WHY GOD DOESN'T ALWAYS ACT WHEN YOU WANT HIM TO.
"Why God Doesn't Always Act When You Want Him
To" is based on the writings of Habakkuk about
600 B.C. Quotes are from the N.I.V. Bible and
our comments are in brackets.
(When you repent of your sins and become God's
child through faith in Jesus Christ, you become
a member of His family - part of a Christian
community. But you'll soon find out that this
community is far from what it should be. If you
are walking close to God you'll cry out to Him
about this situation).
You say "How long O Lord must I call for help
but you do not listen?" There's violence but you
don't save, injustice and you seem to tolerate
it. I see destruction, strife, conflict and the
law paralysed.
God replies, Watch and be utterly amazed. "I am
doing something in your days that you would not
believe." I am going to fix this problem by
sending a ruthless, impetuous foe who will swoop
like a vulture to devour, sweeping past like the
wind, "guilty men whose own strength is their
god."
You say "O Lord are you not from everlasting? -
my Holy One, we will not die. - O rock, you have
ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure
to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why
then, do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are
you silent while the wicked swallow up those
more righteous than themselves?"
(Chapter 1)
God replies, Write the answer in big print, it
will happen according to my timetable. I am
using, but not excusing, an arrogant greedy
enemy to correct my people.
But always remember, "the righteous will live by
his faith."
As for the enemy, he is arrogant, restless,
greedy, violent, destructive, idolatrous,
dishonest, underhanded, and a criminal. But he
will become a victim of his victims. Godless
"nations exhaust themselves for nothing. For the
earth will be filled with the knowledge of the
glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea -
the cup from the Lord's right hand is coming
round to" them and disgrace will cover their
glory.
"The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the
earth be silent before Him."
(Chapter 2)
You reply "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I
stand in awe of your deeds. - Renew them in our
day - and make them known. - God came, His glory
covered the heavens and His praise filled the
earth. His splendour was like the sunrise; rays
flashed from His hand, - He stood and shook the
earth - made the nations tremble - His ways are
eternal. - In anger you thrashed the nations.
You came out to deliver your people, to save
your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the
land of wickedness, you stripped him from head
to foot."
You continue "I heard and my heart pounded, my
lips quivered, - my legs trembled yet I will
wait patiently for - calamity to come on" the
enemy.
"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 will I rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour
the sovereign Lord is my strength:
He makes my feet like the feet of
a deer, He enables me to go on the
heights."
(Chapter 3)
HERE IS THE MAIN POINT OF HABAKKUK:
You'll likely be disgusted from time to time at
what passes for Christianity and cry out to the
Lord about it - as you should. But the Lord will
reassure you that, no matter what your
circumstances, He's in control and His good will
will be done finally. Then you'll relax and
Habakkuk's great words above will truly be yours
too.
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