The God of Again
Focus Scripture: Habakuk 3:2: O LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear, ( I am filled with wonder and awe). O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath [earnestly] remember compassion and love. KJV
Habakuk writes in a time of war, much strife and conflict. During this time, Habakak beseeches the Lord. He begins with a cry for help, it is seeming that the Lord is not answering as he cries out in the beginning of the chapter, Oh Lord, how long must I cry out for help and You do not hear. This is a time of war as Isreal is being overtaken by Babylon due to their iniquity, turning away from God. As such, Habakuk is surrounded by injustice and violence. He questions God for what appears to be His tolerance for wrongdoing during this time great of war. However, God allowed the Babylon invasion due to Israels sin.
Let us consider our Lord the only living God who has eyes to see and ears to hear. Let us consider our Lord who answers the cry of the righteous. Let us consider our God whose heart is full of compassion and a righteous jealousy. Let us consider our God, our great defender, and advocate. The one who shows forth compassion even in wrath. Our God almighty, the great, loving, merciful, and kind Father the alpha and omega. In His righteousness, will turn his back on the wicked, even the called when we do not turn away from our wicked ways. For our iniquities create separation, our Father’s face is hidden, and He will not hear the cry of the wicked.
Rather, He drawers near to the broken-hearted those who are humble and cry out for mercy. Habakak cried out. He reminded God to remember his mercy in His anger. In that time of deep need, he begged for the Lord to help again as He did before. There is an interesting turn in the prophet’s disposition. Toward the end of Habakuk, he speaks of lack, vines with no fruit, barren fields, and empty barns. It was truly a time of disaster. Yet, in this desperate time, Habakuk declared his joy! He proclaimed that He would rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in the God of His salvation, He declared that the Lord is indeed his strength. In our time of desperation, when hope seems lost, let us not look at the lack but let us look to the Lord and rejoice in our salvation that is in Him.
As we examine our focus chapter, let us pull back the layers of the word of God in relation to our Christian Walk today:
Habakuk 3:2 NLT:
I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. – This speaks to testimony and sharing the goodness of the Lord. – Peter and John were compelled to testify - ‘for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20 AMP. When we share of God’s goodness, His greatness, His healing power, His mercy, His grace, we spread awe and wonder, we spread the good news which can activate the power of the Holy Spirit within our communities and our spheres of influences into the awareness of God’s marvelous light. Let us be bold, let us testify of the greatness of our Lord.
In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. – Did not God part the sea then cause your enemies to drown in it. Did not God cause iron to float and water to come from a rock. Did not God heal you? Did not God provide for you? Did not God show up in your time of Need? Yes He did and Yes he will do it again. So when that storm comes and when that challenge arises; you remember what God done and you remember that He is the God of Again. Encourage yourself my brother and sister, listen to His voice, Be Still and know that I am God
And in your anger, remember your mercy. – Habakuk’s final words in verse 3:2 can serve today as a reminder in our walk. Through God’s wrath, He still showed mercy. During the Exodus period in which Habakuk was referring to. The Lord would bless the children of Israel, and before long, they would forget. In some cases, turning back to idols, in some cases murmuring against the Lord. Yet the Lord did not allow His wrath to consume them, He was reminded of and remembered His promise to the father of nations. He relented from the harm of His burning wrath. – How many times have we been angered by our neighbor, by our friend, by our child, co-worker, or parent. In these times, let us remember the mercy of the Lord. Oh, how He forgives, oh what compassion, Let us remember Christ on the cross and let us too withdraw from anger, withdraw from animosity, withdraw from ego. But let us put on the cloak of righteousness and endeavour to always draw our actions and reactions from the Spirit.
Oh, our great and merciful God, the God of again. Fill us with awe again. Remind us of your sovereignty again. Transform again, yes Lord, transform us again that we may be more like you.
Scripture for reflection:
Ex 32: 9-14- wrath kindled
Ex 34:6-7 gracious compassionate Lord
Psalms 51:17 – humility
Isaiah 59:2- sin separates
Col 3:16 – edify one another
Rom 15:4 – word aforetime