Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our Old Testament readings for this week are from Habakkuk, one of the shorter, or “minor” prophets. The entire book is only three short chapters long. What’s the situation? There are pagan invaders attacking from the east. Not only do they want to destroy God’s people, they also want to deny the person of God! What is the prophet’s response?
First, he cries out to God asking why there doesn’t seem to be a response. God’s response is that he is acting and that the enemies are going to be attacking. The prophet confesses that he will be on guard against this evil.
In chapter 2 verse 2 there is a statement which I have heard taken in a very odd manner. God’s word to the prophet is that he should write the vision and make it plan because it will happen. I have recently heard preaching that uses this verse to say that every Christian should write revelations from God, as well as their own dreams, in a journal so that they will surely happen. This is not a good way of approaching the Scriptures. In the context of the passage, the prophet is to write the vision down so that when the enemy attacks nobody will be able to deny a warning. It has nothing to do with individual believers and their hopes and dreams. It has everything to do with God’s reliable promises.
God’s promises for this world include judgment on sin. Though the Lord has judged sin as a whole through Jesus, we also realize that in Jesus’ resurrection we see the very real promise that sin has been defeated and eternal life has won. This is written down for our confidence and encouragement.
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