For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Hab. 1
It is interesting that God used Babylon to destroy Judah, Jerusalem, and His temple. It was Babylon’s invasion that created the separation from God that we read about in the Psalms yesterday. Notice, then, what God said about Babylon in His first answer to Habakkuk. He said, “their views of justice and sovereignty stem from themselves.” (Hab. 1:7). He also said, “their strength is their god.” (Hab. 1:11). God’s description of Babylon sounds a lot like human nature!
Babylon is very symbolic in the Bible. She seems to represent everything that opposes God. And I think that is the point. Human nature opposes God and is the cause of our separation from Him. That is why we need to let go of ourselves in order to be the people of God that He intended for us to be.
Hab. 2
God said in Habakkuk 2:5, “an arrogant man is never at rest.” He is never satisfied; never has enough. A footnote in the CSB translation suggests that this statement could read, “an arrogant man does not endure.” Never at rest. Does not endure. Because of pride. Let me see if I can put in writing the thought this triggered in my mind.
That footnote brought to mind one of my favorite verses. “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 24:13). I then thought how true rest is in God’s salvation. Satisfaction only comes when we set aside our own futile efforts and accept the truth that God, and only God, is more than enough. And then I see how pride is the barrier to all of that. The arrogant man is never at rest because he believes the lie that he can be more than God is, have more than God gives, and do more for himself than God can do for him. He will never endure, because he tries to do so in his own power, which is nothing. He will never receive God’s salvation until he gives up his pride for humility.
Hab. 3
I like Habakkuk’s response to God. I think, like most of us, Habakkuk might have handled things differently than God did. The rampant wickedness in the land did not sit right with him. However, God’s plan to punish the wickedness with even more wickedness did not sit right either. In the end, though, Habakkuk responded in the way that I think we all should. First, he praised God. In doing so, he affirmed the truth of God’s sovereignty and humbled himself in the face of that truth. That led him to choose trust. He accepted the fact that God’s ways are better than his. Because of that he was able to say that no matter how bad things got, “yet I will celebrate in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” (Hab. 3:18).