#27: Habakkuk - Trusting God in times of darkness

Habakkuk was a Hebrew prophet who wrote the Biblical book bearing his name most likely between 612 and 605 BC. His ministry was at a time in the history of the southern Kingdom of Judah when there was a shift in the balance of international powers. The Assyrians, who dominated the Holy Land in the eighth and seventh centuries BC, were defeated with the overthrow of their capital Nineveh by the Babylonians in 612 BC. The Babylonians then marched westward, defeating Egypt, and then moved southward, threatening the lands of Syria, Israel, and Edom. He foresaw that the Babylonians would attack and then eventually overrun his nation to take many of its citizens into exile. The prophet's bewilderment In the face of such an impending calamity resonates with peace-loving, God-fearing people of almost any time or place and can even relate to our own personal circumstances. Why is God silent as evil and the suffering that follows increases within a society? The book's message is that God will do what is just and right. Sooner or later, there will be a reckoning as God holds evil nations and individuals to account. God, who is mighty in power, is nevertheless merciful and attentive to a person's cry for answers. Believers live by faith that leads to embracing his ways even when things don't seem to make sense such as in times of darkness and tremendous turmoil. The prophet exemplifies this by moving from a frustrated lament to a song of worship despite what he knows is going to be impending disaster. Through faith in God, Habakkuk is ready to press on confidently in his life journey despite what is going to be a crushing circumstance. Meditate on that idea and be at peace, my friend. Additional Bible verses quoted in this episode: "For we live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 "But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved." Hebrews 10:38-39 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 Attributions: “Rotation” from the album “Horizon” by Christopher Willits. https://soundcloud.com/willits https://christopherwillits.bandcamp.com