I’ve been reading Habakkuk this week. It sounds like it was written last week.
The book starts out with 4 verses entitled “Habakkuk’s Complaint.” I’m going to paraphrase what he says.
“God – I’ve been crying out for help forever, and you’re not listening! I’ve been screaming about the violence, and you’re not even trying to save us! Why do I have to witness and care about all the evil around me, but you don’t seem to care at all? You’re standing by idly. There’s destruction, and violence, and division, and fighting all over the place. There’s no sensible law and there is no justice at all. I can’t even find any righteous people, so thick are the wicked around us. Justice is perverted everywhere I look!”
And in verse 5, the Lord answers him.
“You need to look a little harder. Open your eyes. Look with wonder and be amazed. I am doing something you can’t even see, and you wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”
I needed the reminder that there are always things happening that my eyes cannot see. Especially when it comes to issues of justice. God takes a long-range view of justice, and most of the time we’re not really down for that.
But then God goes on to tell him a little bit about the “amazing” things He’s doing. He’s sending violent enemies to plunder and kidnap and loot the land.
Great…
So, Habakkuk lodges a second complaint. (I mean – can you blame him??)
“Wait – aren’t you the great and mighty Holy One? OK, so you’re going to use them to bring about judgment for our sins. But how can you sit by and watch that? Your own people – swallowed up by those who aren’t your people? Are you just going to let us be slaughtered like a net full of fish? Like we’re nothing?? Well, I’m not having it..!”
And the Lord answers him again.
“You can write this down and take it to the bank, Habakkuk. My redemption is coming. You can count on that. It might seem slow to you, but it will surely come. Everything will be made right. Those who plunder others will themselves be plundered. Those who spill another man’s blood will have their own blood spilled. Those who exploit others will be exploited. I will do this. All that has been taken will be repaid. Reparations will indeed be made! Just be careful where you put your hope while you wait. You humans tend to quickly turn to worthless man-made things for security and protection. How can things you made for yourselves with your own hands save you?? No, look at ME. I am enthroned in my temple. I will come with justice, and all the earth will see me.
And Habakkuk speaks again. But a little differently this time.
Why?
Because he remembers.
“You are right, God. I have seen your work. I have stood in awe of your wonders. I know your mercy. I have beheld your splendor. I have listened as the sun, and the stars, and the winds, and the birds, and the trees sing your praise. I have watched light flash from your hand and thunder proceed from your mouth. I have witnessed hurricane and plague and earthquake. I have felt the power of the waves as they roll and thunder at your command. I have witnessed the victories you have won. I have testified of your righteous judgments. Though I tremble in fear, I will wait for you. Though I am nauseated by the perversion of justice, I will wait for your retribution to come – knowing that it will.”
“And I will choose joy. Through hunger, famine, loss, pandemic, injustice, and economic collapse. Even then, I will rejoice IN YOU! I will take joy in you, because you are the God who saves me! You are my strength. You are my song. You are the one who will enable us to rise above these devastations. Justice is not perverted, because you reign, and you are JUST. We are short-sighted and want immediate results. But you have eternity in view, and you will bring justice. Meanwhile, I can rest in your faithfulness. Because the righteous shall live by faith.”
So, when you feel overwhelmed by the devastations around you – when you are tired of the pandemic; when you are weary of crying out for justice for Ahmaud, and Breonna, and George, and Tamir, and Emmett, and MLK, and the tens of thousands of black lives before them; when you run out of tears for the little girls all over the world who are smothered by men in brothels night after night; when you can’t look at one more picture of children in cages; when your heart breaks at the millions of refugees knocking on immovable doors all over the world; when you cover your ears and your eyes at the news of one more flood, or fire, or typhoon, or mudslide, or tsunami claiming thousands of lives – weep, and complain loudly to the One who can take it.
Then wash your face – and remember.
Recount what He has done. Remember who He is. Recollect what He has said that will always come to pass.
And rejoice. Not in the tragedies around you, but in the justice and redemption that is sure to come.
But until that day comes, be encouraged by the song below.