kingdoms of the earth and their power – Matthew 4:8 CEV) , if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ “(Matthew 4:9,10 CEV)

True worship

“Worship humbles the smug and lifts the deflated. Worship adjusts us, lowering the chin of the haughty, straightening the back of the hardened.’ (Spend 365 days reading the Bible with Max Lucado.)

John 4 records how, at a well on the outskirts of the village of Sychar, a woman tried to get into a debate with Jesus over the correct place to worship God.

Jesus response was in effect, the place of worship is not the issue. The important factor is the one who is the focus of your worship. He went on to say,

“But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him.” (John 4:23 CEV)

The Babylonian focus for worship was lifeless, worthless, speechless inactive idols.

The focus of our worship as Christians is not on things or personalities or even ourselves, but the living God, through His Son Jesus Christ. As we open our lives to Jesus we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He then orchestrates and focuses our worship on our gracious Heavenly Father.

God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is.” (John 4:24 GNB)

Take a look around your home. Do you have any objects that are idols in another faith? Should you discard them?

Invite the Holy Spirit now to enable you to worship God and Him only.

P.S. If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Endangered or Entrusted?

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In the beginning ….

So begins the greatest story of creation. (Genesis 1:1)

In the beginning, God created our wonderful world. The crowning act of His creation was mankind. He entrusted us with the task of maintaining this beautiful world and the creatures it contains.

“GOD took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.” (Genesis 2:15 MSG)

“So GOD formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air.He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name.” (Genesis 2:19 MSG)

In the beginning: God entrusted us with a beautiful world

  • Describe a favourite scenic spot that you enjoy visiting whenever possible.
  • Can you think of somewhere you once enjoyed visiting that is no longer available to you? Why is it no longer available?

Let’s see what Habakkuk has to say:

Habakkuk 2:17 TNIV

‘The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.’

Photo by Piotr Arnoldes from Pexels

Deforestation

Our text states that Babylon’s devastation and violence would come back to haunt them. In their greed and conquest, they had stripped the forests of Lebanon of its vegetation and animals.

Similarly, our picture above illustrates how vast forests are cut down to make way for railway lines, highways, sports stadiums, town extensions, larger cities and industrial sites. etc. All this has a detrimental effect on both plant and animal life.

Just recently at the COP26 Conference held in Glasgow, Scotland, 130 countries resolved to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.

Right now, there is a huge outcry as mining companies operate a massive seismic blasting operation along the shores of the wild coast of South Africa. This will have devastating effects on the sea animals as far as the arctic circle. (Read more about this horrific destruction of God’s creation here.)

In addition to the deliberate deforestation, there are numerous forest fires caused by man’s negligence. Many of God’s creatures are being deprived of their natural habitat.

Image by Ria Sopala from Pixabay

Some time back there was an outcry in the media. In Bangladesh, sand is being dredged out of the rivers, causing the river banks to collapse and fertile farmlands to erode away.

Entrusted but Endangered?

The Almighty God, Creator of the world has always had a concern for ecology ‘the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment’ (Collins English Dictionary). In His command to the human race, He includes the responsibility for both plant and animal life.

Moreover, deforestation and forest fires are not the only means through which animal life is being diminished. Sadly many of the creatures God created, that once freely roamed our earth, no longer exist because of man’s failure to carry out this responsibility. An example of human-induced extinction is the dodo bird which once inhabited the island of Mauritius.

Today, almost all emperor penguins face extinction in the very near future. Thanks to man’s pollution of rivers, lakes and the sea. Between oil spillages, discarded waste and plastic goods man is killing off sea life.

Cruelty to Animals

In fact, sadly on our own continent (Africa) rhino’s and elephants are being mutilated and slaughtered for their horns and tusks which are being ground into powder and used medicinally.

  • Are we any less guilty than the Babylonians of misusing and abusing what God has created?

As the representative of all mankind, Adam was entrusted with God’s creation. This responsibility has been passed down to you and me.

  • What are we doing to protect what God has entrusted to us?

Bloodshed

Yet the more serious crime was the Babylonian bloodshed and the slaughter of the residents of the towns and cities which they overpowered.

Down through the centuries, this malicious taking of human life has become a plague.

Our Lord prophesied that “Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other.” (Luke 21:10 CEV) This certainly has been true. Apart from the two great world wars throughout history, there has been strife between nations, between communities, and even within families ending in bloodshed. Gang warfare destroys Innocent parties.

  • Is there warfare (perhaps not physical) but nonetheless ill feelings between you and a family member, a relative, a neighbour, a church leader? How can you bring about reconciliation?

Apart from conflict situations involving violence, lives are being lost on our roads through negligent driving, road rage and people taking chances. Thieves resort to violence and murder in their quest for material goods. And here in South Africa earlier this year, a protest overflowed into rioting and the damage of shopping malls, in which lives were lost in a stampede to loot the shops.

Sadly law enforcement agencies do not seem to be able to stem the violence and killings. They seem unable to bring the guilty parties to book.

Trustees of an Amazing World

You and I have been entrusted with this world that God created. We need to seek His guidance on how to handle the negative impact that man’s actions are having on creation.

Until the Lord’s return or our departure for heaven, we need to be proactive in our efforts to do all we can to save our world from utter devastation.

As we noted in the last study God’s message via Habakkuk was that the time for the turning of the tables on all wrongdoers was rapidly approaching. God declared

‘You destroyed trees and animals on Mount Lebanon; you were ruthless to towns and people everywhere. Now you will be terrorized. (Habakkuk 2:17 CEV)

Ask the Lord to show you today something you can be doing to nurture what He has entrusted to our care.

P.S.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Tables turned

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There are times in life when we anticipate a certain event to take place but the tables are turned and the unexpected happens.

  • What unexpected event comes to mind where things did not turn out as you anticipated.

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly turned things upside down. Many events had to be cancelled. The imposition of the lockdown regulations and the requirement of hand sanitization, masks covering both nose and mouth and social distancing, curbed many regular activities.

Last Friday, our suburb was dealt a huge blow when our power suddenly switched off . . . and only returned 108 hours later! That was for some. Our complex had been affected by the prolonged power outage and we only returned online after 116 hours.

The experience made us very aware of how we depend on electricity! No lights. Internet unaccessible. Unable to charge phones. No way to heat food. Freezers-full of food thrown out.

An expensive five days. It also made us aware of what so many if our country go through on a regular basis. Many have no power. They have no running water. No flushing toilets. Ever.

In our text, for this week Habakkuk announces how the tables are turned on the Babylonians.

Habakkuk 2:16 NIrV

‘But the Babylonians will be filled with shame instead of glory. So now it is their turn to drink and be stripped of their clothes. The cup of anger in my powerful right hand is going to punish them. They will be covered with shame instead of glory.’

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels

As we noted in the previous verse (Habakkuk 2:15) the Babylonians were engaged in shameful and humiliating activities.

  • What are some of the shameful activities of our modern-day society?

Shamed

When the king of Ammon died, he was succeeded by his son Hanun. Because his father had been kind to King David, David sent some of his officials to express his condolences. (2 Samuel 10:1.2)

Hanun’s officials saw this as David’s means of spying on the city so,

“Hanun arrested David’s officials and had their beards shaved off on one side of their faces. He had their robes cut off just below the waist, and then he sent them away.”(2 Samuel 10:4 CEV)

The story continued: 

“When David heard about what had happened, he sent word for them to stay in Jericho and not return until their beards had grown again.” (2 Samuel 10:5 GNB) 

David’s army subsequently attacked the Ammonites and defeated them, causing them to flee back to their city.

  • Can you think of someone who has had an unexpected experience that caused them shame? Can you think of a way you can help them put it behind them?

Misinterpreted Motives

David’s motives were misinterpreted—and that lead to warfare. Often our good motives are misunderstood.

  • Can you recall an occasion when you did something with pure motives, only to have it rejected by others? How did you respond?

An elderly lady in one of my congregations had been the church organist for many years. Because she was not receiving much of a pension, I managed to find out her bank details. Our church Board of Management then organised for a certain amount to be deposited in her account every month.

After many months she discovered where the money was coming from and I received a very stern rebuke from her and was instructed to stop the payments immediately.

Tables are Turned

Through Habakkuk, God declared that the tables would be turned on the Babylonians. Instead of glory, they would encounter shame.

In Bible times, conquering armies often led their captives back to their capital city in chains. There their captors received a glorious welcome from the citizens of that city. 

Certainly, in the past, the Babylonians had gloriously, victoriously, returned with their captives in tow after each conquest. However, the time was coming when they would be filled with shame instead of glory.

Where they had taken advantage of their enemies, the time was coming when it would be their turn to drink and be stripped of their clothes.

They had humiliated those they had conquered, but, they would themselves be conquered and humiliated.

Cup of Anger

The disgraceful behaviour depicted in Habakkuk 2:15 may not be regarded as serious or even regarded as normal in this sin-sick world of ours. But one day everything will come into the light—for God knows. God sees. And He will not let sin go unpunished.

The “right hand” is a symbol of God’s vengeance upon all sinners, paying back in kind what the judged person had done.

Just as the Babylonians made their neighbours act like drunkards under severe onslaughts, so the Lord would give them a cup of judgment that would make them like those drunk with wine. The very thing in which the Babylonians glorified would become the object of their shame. 

Babylon is pictured as being worthy of contempt, as a drunk staggering around, who has lost his self-control and the respect of everyone including himself.

Babylon’s Judgement

  • Do you recall an occasion when everything seemed to be going wrong and you could see no solution to the problems you were facing? Then unexpectedly God turned the tables and the problems seemed to melt away.

As we noted earlier on in our study of this prophecy, earthly Babylon is symbolic of spiritual Babylon. God’s final condemnation of symbolic Babylon is, “Treat her as she has treated others. Make her pay double for what she has done. Make her drink twice as much of what she mixed for others.” (Revelation 18:6 CEV)

National Babylon was able to get away with her violent actions and her humiliation of her enemies for a time. Yet finally, God through Habakkuk, indicated that there would be a time when they would encounter His severe judgement.

Final Judgement

Similarly, a time is coming when all sinners will face God’s judgement. For, as Paul put it in his letter to the Roman Christians,

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” (Romans 3:23 CEV)
“When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.” (Romans 6:23 NIrV)

Yes! We are all sinners! But praise the Lord, through faith in Christ God assures those of us who have opened our lives to Jesus that,

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” ( Isaiah 1:18)

Jesus Christ paid the debt incurred by our sin when he died on the cross of Calvary.

Have you received God’s free gift of eternal life yet? If not please email me. I woud love to help you take that step.

P.S. If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Advantage gained

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Gaining an Advantage

Do you recall a time when someone deceived you to gain some form of advantage over you? Think about it, or if applicable share it with your group.

Habakkuk 2:15 NIV

“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!”

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

In Habakkuk 2:5, we saw the effect wine had on the Babylonians themselves. Here the Lord deals with their use of wine to gain an advantage over their enemies.

The Fourth Woe

Our verse introduces us to the next of the five woes.

  • We saw the first of these woes in Habakkuk 2:6 …. ‘extortion’.
  • And the second was in verse 9 …. ‘unjust gain’. 
  • The third woe we found in verse 12 …. ‘bloodshed’.
  • The next woe against the Babylonians, which we look at today, was that they deceived their neighbouring nations to obtain an advantage over them.

Impaired Judgement

The prophet’s words indicate that the Babylonians not only had a passion for wine themselves. But in fact, they also used wine as a means to take advantage of their neighbours. The Babylonian goal was to impair the judgment of the nations that they were seeking to conquer,  in order to weaken their ability to resist.

A modern-day example of this can be seen in the man who sneaks a rape drug into a woman’s drink to gain an advantage over her.

“To give one drink who is in want, who is thirsty and poor, or a weary traveller, or ready to perish, is charity; but to give a neighbour drink, that he may expose himself, may disclose secret concerns, or be drawn into a bad bargain, or for any such purpose, this is wickedness.” (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)

In effect, our verse firstly contains a stern warning against those who cause others to become intoxicated. And secondly, to do this to take advantage of them.

A Stern Warning

Moreover, the drink that Habakkuk is referring to is alcoholic. Alcohol given to someone so that their judgment would be impaired.

Here in my country of South Africa, as in many other countries of the world, alcoholism is a major problem. In many communities, a large portion of a working man’s income is spent on strong drink.

Alcoholism takes a firm hold on an addict. They become so intoxicated that they lose control of their words and actions. They are a pathetic sight to see.

Sadly, when a person has joined Alcoholics Anonymous and is undergoing treatment and counselling in an attempt to break the curse, just one sip of alcohol can be a major setback to their recovery.

I know of a man who was ‘on the wagon’ and doing so well. Then one Sunday he attended a church service where communion was celebrated with real wine being served as part of the sacrament. Just that small amount of wine was enough to cause him a major setback to his recovery. With this in mind, in none of my churches did we serve wine. Instead, we used grape juice.

We have a friend with a drinking problem. Consequently, we know that should we invite him to any celebration we must ensure that we don’t have alcohol available.

  • Do you have family, friends or acquaintances with a drinking problem? Be aware of their problem. Ensure that you are not guilty of escalating their downfall.

New Life in Christ

Bear in mind, drunkenness belongs to the way of the world. Not part of the new life in Christ.

“You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good.” (1 Peter 4:3  The Message)

“Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of day—no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no fighting or jealousy.” (Romans 13:13 GNB)

The Babylonians were guilty of seeking to impair the judgement of their enemies to gain an advantage over them.

Gained Advantage 

 As indicated in Matthew Henry’s commentary, to give a single drink to a thirsty visitor, traveller or someone who is dehydrated is an act of love and friendship. But to give someone several drinks to take advantage of them in any way is sinful in God’s sight.

Most versions have a similar translation of our verse, to that of the New International Version. However, the Good News Bible throws a different light on the verse.

 “You are doomed! In your fury you humiliated and disgraced your neighbours; you made them stagger as though they were drunk.”

Most of us have had a humiliating experience at some point in our lives. Some of these experiences we can have a good laugh about later. Others stir up a sense of shame. Does a particular experience come to mind? Are you able to speak about it openly?

Child of God

Although the words of our verse were specifically aimed at the Babylonians they also serve as a warning to us today not to go down this path. The loving God does not approve of any action which deliberately demeans or humiliates another.

With this in mind ask yourself – Is someone perhaps uptight with you because consciously,  or even unconsciously, at some point, you have belittled, demeaned, or humiliated them? 

Remember you are a child of God, a joint-heir with Christ. The world may seek to put you down, but God regards you as someone special.

“So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:7 NIV)

Think about this:

Have I personally humiliated someone or was I a witness to someone being humiliated? Ask the Lord to give you the courage to make things right with that person.

P.S.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

It’s a beautiful world

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God’s glory in nature

Habakkuk 2:14 NIV

‘Meanwhile the earth fills up with awareness of God’s glory as the waters cover the sea.’  

 Think for a moment of a seaside scene or of mountain grandeur. What emotions does it stir up within you?

Shirley and I live in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in a retirement village, a matter of only seven minutes walk to the nearest beach. It is great to walk along the beachfront or sit gazing out across the bay and reflect on the greatness of our Creator God.

For the Christian, the beauty of nature all around us stimulates our awareness of the glory of our God.

On their CD entitled ‘Perfect Harmony,’ the Blake group sing the song ‘Beautiful Earth’. They sing of the wonderful world God has created for our enjoyment. I encourage you to click on the link and watch the video. It’s only three minutes long. When you’re finished, close the tab and you’ll be back here. It is indeed a beautiful earth. But sadly, mankind has marred so much of it. 

Babylon’s Honour Fades

The goal of the Babylonians appeared to be that of making their nation into one held in great honour by other nations. Yet, rather than “the earth” being filled with the glory of the Babylonians, one day it will “be filled with awareness of God’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.”

The city of Babylon was eventually conquered In 539 B.C. by the Persian king, Cyrus the Great. However, the final fall of the city of Babylon was finally only achieved when the Babylonian Empire came under Persian control.

This prediction actually refers to end times, to the ultimate destruction of symbolic Babylon in God’s final future judgement (Revelation 16:19—18:24).

Symbolic Babylon

Habakkuk regarded Babylon as a reference to the Babylonian Empire as he knew it, but ever since the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), ‘Babylon’ has in fact had a symbolic meaning as well as a literal one.

  • So what then does ‘Babylon’ symbolise?

In addition to being a physical city Babylon also symbolically represents all that is ungodly. All the facets of man’s sinfulness, as well as all those folk who, through self-reliance, seek to glorify themselves and gain heaven by their own works.

Consequently God did destroy the Babylonian Empire. But the evils that Babylon represent will continue until Jesus Christ returns to the earth to set up His one thousand year kingdom (the millennium—Revelation 20:4-6). Then God will finally destroy all evil practices and evildoers, all that has marred the beauty of the world God created.           

“A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”‘ (Revelation 14:8 NIV)

“The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (Revelation 17:5 NIV)

Revealing God’s Glory

Everything and everyone exists to reveal His glory. Including you. - Max Lucado - 'It's not about me' Share on X

  • In what ways may the earth be filled with the glory of God?

“Just as water fills the sea, the land will be filled with people who know and honor the LORD” (The Contemporary English Version).  So then, as this translation indicates there is a process taking place even now by which God’s glory is being extended to the ends of the earth.

  • What can we who love and serve the Lord do in making sure that the folk we know become aware of God’s glory?

Equally important, in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul highlights the fact that we were chosen to bring praise to God’s glory.

”We were the first to put our hope in Christ. We were chosen to bring praise to his glory.”(Ephesians 1:12 NIrV)

Christlike Living 

Paul also wrote, “Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers.”  (Colossians 4:5)

Non-believers take note of what we do.  Their picture of Jesus is so often clouded by our actions and words. If we are kind they see Jesus as kind. If we are considerate that is how they see Jesus. So if we are short-tempered and unloving, that is how they imagine Jesus to be.

Created Impression

Max Lucado tells of a chat he had with a rabbi on a plane flight. The rabbi did most of the talking and used an illustration of the daughter of the CEO of a large firm to make a point. This young lady traded on her status as the ‘bosses daughter’ to get various staff members to fall in line with her requests even though they interfered with their required duties. Consequently, the staff impression of their CEO whom they had not seen was reflected in his daughter’s actions.

The rabbi went on to suggest that the picture would be different if the daughter’s actions were different. If she went out of her way to show kindness by offering to help. The staff would then have a more positive impression of their CEO, even though she never mentioned his name and they had never met him personally.

“They’ve never seen him. They’ve never met him. But they know his child, so they know his heart. May we have no higher goal than to see someone think more highly of our Father, our King.” (Adapted from “It’s not about me’ by Max Lucado)

Existing to God’s glory 

“Why does the earth spin? For Him.  Why do we have talents and abilities? For Him.  Why do you have money or poverty? For Him. Everything and everyone exists to reveal His glory. Including  you” (Max Lucado – ‘It’s not about me’)

Furthermore, just think about this concept for a while. The reason you and I exist is to glorify God.

“God made all things, and everything continues through him and for him. To him be the glory forever” (Romans 11:36 NCV)

Consider – What can I do today, which will bring God glory?

P.S.
If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Memories Round a Camp Fire

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A Wood-burning fire

Image by Gerhard Bögner from Pixabay

  • Does this wood-burning fire bring back happy memories for you?

Most of us have probably at some time in our lives sat beside a campfire. Perhaps in our youth group days. Or maybe as a scout or a guide. Possibly at a family gathering at a picnic spot.

I certainly recall several youth camps and congregational retreats where at least one evening each time was spent out in the open around a campfire.

Our text for this week is about wood-burning fires.

Habakkuk 2:13 NIrV

I am the LORD who rules over all. Human effort is no better than wood that feeds a fire. So the nations wear themselves out for nothing.’

Devastating fire

Controlled campfires are great, but fire out of control is scary.

Several years back devastating fires raged out of control along what is known as South Africa’s Garden Route. Firefighters battled for days to bring a large number of fires under control. No sooner had they managed to bring one fire under control than another broke out elsewhere.

Our son and his family were living at the time in the small town of Sedgefield. As the fires threatened the town, the citizens were warned to be ready to evacuate. When fires broke out on both sides of the town evacuation was almost impossible. Christian groups throughout the country were praying for the fires to be brought under control. Praise the Lord the fires surrounding Sedgefield were doused.

Devastated by fire

Another town in the area was not so fortunate. The fire swept into the suburbs of Knysna where many homes were devastated. The Knysna Provincial Hospital was also threatened and patients had to be evacuated.  Today, years later, as one drives through the town evidence of the carnage can be seen in the form of burnt-out ruins of what had once been elegant family homes.

Bringing fire under control is one of the most frightening experiences of life.

Fuel for the fire

Our text verse focuses on the Lord who remains in control despite the futility of human effort which is no better than wood that feeds a fire.

God’s assessment was that the Babylonian’s hard work was all in vain, would amount to “nothing.” Instead, it would turn out to be fuel for the fire of God’s judgment that would burn them up.

Jeremiah reinforces these words specifically naming Babylon.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground, and her high gates shall be burned with fire.The peoples labor for nothing, and the nations weary themselves only for fire.” (Jeremiah 51:58 ESV)

Babylon’s splendour and its impressive appearance were created by the hard labour of people, in most cases slaves. It was not a labour of love but enforced labour. Yet their labour was in vain because all would be destroyed, never to be rebuilt.

Building failures

In the last session, we noted that within recent months, buildings and causeways have collapsed because inferior materials were used.

  • What specific buildings or constructions do you know of, where builders used second rate building materials and as a result, their construction did not stand up to certain events?
  • Can you think of any project which you were once engaged in that, despite its wonderful potential, proved to be worthless?
  • What building materials are you using to grow your faith? Will they stand up to whatever life throws at them?                                                                                                                             

Fireproof building materials

Paul teaches us about God-glorifying building materials.

“But each of you must be careful how you build. For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid.

Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.

If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.” (I Corinthians 3:10b-15 GNB)

Burned in fire

During His ministry, Jesus spoke of Himself as the vine and His disciples the branches. He warned,

“If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire.

Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you.”(John 15:6,7a CEV)

 

Unless we stay close to Jesus we will be like the Babylonians, “no better than wood that feeds a fire.” Worth nothing!

Even as Christians it is possible to focus our lives on those things that are combustible (of no lasting value). We will still be saved if we have put our lives in Jesus(See 1 Corinthians 3:15)  But how much better it is to be guided by the Holy Spirit into those activities that are not ‘burnt up’ but carry an eternal value.

 

Ask the Lord to pinpoint any activity that you are involved in, which is diminishing rather than building up your faith. Verbalise one step you can take to improve or step away from this activity.

P.S.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.