Habakkuk

 

 I have noted through my study in history that, in every generation, God raises a people, a man or woman who will stand in the gap and defend the truth no matter how tough it may be. 

The book of Habakkuk echoes the same. The book of Habakkuk was written around 600 BC, a time when the kingdom of Judah had reached its zenith in evil and God was about to pour his wrath on them. 

During the time, things were messy. Violence was rampant, abductions, enslaving, murder, robbery, sexual immorality and all manner of evil were the order of the day. Sounds like the current situation all over? 

Habakkuk takes all these issues to God in prayers, he asks God to unmute his ears and listen to his cries about the situation on the ground. 

In verse five of the first chapter God answers Habakkuk. He tells him that he, God, was going to send the Babylonians, who were a powerful nation and very evil, to punish the Israelites. 

At that time Babylon was staging herself as the global super power, hence any nation that stood on her path to glory was trampled to dust. In fact one of the last kings of Judah, had his eyes gorged out, was hooked and dragged to Babylon where he died.

God’s answer to Habakkuk makes him mad. He is shocked that a holy God would send a very evil nation, which did not know or respect God to punish the chosen people of God. This makes me wonder whether dictators and all evil leaders are sent by God to punish an evil nation, am still wondering. 

In chapter two God answers Habakkuk again and tells him to wait and see. That the conquering nation would later become too puffed up with pride leading to her utter destruction. 

God also tells Habakkuk that during that tough time, the just would live by faith, that he would not abandon the righteous, which is evident in the lives of Daniel, Meshach and Abednego, who lived around that period. 

In the same answer God tells Habakkuk in 2:14 “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters covers the sea.” That I believe is God’s main agenda, that he would be glorified in all the earth. Tough times may come but his agenda is supreme, that he would be glorified in all nations’ tribes and tongues. 

In the final chapter, Habakkuk realizes that God is sovereign over all the earth and that he is in control hence he surrenders the situation to God. Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and there be no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will be joyful in God my savior.” 

~~>Dunmo

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST!

For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13. 

 I have been going through a rough patch in life and recently someone, out of good will, encouragement and probably compassion sent me a motivational quote about channeling my thoughts to becoming a prosperous and wealthy person because I have that ability, the support text they used is the above quoted verse. 

As I looked the verse in the scriptures I realized that it’s a verse quoted out of context, hence it prompted me to read the entire letter in order to get the context and probably what the verse means and meant to the first recipients and it’s been an interesting study. Let me share with you what I found out about the text. 

First, this letter was written by Paul in AD 62 while imprisoned in Rome under Nero awaiting his execution. He was writing to a church that he helped found some years earlier while on his missionary journeys. In one of his missionary journeys Paul was summoned by a man through a dream to go to Macedonia to help them and that’s exactly what he did. When he reached Philippi, which was the capital city of Macedonia he was welcomed and accommodated by wealthy woman who is said to be a worshipper of God. Afterwards Paul engaged the city through the gospel but it turned chaotic after he cast out a divination demon in a certain slave girl which got him and Silas, his travel companion, to be scourged and imprisoned for a night but was miraculously released from the prison in the middle of the night. Acts 16. 

Paul and Silas left a few disciples when they left, years later the church has grown and the whole province of Macedonia has some representation of the church. It is this church that he is now addressing. It is also worthwhile to note that during this time some persecution to the church had begun and Christianity was heading to very difficult and uncertain times in the Roman Empire. There were many accusations leveled at the church and Christians in general and most were living in fear. 

Paul expresses his delight and encouragement about the report of the growth of the church over the years. He doesn’t hold any grudge about what had happened to him while in the city years earlier, over the years he had learned to focus on the main goal. He encourages the church to be bold in suffering for the gospel. Phil 1:28-30. 

In chapter two of the letter, Paul advocates for humility and care for each other in the church. Here he goes further to show how Christ through humility left all the comfort he had in heaven and took the form of a slave in his human body because he cared for the church. 

In chapter three he continues to encourage them to be bold in sharing the gospel and to always rejoice in all circumstances. It’s like Paul knew that these guys were going through a hard time and they needed encouragement. I believe that encouragement worked its way, especially coming from someone who was then in prison for the sake of the gospel.

In chapter four Paul encourages the church to always submit all their needs to God and not to worry but be joyful always. He also encourages the church to give towards the spreading of the gospel. Here he also expresses his gratitude to the few who supported him financially during his ministry. While on this point he explains that the reason he mentions that is not because he’s requesting them to send money but rather that through his journey with Christ, he had learned to be content in all circumstances. That he could go without food rejoicing and also enjoy delicacies rejoicing, that he could be penniless and still share the gospel joyfully and also have millions in the bank and yet not lose focus of the main thing which is sharing the gospel…therefore he says “For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.” Here I believe that Paul is speaking about the discipline that he had attained through his walk with Christ that had enabled him to stay focused on the main goal which is to share the gospel no matter the circumstances. 

May Christ help us stay focused on the main goal no matter the situation. 

Dunmo  

From the scratch

 

From scratch it began,

Yet the scars from the scratches reveal..

That he used his hands to scratch,

Maybe to reveal, a hidden coin, penny or pain.

A scar, was once told..

Began with an itch..

The itch insisted for a scratch and..

Boom! A scar arrived.

A scar is a reminder that..

We all itch..

But every itch doesn't deserve a scratch,

Because some scratching birth scars.

Oh M.O.G, which itch will you scratch?

Where will you not scratch?

Which itch doesn't lead to a scar?

Can you itch without scratching?

I look up to Him who..

Itched with desires of grand and grandiosity,

Who was offered His own Kingdom by the villain

Only if, He could bow to the villain.

I look up to the one who..

Had the power to summon heavenly legions,

Yet he chose to drink from the bitter cup,,

I look up to Jesus, He overcame the itches, yet He bears our scars.

~~>> Dunmo