Habakkuk 1-3 When Habakkuk complains to the Lord about the injustice and violence in Judah, God responds with an appalling answer.. He will bring judgement... at the hands of the Babylonians!  A nation known for its terrible destruction and wickedness would be the Hand of God's judgement on His own people.  Habakkuk is horrified, but he chooses to wait on the Lord and to walk by faith.

What stands out to me most in this book is the prayer/ psalm that Habakkuk offers in chapter 3.
" Lord, I have heard the report about Thee and I fear." A proper reactions...

 Habakkuk begins to describe the Lord:

"His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise.
His radiance is like the sunlight; He has  rays flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power.
Before Him goes pestilence and plague comes after Him.
He stood and surveyed the earth;
He looked and startled the nations.
Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered.
The ancient hills collapsed. 
His ways are everlasting. "  3: 3-6

The Lord rages against rivers and seas.  He cuts through the earth.  He melts the mountains.  He makes the sun and moon stop moving.  Habakkuk reminds us all that the God we serve is the God who created all things, and will ultimately wipe it all away.. indeed all heaven and earth will pass away.. but He will not! He is the God of salvation, who will "remember mercy".. even in His wrath.

Our God is worthy of our worship and trust. We walk by faith in Him, no matter how bad things are.. in our lives.. in our nation.. or in our world.  As Habakkuk proclaims:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of olives should fail,
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold,
And there be no cattle in the stalls, 
Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation." ( 3: 17-18)

Father in heaven,  You are The Almighty God and there is none like You! Your faithfulness surrounds You. You are merciful and gracious.  You are slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.  You are to be praised.  We can walk by faith as we put our trust in You, our mighty God who never fails, even when everything else does.. .  Let us learn to keep walking in faith, even as the world around us seems to get worse.. wickedness and violence, rebellion and injustice abound....yet, You are in control and You will judge with righteousness and truth.  Thank You for the salvation that You have provided in Christ Jesus the Lord.
Keep us in Your will and strengthen us to walk on heights with You.  We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.