Habakkuk ends his journey from questioning to trusting by singing a psalm about God rescuing and delivering his people.
Read: Habakkuk 3: 1-2 and 17-19
Most of chapter 3 of Habakkuk is given over to a psalm that Habakkuk sings (there are even instructions to the choir director about accompaniment, so it was clearly written to be sung…Habakkuk isn’t just writing God’s message down so it can be spread around, he’s turned it into a contemporary praise song as well.
It paints a picture of a God who is totally committed to the rescue and deliverance of his people from their enemies, who is rushing to their aid in a terrifying display of his glory and power. When Habakkuk thinks about the way God acts, he says that “I trembled inside when I heard this, my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath, me and I shook in terror.” Perhaps he had realised that if God dealt with Judah’s oppressors in that way, if Judah in turn behaved as aggressors and oppressors they may find themselves facing God’s judgement too.
For me, however, two prayers stand out, two prayers to be prayed in difficult times when God seems absent or disinterested in the things that are happening in our world.
The first, in 3:1-2 is a prayer for mercy. This cuts to the very core of God’s revelation of himself to Moses on Sinai, in Exodus 34: 6-7. “Yahweh! Yahweh! The compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”. The more we become aware of God’s awesome character and actions, the more we become aware of our need for God’s mercy and grace…mercy and grace that he freely gives because it is the very essence of who God is.
The second prayer is in 3: 17-19. It is real evidence of just how far Habakkuk has come on his journey from questioning to trusting God. In this part of his psalm he sings that, no matter how hopeless and difficult times may be, he will not only trust but rejoice in God, who will strengthen and save him, the God who has taken him from the valley of despairing questions to the heights of trusting.
Merciful God, shine your light of truth into me in the coming weeks and months, that I might more clearly understand what you’re like and how you see me. Let my fears and pride be exposed for what they are, and keep them from distorting my picture of who you are. Give me courage, that I might face my true self, and hope, that I might face you. Help me to see in you what Habakkuk saw when he asked “and in your anger, remember mercy.”
This prayer is taken from The Message//Remix: Solo, Day 188
AMEN
Pray that prayer regularly. How does it affect not just the way you see yourself and God, but what does it say to you about the way you should behave towards other people, especially as you demonstrate God’s mercy to everyone you meet, especially the really difficult people who God sends your way!
Pilgrim Traveller 