The Haughtiness of the Enemy (Hab. 1:16-17)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/5/2016 11:48 PM

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  The haughtiness of the Enemy

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Habakkuk 1:16-17

Message of the verses:  “16 Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large, And their food is plentiful. 17  Will they therefore empty their net And continually slay nations without sparing?” 

“16 He praises his rod and reel, piles his fishing gear on an altar and worships it! It’s made his day, and he’s going to eat well tonight! 17 Are you going to let this go on and on? Will you let this Babylonian fisherman Fish like a weekend angler, killing people as if they’re nothing but fish? (Message).” 

I think that the Message helps us to better understand what Habakkuk is saying in these two verses as he brings about a third approach to the Lord, and this time to point out the way the Babylonians lived and worshiped.  Their god is their power (v.11), and what they worshiped was their mighty military machine.  With all of these things that Habakkuk is explaining he wonders why it is that God can allow them to conquer his people, the people of Judah.  I realize that what Habakkuk is saying that perhaps we say at times about different situations that come about in our lives that we don’t understand, but before we get to the end of this book Habakkuk will be in humble submission to the Lord.

I suppose that if Habakkuk would have wanted to the he could have made more points about the cruelty of the Babylonians, but that is all that he says at this point.

Dr. Wiersbe writes “But before we listen to God’s encouraging reply, we must pause to examine our own hearts.  Are we fully yielded to God and willing for Him to have His way with us and with those whom we love?  There’s nothing wrong with wrestling with the problems of life and seeking a better understanding of God’s will, but we must beware lest we start debating with God and trying to change His mind.

“We admire Habakkuk for being an honest man wanting God to spare the people he loved.  We want to imitate him in his openness and sincerity and in his willingness to wait for God’s answer.  But we want to remember that Paul wrote to the believers in Rome:

’33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.’”

2/6/2016 12:04 AM