Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

QT 8/3/2022 Hab 1:12-13, Going to God with our struggles

Habakkuk 1:12–13 (ESV) —

12 Are you not from everlasting,

O Lord my God, my Holy One?

We shall not die.

O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment,

and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.

13 You who are of purer eyes than to see evil

and cannot look at wrong,

why do you idly look at traitors

and remain silent when the wicked swallows up

the man more righteous than he?

 

NOTE: Habakkuk struggled with God over how he could use a wicked nation like Babylon to chastise and nearly destroy his people. But Babylon was God's chosen instrument to bring about his will. There are a number of things to comment about these verses. One, Habakkuk had a close relationship with God--why? Because he could be honest with God in his conversations. He did not put on a mask and stoic face and just say, "God is in charge." He knew God, and his relationship allowed him to be absolutely honest with God. He was like Moses who questioned God and shared his fears with God. It is okay to take our doubts and struggles and questions to God, he is not so small that they could bother him. Second, when it comes to nations of the world, are there any righteous ones? Is using a wicked nation any different from using a slightly less wicked one? Are they not all wicked? Remember we rebelled against God's rule in the garden. Our world is experiencing the results of that rebellion where man seemingly rules his life. God has not let go of his sovereignty but he does allow us to feel the consequences of our rebellion. Actually God's use of Babylon ultimately results in salvation for Nebuchadnezzar and the establishment of a godly group of wise men who would be the first foreigners to visit Jesus, the newborn king.

 

PONDER:

  1. What is our prayer life like? Do we pray monotonously or do we have real conversations with God, like we would have with an earthly friend?

 

PRAYER: Father, Habakkuk's prayer is so real. I pray all believers could understand and appreciate the ability to go to you with our honest fears and struggles and complaints. May we see you as our confidante. May we grow deeper in our relationship

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