by William Reeder
Moderator, Grace Brethren Church, Vandalia, Ohio
A g r e a t p r o b l e m troubled Habakkuk, a problem which has bothered many of God’s people in various peri ods of history The condition came from the fact that to all outward appearances wickedness seemed to be having a “ field day” and was apparently winning out over right eousness. Flagrant, shameful sin was apparently going unpunished, while nothing appeared to indicate that God’s justice was in control in even the slightest degree. Habakkuk knew that God was of “purer eyes than to behold evil” (1:3); yet all around there was terrible evil, and God did not seem to be judging it. I This is similar to the situation in the world today. Much of the great sin against God appears to go un punished. There is violence, strife, and wrongdoing on every hand. World powers which have had unequalled opportunities to live by the truth have turned their backs on God and live in falsehood. We are beset with the terri ble curse of communism and other less important isms; yet God’s hand of judgment does not seem to be upon them. What is true of nations is likewise true today of individuals. One need only read the daily newspapers to get some glimpse of this. Murders, attacks, robbing, cheat ing, lying are all rampant in the world about us, and the observer might say it goes unpunished. But God’s judgment does not always come immediately. He has great patience. He quite often waits and chooses to suffer evil for a long time. When the believer sees that evil is unpunished, he is to realize that as a believer he lives by faith. God’s Word is sure. He has promised to punish the evildoer and cut off the unrighteous. Therefore, this promise will not fail. We must realize that true faith determines a thing true by the fact that God has said it in His Word, the .Bible. Habakkuk wrote his prophecy upon the eve of Judah’s captivity. This captivity took place under Nebuchad nezzar’s invasion, which left Jehoiakim subject to the king of Babylon. The Chaldeans were the instrument brought into power by God for the chastening of sinning Judah. In verse 3 of chapter 1 the prophet asks: “Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold griev ance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.” The people were so bold and impudent in their sinful ways that they didn’t even care who saw them in their sins. All of it was openly committed. And then as we might suppose, there was hatred and strife which led to bitterness and moral and spiritual disorder among them. Even worse, the prophet relates in verse 4: “Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth.” The law was given to Israel for their direction and guid ance; it taught them how to live, what to do and what not to do. But this law was weak in that the magistrates, those who were to administer the law, were so corrupted
themselves that there was no appeal against injustice. So it became very easy for the people to disregard and disobey the laws. Yes; the moral and spiritual state of Judah was in a very bad way, and it is easy to under stand why Habakkuk cried out “O Lord, how long shall I cry out,- and thou will not hear?” Eventually we see that God did answer the prophet’s cry, assuring him that He would do a work, and that further He would do it during “his time” — Habakkuk’s time. The work that God promised to do was nigh at hand. This work would be a wondrous work producing surprise and alarm. It would be unlike anything that had befallen a nation heretofore. It would be a stupendous work. “Ye will not believe, though it be told you” (1:5). A description of the calamities which would be in flicted upon Judah are related in verses 6 through 11. God would raise up a mighty nation, the Chaldeans, whom He would use as His instrument of judgment. Habakkuk was aware that he would not receive an immediate answer to his plea and so, like a watchman looking forth from his watchtower, he waited to see what answer he would receive from heaven. In verse 1, chapter 2 he says: “ I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch.” Habakkuk waited to be divinely enlightened. He eagerly looked for a word or vision. Today man depends on his own ability. If only men would look to God for light as they stagger in the darkness of the world. Wis dom from God is to be had for the asking, for James 1:5 tells us: “ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Finally in verse 4 of chapter 2 we become aware of the importance of faith. The believer lives by faith. His faith supports him in deep sorrow, brings comfort in darkest times. It provides life with meaning. Faith in spires us to consistent living in the midst of apostasy and sin, and in the midst of this apostasy and sin “ the just shall live by His faith.” We as God’s people look about us in the world today, and we can cry out as did the prophet Habakkuk that to all outward appearances wickedness seems to be hav ing a “field day.” Yet if we have learned anything from the prophet Habakkuk, we will not question whether evil and sin are going unpunished. For this ought not to be our concern. We have God’s assurance that He is in charge, and He will care for these things in due time as it pleases Him. The world is in the darkness of sin. As we stand on the watchtower and look about, each one of us needs to reaffirm our faith, which is our strength. If our faith isn’t sufficient to face the darkness of the hour, if we don’t have that peace that passeth all understanding, then we need to heed the prophet’s message.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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