This one’s for me. I need to be reminded.
I am discouraged and frustrated. It would be one thing if we were united as a nation, fighting a common enemy and still losing. But I feel like we are being slowly destroyed from within. And no, I’m not blaming any group or specific person.
My freedoms, the nation I love, the future I want for my children, the fragile unity of the Body of Christ… I’m honestly not sure what’s going to happen to any of these.
“… my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lam 3:20b-23)
It is time to take a walk through a much-forgotten rarely used portion of Scripture. The Minor Prophets. I want to be reminded of what they have to say about God.
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm and clouds are the dust of His feet. … The mountains quake before Him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at His presence, the world and all who live in it. (Nahum 1:3, 5)
Bryan did a teaching series through the book of Nahum (it was amazing!) and I’ve never forgotten the picture he created from verse 3. This God is so amazing and powerful, it’s terrifying. In fact, so great is He that when He takes a step a whirlwind is created. Another step, another storm. His mere presence is enough to undo the earth, to shake the foundations of the world and all who live in it.
And yet, this God is also slow to anger. He is in control of His responses and His feelings. He does not get angry easily. He is not vengeful nor vindictive. He will one day bring justice, but He does not judge lightly or quickly.
Here’s another one for you:
He stood, and shook the earth; He looked and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled, the age old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal. … You (God) uncovered Your bow, You called for many arrows. (SELAH) You split the earth with rivers. The mountains saw You and writhed.
(Habakkuk 3:6, 9-10a)
I love the picture this creates. A mere look from God is enough to send shock waves through the nations. His mere movement from sitting to standing is enough to make the earth jump. This is God! He shoots arrows at the earth and everywhere His arrow touches a river is created.
Drive through the mountains or look at pictures of them online. They are impressive, beautiful, awe-inspiring. They appear as old as time itself, never able to be destroyed or removed. And yet, in the presence of God these mighty mountains become not so mighty at all. In fact, they simply melt away because God is actually the Mighty One. God is the One that’s older than the hills. God is the One who stands tall and strong. God is the One who shaped the mountains and tamed the hills. He lifted them up, He can bring them down. This is our God!
His glory covered the heavens and His praise filled the earth. His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from His hand where His power was hidden. (Habakkuk 3:4)
His splendor was like the sunrise. Amazing, beautiful, consistent, able to be seen by everyone. Rays of power coming from His mere fingertips! If His fingertips can send lightning, imagine what the rest of Him can do! And one day everyone will know; everyone will see; everyone one will acknowledge the Lord God is King.
Lord I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds oh Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known, in wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2)
This verse has become my prayer this season.
God is in control. Not a specific party or even a specific person. God is in control. His ways are being accomplished. His purposes will be fulfilled. That doesn’t mean we’ll always like what He’s doing or how He’s accomplishing His goals. But it does mean we can have peace, joy, even hope for tomorrow. No matter what.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength, He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights!
(Habakkuk 3:17-18)