When God Is Silent Days 6 & 7: Habakkuk 2:15-20

Read & Journal

Read Habakkuk 2:15-20. Consider what you’ve read by pondering these questions:

• What do these verses teach you about the world and the ways of the world?

• What does this passage teach you about God’s character?

• The book of Habakkuk begins with Habakkuk asking why God isn’t doing something about the injustice and unrighteousness that’s running rampant. After reading these verses, how would you describe God’s attitude toward injustice and unrighteousness?

• The Babylonians had placed their trust in things that would not and could not last. Be honest with yourself: what are you putting your trust in other than God?

Ponder

Habakkuk, much like us today, looked at the world around him and couldn’t help but see all the things that were wrong. Injustice was everywhere; unrighteousness was celebrated. Wicked, evil people and nations seemed to prevail. But through his words and a vision, God had refocused Habakkuk’s mind and heart on God’s own character. God is sovereign, and he is vigilant, watching over his people. It may take time, but all that God has promised will be fulfilled.

The Babylonians had trusted in the wrong things. They had treated the natural world as well as the people around them as something to be consumed and used up for their own glories, purposes and needs. Their idols were deaf and lifeless, and the Babylonians had entirely missed the glory of the one true God—the God who is compassionate and caring enough to answer the questions of a troubled and confused prophet in Judah.

We all place our trust in someone or some thing. We can, like the Babylonians, choose to trust our own strength, intelligence, goodness or power. Or, like Habakkuk, we can turn our hearts and minds to the one true God and trust him, even when the world seems upside down and we don’t understand what’s happening.

Despite what you see in the world around you, the Lord is in his holy temple. He is worthy and righteous, pure and good, and absolutely faithful. He is sovereign and in control. Ask God to help you catch a vision of the truth of who he is. Then, in the right and worthy response to the one true God who reigns over all the world, rest in awed silence and worship.