Habakkuk 3 Devo

February 11th, 2018

Devotional

“Responding in Prayer” - Habakkuk 3

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Monday: “A Prayer” - Habakkuk 3: 1-2

Our last sermon series before we jumped into Habakkuk was about essential prayer - the prayers that we may find ourselves praying throughout the day. They are often prayers where we are asking God for help, praising God for how God has acted, or prayers where we simply express our utter amazement at who God is. 

In the book of Habakkuk we found all three of these essential prayers. In chapter one, the prophet prays a prayer of lament, a cry for help, on behalf of the people of Israel, asking God how long things are going to be like they currently are. But then in this chapter, after God has answered the prophet, we find him praying a prayer of both praise and amazement. 

Sometimes God enters into our lives in an unmistakable way, like what happened to Habakkuk in chapter 2 when God answered his cries. But, we are brought to prayers of amazement just when God intervenes in this way. Instead, God shows up in our every day lives in ways that is absolutely deserving of our praise and amazement. God is not just renowned for what he does, but simply for who he is. 

What brings you to a place where you praise God or are in amazement of God?

How do you notice God in your every day life?  

Prayer: God, we want to be people who are constantly praising you, not just for what you have done, though you have certainly done so much for us, but also, loving God, for who you are. Help us join in the prayer of the prophet this week, standing amazed in the presence of the one who created us, saved us, and sustains us. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Glory” - Habakkuk 3: 3-4

How often do we take time out of our days to celebrate the glory of God? As we said yesterday, God is worthy of praise and glory both because of what God has done, but also simply who God is. Habakkuk picks up on this theme of who God is, by expanding on how nature has responded to the glory of God - from brightness of the sun to the crumbling of mountains.

Notice at this point in Habakkuk’s writing, the people of Israel have not yet been saved from the oppression of the Assyrians, they have simply been promised that it is coming in God’s good and perfect timing. We, too, can praise God in all times and places, no matter what our circumstances may be. 

How can you praise God in the midst of uncertainty or trouble?

How do you find yourself giving God the glory? 

Prayer: Lord, we confess that sometimes we only praise you and give you the glory when things are going smoothly in our lives. Help us be more like Habakkuk, who praised you even in the midst of trouble, even in the midst of a situation that had not yet been resolved. Be with us, in all circumstances, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Pestilence and Plague” - Habakkuk 3: 5-12

Sometimes it can be hard for us to simply praise God for who God is because we forget. We forget the central characteristics of God such as justice, mercy, grace, and love, that we experience in our faith life, but are also reflections of the very heart of God.

But it can also be hard to worship God for what God has done, because we forget that as well. Part of the Israelites problem during the time of Habakkuk’s writing is that they have forgotten what God has done for them in the past - chiefly bringing them from a place of oppression under the hand of Egypt to the Promise Land.

You would like arriving in the Promise Land is not something that the Israelites could forget, even if it happened decades before this writing. Even though they themselves were not the ones to originally enter the Promise Land they would have heard the story over and over again.

This is why we continue to tell the stories of the faith today. So that they become so embedded in us that we cannot help but remember, even when the world around us is tempting us to forget. 

How is the story of Scripture part of your personal story? In other words, how has Scripture changed you?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you today, Precious Lord, for the stories of the faith that are contained in your holy word. We thank you for the way they remind us both who we are and whose we are. Thank you for entrusting us to continue to share these stories in the world - may the stories be such a deep part of us that we cannot help but remember them at all times. Amen. 

Thursday: “Save Your People” - Habakkuk 3: 13-16

Salvation came to the people of Israel as God took them out of captivity and brought them into a place of freedom and God was worthy to be praised for that. God also continually reached out the covenantal people through prophets who called the people of Israel back to a place of right relationship wth God.

For those of us who consider ourselves to be Christians, God has offered us the greatest gift that has ever been given in the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ that made a way for our salvation, which is a reflection of the loving heart of God . No matter how our day may be going, we can certainly give God all the glory for that.

How do you express gratitude for the gift of salvation?

What does salvation mean in your life?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation to be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We thank you that you never gave up on us Lord, sending Jesus to set us free from the power of sin in our lives. Thank you for such a love as this! Amen. 

Friday: “Though” - Habakkuk 3: 17-19

As we noted earlier in the week, just because the prophet on the behalf of the people received the word of the Lord, it does not mean that things automatically changed for the people of Israel. In chapter 2, we find God essentially saying that God’s timing is perfect and the people need to be patient, which is particularly hard when you are in the frightening situation.

But this word also changed the prophet’s heart. Instead of asking God “how long?” He starts statements that begin with the word “though”. Though they may not have a harvest. Though the crops mail fail. Though the flocks may be cut off. Even in the face of all of this, he will still praise the Lord.

What are the ‘though’ moments in our lives? Those things that others may think would prevent us from praising God, but we can still worship God though, still exalt God in the midst of? How can we proclaim that God is our strength even when everything seems to be falling apart? How can we praise God? 

What are the though moments in your life? How can you continue to look to God for strength in the midst of them? 

Prayer: Lord, you are always, always, always worthy of praise. May we join Habakkuk in exalting your anew and proclaiming that you are our strength - no matter what. Amen. 

Family Activity: Take turns sharing your favorite Bible story. What do you like about this Bible story? What helps you remember it?