Habakkuk 3:2-13 (NRSV)
Read Habakkuk 3:2-13 on biblegateway.com
Verse 2O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.
Verse 3God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. Verse 4The brightness was like the sun; rays came forth from his hand, where his power lay hidden. Verse 5Before him went pestilence, and plague followed close behind. Verse 6He stopped and shook the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. The eternal mountains were shattered; along his ancient pathways the everlasting hills sank low. Verse 7I saw the tents of Cushan under affliction; the tent-curtains of the land of Midian trembled. Verse 8Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord? Or your anger against the rivers, or your rage against the sea, when you drove your horses, your chariots to victory? Verse 9You brandished your naked bow, sated were the arrows at your command. Selah You split the earth with rivers. Verse 10The mountains saw you, and writhed; a torrent of water swept by; the deep gave forth its voice. The sun raised high its hands; Verse 11the moon stood still in its exalted place, at the light of your arrows speeding by, at the gleam of your flashing spear. Verse 12In fury you trod the earth, in anger you trampled nations. Verse 13You came forth to save your people, to save your anointed. You crushed the head of the wicked house, laying it bare from foundation to roof. Selah
Devotion
The writer of this book asks why, if God is just, is God silent when the righteous are overcome by the wicked? Isn’t this a question all of us have, both as we experience our personal lives and the suffering we hear about every day? As our faith seeks to understand our lives and how God is present in them, this writer encourages us to be bold in prayer as we struggle not to be overcome by fear, loss, violence and suffering. On each Lenten journey, we continue to encounter the suffering and death of Jesus on our behalf. Just as Jesus did not turn away from suffering, we who follow him face suffering boldly. Just as Jesus trusted that God’s love for creation would not be defeated by evil, we trust that God’s covenantal love will sustain us as we face the reality of discipleship in a suffering world. It is this love by which our walk of faith is sustained and our lives in the world are shaped.
Prayer
Thank you, O God, that through faith we can be bold in facing suffering with your love to sustain and guide us. Amen.