Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:2-4;
3:1-4. 17-19
Bible verses quoted are from the Contemporary English Version
The
book of Habakkuk is just 3 chapters long.
While most of the prophets were telling the people of Israel and Judah
that the exile was punishment from God, Habakkuk challenges God.
The
world was in a mess, people lived with injustice, lawlessness, cruelty and violence.
Habakkuk asks the question many people ask:
God,
where are you?
why
are you not doing something about the mess the world is in?
Do
you not care?
Habakkuk
also tells God how distressing it is for him to be looking at suffering and
injustice. Sometimes it is easier to turn away.
On
the news at times the presenter will make an announcement like: Warning, some
people may find the following images offensive.
There
is violence and injustice and poverty and oppression in the world.
Yes,
that is offensive.
And
sometimes we want to say: I don’t want to see this anymore
I
don’t want to know about homelessness or war or abuse.
It
is all too much to bear.
Join
Habakkuk and his prayer of Lament; a cry to God in the midst of life, when it
looks like everything is going wrong, in the world or our own lives, we can cry
out to God. this is what Habakkuk does. He questions God.
And
God answers.
God
tells Habakkuk to wait, and God will act. Firstly, the Babylonians will take over
Judah, and Habakkuk says, how will that help, they are just as bad as the
current crop of leaders.
As
people we so often want the quick fix. Problems like injustice don’t have quick
fixes.
In
a part of chapter 2 that wasn’t read this morning, there is a series of statements
that start ‘You’re doomed!’
You’re
doomed!
You
stored up stolen goods
and
cheated others of what belonged to them.
You’re
doomed!
You
made your family rich at the expense of others.
You
even said to yourself, “I’m above the law.”
You’re
doomed!
You
built a city on crime and violence.
You’re
doomed!
You
get your friends drunk, just to see them naked.
And
each section continues on with but….
you will become a frightened victim.
you will bring shame to your family and ruin to
yourself
you will be disgraced.
I
wonder where God would tell us we are doomed.
I
wonder in what ways are we part of the problems of the world.
How
do we contribute to injustice and cruelty?
How
often do we store up more for ourselves, just in case, rather then sharing what
we have?
In
the midst of the lament of Habakkuk, the response of God is that one day, some
time in the future, all this will change.
And
it may not be soon,
so,
wait.
Waiting
can be hard. Waiting for a bus or train, waiting for an appointment, waiting in
a queue for lunch. But imagine waiting much longer then that.
Advent
is time when we prepare for the coming of the baby Jesus. We know the story, we
know how it is going to end. The people of Israel had waited for long time for
the one who would bring hope and peace and joy and love, the one who would come
and bring about the kingdom of God.
But
waiting doesn’t mean don’t do anything.
Waiting
to start school, we get our uniform and school bag ready.
Waiting
for a baby to be born, there are lots of things to get ready.
And
during Advent, we wait, to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we also work
towards the coming kingdom.
God
tells Habakkuk to write a sign, big enough to be read by someone running past. God
reminds Habakkuk that it may be a while coming, but trust God for the future
and it will happen.
Reminds
me of the saying “Everything will be alright in the end, so if it is not
alright it is not the end.”[i]
Habakkuk
does more than waiting and trusting God. The book finishes with this wonderful
song:
‘Fig
trees may no longer bloom,
or vineyards produce grapes;
olive
trees may be fruitless,
and harvest time a failure;
sheep
pens may be empty,
and cattle stalls vacant—
but
I will still celebrate
because
the Lord God
saves me.
The
Lord gives me strength.
He
makes my feet as sure
as those of a deer,
and
he helps me stand
on the mountains.’
Despite
the doom and gloom,
the violence in the world and in our
hearts
the pain of illness and bereavement
the horror of child abuse
the destruction of the environment
the breakdown of relationships.
Despite
what we see and hear, God is God.
I
will still celebrate because the Lord God saves me.
As
we walk towards Christmas,
may we not rush ahead
but wait for God
and
in our waiting,
may we watch for glimpses of the kingdom
of God,
listen for the cries of the poor and
the voice of God
may we tell of the coming one who is hope
and
worship the God who came into our lives
as a little baby
who showed us how to live
who died and rose
so,
we might know salvation
and
the value of waiting on God.
Despite
what we see and hear, God is God.
This
Advent may you wait and watch for God,
may
your days be filled with hope
may
you know the joy of salvation.
[i]
― Deborah Moggach, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/739398-everything-will-be-alright-in-the-end-so-if-it
