“The law is ignored and justice is never upheld.” Habakkuk 1:4 [NASB]
People cry out to God for the same thing about which
Habakkuk cried out to Him. Wicked people appear to prevail. Corruption and
crime are rife. Justice is perverted.
Habakkuk’s prophecy proclaimed God’s pronouncement
against Judah. They sinned. God saw and would judge. Their enemy, Babylon, would
overpower them. Still, God would save His people. The Judeans experienced defeat,
but God would deliver them. He would be their mighty Warrior and judge their
captors.
Babylon became a rising empire in 626 BC. They
defeated Assyria outside Babylon. The Babylonians continued to strike the Assyrian
empire and overtook the region. When the Assyrian empire fell, Egypt took Judah
to be its vassal. By 609 BC, the Babylonians defeated Egypt and Judah’s loyalty
switched.
During these changes of power over Judah, the hearts
of God’s people cried to Him. They wondered if God still retained control over
them and their land. The Judeans saw corrupted justice and abounding crime. The
Judeans, as Habakkuk proclaimed for them, questioned where God could be. Was He
hiding? Had God judged the Judeans and taken His hand of protection from them?
When evil seems to reign, remember God still
controls all things. He’s omniscient and omnipotent. God knows all things and
is all powerful. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing can take you permanently from
God’s omniscient protection and provision. You’re His child. Once you choose
God-believe in the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ-nothing can
separate you from Him. Laws may be ignored and justice be hidden, but God sees
and is in control. Never fear. You’re a precious child of the High King!
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 [NASB]
God,
please help us when we are weak and despair. Help us remember You are our
Protector and Provider even in dark times.
