Awesome Lord
Opening Prayer
Reflect on God’s power and goodness and thank God that he has the power to protect and save you.
Read Habakkuk 3:1-19
[1] A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth. [2] LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. [3] God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. [4] His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. [5] Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. [6] He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed- but he marches on forever. [7] I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish. [8] Were you angry with the rivers, LORD? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory? [9] You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers; [10] the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high. [11] Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear. [12] In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. [13] You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot. [14] With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding. [15] You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters. [16] I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. [17] Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, [18] yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. [19] The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How does Habakkuk express his ultimate faith in God?In Habakkuk’s final prayer, he looked back at what God had done in the past, and asked him to respond in a similar way in the present. It was as brave a move as it was a terrifying prospect; God’s power had previously been displayed in dramatic, physical form: earthquakes and plagues, floods and tsunamis (10). No wonder Habakkuk was awestruck and shaky. But out of the fear, out of the death and destruction came the most wonderful calm and affirmation of faith. Habakkuk accepted that he might have to continue waiting; that he might have to continue believing–against the evidence of everything he saw going on around him. But he understood that, in the end, God would triumph. He knew that the Lord whom Habakkuk knew and loved could be trusted to judge justly and to restore his people. Habakkuk had a lot to contend with, but he hung on to his faith in God. He was able to do this in part because he wasn’t afraid to ask questions. Is it possible to see a similar pattern of sin, judgment, punishment and redemption in our world today? If so, how should we respond? “In wrath remember mercy” (2).
Apply
Be honest with God today about the difficult questions of God that you have on your heart.
Closing prayer
Lord, I know You can be trusted to always do what is right. Remind me of that when I forget it.
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