This morning
we meet two people with names that are unusual in our culture: Habakkuk and
Zacchaeus.
Habakkuk is
one of the prophets. Prophets were people who reminded the people and nations
of Israel and Judah to return to God’s ways.
In this
passage, we hear Habakkuk asking God why did he have to see so much violence
and injustice.
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.
The book of
Habakkuk is 3 chapters long and well worth reading in one sitting.
Chapter one
is basically a list of problems in the world, and Habakkuk asking God why the
world is in the shape it is in;
Chapter two
is mainly God responding.
“I, the LORD, refuse to accept
anyone who is proud.
Only those who live by faith
are acceptable to me.”
anyone who is proud.
Only those who live by faith
are acceptable to me.”
…
You’re
doomed!
You made your family rich
at the expense of others.
You even said to yourself,
“I’m above the law.” [Habakkuk 2:9]
You made your family rich
at the expense of others.
You even said to yourself,
“I’m above the law.” [Habakkuk 2:9]
………..
Let all the
world be silent—
the LORD is present
in his holy temple. [Habakkuk 2:20]
the LORD is present
in his holy temple. [Habakkuk 2:20]
chapter 3 is a prayer of Habakkuk:
“I know your reputation, Lord,
and I am amazed
at what you have done.
Please turn from your anger
and be merciful;
do for us what you did
for our ancestors.” [Habakkuk 3:1-2]
and I am amazed
at what you have done.
Please turn from your anger
and be merciful;
do for us what you did
for our ancestors.” [Habakkuk 3:1-2]
…..
And even
though the harvest may fail:
“but I will still celebrate
because the Lord God
saves me.” [Habakkuk 3:18]
because the Lord God
saves me.” [Habakkuk 3:18]
I will still
celebrate because the Lord God saves me.
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.
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.
And
sometimes we need to be still and silent.
The hymn[i]
we sang a few minutes ago is about a God who has spoken through the words of
the prophets,
and through the life of Jesus
and still speaks to us today through the Holy Spirit.
and through the life of Jesus
and still speaks to us today through the Holy Spirit.
How do you
respond when God speaks to you?
The second
person we meet this morning is Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus,
the short man, the tax collector, one of the unpopular people in town.
A friend
wrote some comments on this reading, and suggested that it would be strange for
us to see a man in a suit up a tree. [ii]
We have all
been to parades; small local parades, or large parades; some sombre, some
festivals. Anzac Day, football final, Melbourne Cup parade.
Sometimes
you will see a child on the shoulders of a parent or grandparent, so the child
can see over the crowd and see what is happening.
Zacchaeus
must have noticed the gathering crowd, being short he looked for a way of being
able to see what was happening.
As Jesus
travelled around, people come to see and hear him.
They came
out of curiosity,
they came looking for healing
for sight
for salvation.
they came looking for healing
for sight
for salvation.
Some just
wanting to see this man they had heard about, others desperate to get close
enough that Jesus might touch them, renew them, make them whole and holy.
We don’t
know why Zacchaeus was wanting to see Jesus, or if he wanted Jesus to see him.
But Jesus does see him, and says: Come on Down!
“Zacchaeus
came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus.”
The text
doesn’t suggest that Zacchaeus is upset or ashamed to have Jesus come to his
house.
Jesus doesn’t mention guilt, shame or
sin.
It is the
crowd boo and hiss! Why him! He is a sinner!
Jesus is
going to the house of the villain!
I wonder do you ever find it easier to
look for the bad in a person or situation, rather than looking for the good?
The crowd are upset that Jesus is
going to the house of Zacchaeus, but it is Zacchaeus who responds by saying –
hey, I’m not that bad. Look “I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if
I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.”
How would you respond if Jesus said to
you: Come on Down, I’m going to your place?
I asked this question in a group at
one time. I was thinking, Jesus can’t come home, the house is a mess, what is
there to eat? I wasn’t the only one worried about those kinds of things.
The children had completely different
ideas. They were thinking about what Jesus might like to eat. One child was
going to make pizzas with Jesus so Jesus could choose what he wanted on his.
How would you respond if Jesus said to
you: Come on Down, I’m going to your place?
Zacchaeus found that Jesus was looking
for him, even as Zacchaeus was trying to get a glimpse of Jesus.
Habakkuk
found that God was aware of the situation.
At times, we may feel that the world
is a mess. We don’t want to see or hear about the reality of poverty and
injustice. But just as God named the injustice and violence, we too need to
name what is happening in the world.
And we need to stop and be still and
listen for the God who still speaks to us today.
And with listening, come obeying.
What is God saying to you this
morning.
[i]
God Has Spoken by His Prophets George Wallace Briggs
Habakkuk verses from the Contemporary English Version
(CEV)
