LORD, I have heard the news about you; I am amazed at what you have done. LORD, do great things once again in our time; make those things happen again in our own days. Habakkuk 3:2 NCV
“Awakenings begin in periods of cultural distortion and grave personal stress when we lose faith in the legitimacy of our norms, the viability of our institutions, and the authority of our leaders in church and state.” – William G. McLoughlin
William McLoughlin’s words sound like they were describing Habakkuk’s perspective on Isarel at the time he wrote the words in the Old Testament book given his name. Habakkuk lived in the final decades of Judah, Israel’s southern kingdom. It was a time of injustice and idolatry, and he saw the rising threat of the Babylonian empire on the horizon. The people were disobedient to God, they ignored the Torah, violence and evil were everywhere, and the corrupt religious and political leaders were doing nothing. Habakkuk lamented the situation and his leaking faith that anything could change.
Unlike the other Hebrew prophets, however, Habakkuk didn’t accuse Israel or even speak to the people about his concerns. He doesn’t come out with thunderous warning or threats. He doesn’t even speak to the people on God’s behalf. Instead, all his words are addressed to God. He talked to God about his pain, his concern, his struggle to believe that God was listening, hearing, and good. He wants God to awaken and to awaken Israel.
But all the way through, God IS listening, and Habakkuk begins to pray with hope in chapter 3. He has stopped long enough to let his mind recall what God has done before – the awakenings that have happened and the mighty things God has done. His own awakening causes him to believe and pray for God to rise up and do great things in his own circumstances. As he recalls God’s promise and commits himself to be part of God’s work, he is able to end his discussion with God with hopeful praise. He becomes a tremendous example to others of how “the just live by faith.”
We are in the same sort of circumstances, The culture is distorted, stress is monumental, and people are losing faith in our status and norms for living. Faith has failed and is failing in our institutions and leaders. We need an awakening that starts with us. Our job is not to talk to people and condemn them or judge them. Our primary responsibility and privilege is to talk to God on their behalf, and to ask God for a personal and national awakening, starting with us.
- Pray the old spiritual prayer: “It’s not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer!”