Cry out to God
Habakkuk 1:1-11; BCBC/IOUC; 3/6/2022; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
Life is impermanent, and nine times out of ten things are unsatisfactory. If you encounter hardships, how can you deal with it? What if the entire nation-state suffers? On February 24th, Russia invaded Ukraine. I saw a picture posted on the Internet showing Ukrainians kneeling on the snow and crying to God. There is nothing new under the sun, history repeats itself, agree? Let’s look at the first point:
Justice is perverted
The northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrian Empire around 722 BC, and now it was the turn of the southern kingdom of Judah. The Neo-Babylonian power known as the Chaldeans attacked Jerusalem! If you and I were there, how would you feel? First, my prayer. The parents of the prophet Habakkuk gave him this name, which means a warm embrace. He was born in the southern kingdom of Judah, and from the moment he was born, he began to face the fate of the southern kingdom’s imminent subjugation. What a shame! The experience of our generation be somewhat similar to that of Habakkuk? Less than a hundred years ago, Hitler also went to war: invaded Poland, occupied the European continent, bombed England, and attacked Russia. Hideki Tojo was the same, aggressively attacking and occupying China and Asia. Fourteen years of World War II, countless casualties! How many tears have been shed and how many prayers have been uttered by believers! In the midst of destruction and violence, have my prayers reached heaven? When a person of God encounters suffering, do they pray to God as soon as possible? When we meet the Lord, how much of “my prayer” can we give to God?
Second, my seeing. This is almost our “common problem”, that is, we are discouraged when we encounter hardships. All you see is iniquity and wickedness, destruction and violence, strife and fight! When something goes wrong, he immediately becomes bitter and resentful, and even utters curse words. So is Habakkuk! He asked God, how long will you not hear prayers? I’ve been begging you, why haven’t you saved me? Are these Chaldeans worthy to attack your holy city, Jerusalem? How dare those antichrist armed police officers come to tear down the cross and destroy the church? What happened to this world, that day? I just heard that Russia bombed the nuclear power plant in Ukraine, what does it mean? Don’t want to live anymore? “ my seeing” Lord, what is my seeing!
Lastly, my faith. Habakkuk was sad and heartbroken! He said: Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. (Habakkuk 1:4) ” The same is true in today’s world! The women in the iron chain, the caged women, and the women in the cave, call the inside line of people’s hearts, and torture people’s souls! A gigantic country oppresses a small country, a giant beast-like power to arrest, imprison, and sentence to respond to his servants with love, what is the reason for heaven! Even in a peaceful country like Sweden, aggressor planes have begun to appear. Is my faith still supporting me to pray for these invaders and ask God to bless them? I know that this is my war! It is to fight the good fight for the Lord and bear a good witness for the Lord! Let’s look at the second point:
You would not believe
Who would have thought of war for those who have become accustomed to it in the quiet of time? Who would have thought war would come so quickly? Perhaps few people today would believe that a third world war could be on the horizon, let alone that our generation could be doomed. First, the last days are initiated by the Lord. We may have a misunderstanding that world peace is an absolute truth! Therefore, thousands of children of God have followed the trend of world peace and devoted their hearts and minds to prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. However, in the last days, the Lord will open the gates of war. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and God also buried Pharaoh’s army at the bottom of the sea. The brimstone that destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was also sent down by God from heaven! Zechariah prophesies: “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. (Zechariah 13:8).” Revelation also says: “In a certain year and a certain month Someday, sometime, a third of those who will kill.” And there’s more than one third! Habakkuk said:“ Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. (Habakkuk 1:5)” We can’t keep tying up God’s eternal plan with our own morals!
Second, look to the nations. Why look to the nations? For our Lord is the Lord of the whole earth and of the nations. God’s deeds fill the earth, and His love extends to the nations! We cannot be bound by the cage of nationalism and struggle within the narrowness of nationalism! The Great Russianism displayed by Putin is an illusion based on the suffering of the Ukrainians. But if we turn our eyes to the nations, we will see that all righteous nations are opposed to aggression, murder, and dictatorship! The whole world has been ravaged by the plague for more than two years, haven’t you seen it yet? The signs of the last day are already so obvious, why would any of us still choose to be brainwashed , and pinked by nationalism and wolf Warriors?
Finally, do you still not believe? After Jesus Christ became flesh, he led his disciples for more than three years. Discipleship is by the Lord’s side, but the disciples still don’t understand! After reading the book of Mark, the biggest impression I felt was that Jesus was always asking: Do you still not understand? Do you still not believe? When God sent earthquakes to spread the message, people said, “Earthquakes happen every year, so why make a fuss?” When the famine comes, some people say that tomorrow will be better! The plague has come, and some people even say that it is lucky to be infected! God made justice be reversed in order to awaken the world! Are you awake? Let’s look at the third point:
Raising up the Babylonians
The Chaldeans were the representatives of the Neo-Babylonians, located in what is today southern Iraq and Kuwait. The biggest trace they left in history was the destruction of the southern kingdom of Judah. So why did God raise up a more brutal Babylonian? First, cause and effect. Whenever we look for justice in the world, it is very sad to find that we cannot find it! But at the same time we can be justified by faith! What is this? This is grace! right? Both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah fell short of God’s choice of them before God. They “Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous.” Jeremiah and Habakkuk were prophets of the same age, and Jeremiah shed tears for this sinful age. The subjugation of the northern kingdom has not awakened the awakening of the southern kingdom, and continues to choose sin. Do you not love to do evil? God asked through the prophets: “ Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.”
Second, return to faith. God’s raising up Russia to attack Ukraine is also a warning to everyone, including Ukraine. God has called people more vicious than you to attack you, in order to restore the faith of the people of God! The Chaldeans that God raised up back then were the cruel and irascible people who traveled throughout the land and occupied the dwellings that did not belong to them. Ukrainians should restore their faith in God, this is God’s will! God is not mean to Ukraine, the top is the European granary ，the gold is buried under the ground, but life is like a beggar! In today’s Ukrainian-Russian war, God will raise up His soldiers here,
Finally, repent to God. Of course repentance! The initiator of the war will inevitably face trial, and Putin and others may also be tried in the Hague court. But is it just Putin? What about Bush? Claims that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, so go to war in the name of justice! What about the war in Afghanistan? Maybe today because of your strength, people can’t do anything to you! But who can escape the judgment of God? No matter who you are, the only way out is to come before God, repent and turn to God!
Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters, this world and everything in it will be a thing of the past. Only the word of the Lord lasts forever! Crying to God is our eternal life, are you willing to have this life?
Let us pray……
Habakkuk 1:1-11
1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
5 “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
6 I am raising up the Babylonians,[a] that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.
7 They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;
9 they all come intent on violence. Their hordes[b] advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them.
11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
