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Habakkuk 1:1-3:19 ~ Revelation 9:1-21 ~ Psalm 137:1-9 ~ Proverbs 30:10
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Old Testament - Today we start and finish the book of the prophet Habakkuk! This is a great book & there is a lot going on in it. In some ways it reminded me of the end of the book of Job, with the conversation going on between Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk was a prophet from Judah who prophesied between the fall of Nineveh in 612 B.C. and Babylon's invasion of Judah in 588 B.C. Assyria fell in 612-605 B.C. and Babylon was becoming the world's dominant nation. In the first 2 chapters of this book Habakkuk argues with God about God's ways, and then in the 3rd chapter Habakkuk responds with an incredible prayer to God. In the first 2 chapters the big questions are - 1. Why does evil seem to go unpunished? and 2. Why does God not seem to respond to prayers? Reminds me of the Psalms! :) A good overview of the book of Habakkuk is online at bible.org at this link. Below is an image of Habakkuk denouncing the Chaldaeans from a 14th century illuminated Bible:
Chapter 1 Verse 5 stands out in today's readings: "The LORD replied, "Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." A wonderful thing about this verse is that the apostle Paul utilizes this same verse in concluding a sermon in Antioch in Acts chapter 13 verses 38-41: "“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: “ ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'” Below is a sculpture of Habakkuk with an angel by the Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, from the year 1655:
Chapter 3 verses 18 & 19 are powerful verses for us to consider in our own lives in the midst of challenging times: "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." Do you rejoice in God? Are you joyful in God as your salvation? Even in the midst of challenging times in your life? Do you trust that God will bring you to safety? Below is an icon of Habukkuk:
New Testament - Revelation chapter 9 brings forth the 5th and 6th trumpet plagues at the end times! A note on the star in verse 1 - this is likely an angel that descends from heaven with the key from Jesus to open the abyss.
The fierce demonic locusts in today's readings are intense. You will recall that very recently we read about locusts in a similar fashion in the Old Testament in Joel chapter 1 through chapter 2 verse 11.
Verses 20 & 21 in this chapter stand out: "But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood--idols that neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts." Even in the midst of such destruction and horror, many people do not repent. Is it possible that we receive much less severe signs in our own life today to repent, and we ignore them? Why do we ignore the signs? Is this wise? Below is an image of the first six trumpet judgements by the incredible artist Pat Marvenko Smith:
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.
Psalms - Psalm 137 is a Psalm reflecting upon the Israelites exile in Babylon and about how much Jerusalem was missed. We also read about a call to punish Edom for their rejoicing in the fall of Jerusalem. As you'll recall, we recently read prophesies against Edom in the book of the prophet Obadiah. Below is an image of ancient Jerusalem - and the tower of David - that this Psalmist missed so greatly:
I realize that verse 9 in this Psalm may be troubling. I found a couple of links with essays / thoughts on this verse. I'll need to reflect on these - and study further - to see if I agree or disagree w/ what these are saying:
http://www.learnthebible.org/q_a_dashing_little_ones_against_stones.htm
http://www.jimmcguiggan.com/nonbelievers2.asp?id=6
http://www.brfwitness.org/Articles/1986v21n4.htm
Proverbs - Proverbs 30 verse 10 today teaches us: "Never slander a person to his employer. If you do, the person will curse you, and you will pay for it." This is a great reminder to not speak untruths behind someone's back - particularly to their employer! If you attack someone's livelihood unfairly, you'll be attacked back. Simply a foolish idea. Bite your tongue and pray rather than say anything false or in anger to someone's employer...
YouTube - Today's readings in Habbakuk remind me of the Sidewalk Prophets song "The Words I Would Say:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htyU9cwNp0k
Do you know how much He loves you? Click here for His eternal love!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: "Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you are looking at the nations and are prepared to be utterly amazed for what God is planning to do. Pray in belief that God will do something that most would find hard to believe. Pray in faith.
Comments from you: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our One Year Bible readings at this link.
p.p.s. Download a schedule of our One Year Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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Habakkuk 3:17-19 is my favorite scripture selection in the whole Bible.
“Though the fig tree may not blossom and no grapes grow on the vine,
Though the olive crops fail and the fields produce no food,
Though there are no sheep in the pens and the cattle stalls are empty,
I will rejoice in the Lord for He is my Savior. The Lord is my strength.
He makes my feet like the feet of the deer and carries me over the mountain.”
Regardless of what mountain of trouble life places before us, and we all will be faced with those mountains, the Lord will give us the strength to climb over the mountain. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17)”. God never strikes us with any form of trouble, and he does not have to test our faith because He is all knowing. We are going to experience all types of problems, strife and turmoil in our lives just because we reside in these earthly bodies here on this planet Earth. It will not be until we join the Lord in His Holy Kingdom that we will be free from the trials of life we now face. What God will do is give us the strength to handle anything life throws on us. He will give us the feet of deer and carry us over the mountain! Praise the Lord!!!!!
Because I love this scripture so, one of the Sunday School classes I taught had it embroidered on a wall hanging for me one Christmas. It hangs in my living room where I read it every day to remind myself that life can’t hand me anything that day that God won’t give me the strength to handle.
God Bless,
Pat
Posted by: Pat | December 17, 2015 at 08:55 PM
Very well stated Pat. I love Habakkuk 3:17-19 too!
I think of the verse I can do all thing through God who gives me strength Phil 4:13 and James 1:2-4 "consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance . Preserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete , not lacking anything ".
And 1 Peter 4:16 if you suffer s s Christian do not be ashamed but praise God that you hear that name!!!
God bless you during this Christmas season where one only finds joy in Jesus not in circumstances happening around us. Share Jesus joy with others that Only comes from
Within!
Posted by: Jane seaman | December 18, 2015 at 04:08 AM