The Lamb of God

Habakkuk’s Story Part IV

Here is a link from Seed Basket’s last installment of Habakkuk’s story—part three, Will You Wink.

When people mention Handel’s oratorio, “Messiah“, they often remember the famous “Hallelujah Chorus.” Although this grand old masterpiece contains many other Spirit-inspired movements, today’s devotion brought to mind one of the sweetest solos from it: “Behold the Lamb of God,” taken from John 1:29.

If you have never heard this moving piece of music, I hope you will find it online and listen. It captivates you to think of how John the Baptist must have felt as he saw his Messiah and Lord—the Lamb of God, who came to die for him.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29 (KJV)

Habakkuk’s story opens today with his continued faithfulness as he is waiting for the Savior-Messiah.

You thought I was going to say God. Well, Habakkuk was waiting on his answer from God. But essentially, the first part of chapter two is a revelation about Jesus.

Jesus in the Old Testament?

Of course!

He’s been here the whole time;since Genesis 1.¹

For Habakkuk’s story if you take a look at this passage, you will see what I mean.

Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time.  It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NLT)

This story focuses on the judgement of Judah. Jesus’ lineage comes from this tribe of Israel. God’s plan to bring His Messiah was unfolding even in Habakkuk’s time; neither Judah’s unfaithfulness nor any wicked nation’s rejection could stop Him.

Do you remember the basic theme of Habakkuk?

He is asking God a series of questions. Basically, he is perplexed at how God is willing to use such violent and wicked people, people even more sinful than the people of Judah, to help bring about their repentance.

So, God answers our faithful friend. He tells Habakkuk that there are five abominations or woes that will bring about God’s judgement on any nation. Babylon is engaging in all five.

Please read chapter two. It is linked for you. Among those five woes I wonder if you think of two very familiar verses from the New Testament?

I will reveal these at the end. In the meantime, here are the five woes, revealed by God.

• Theft and a lust for self-determination or control.
• Greed or opportunistic advantage
• Viciousness, violence, rage
• Intemperance, the corruption of other people
• Idolatry

Here is a link to read each of the woes.

Unfortunately this is very real in our world today. Idolatry is any thing that you put even one place ahead of God. Violence, murder, greed, lust, and enticing others to such sins all are a part of the current world that we live in.

If you are a true believer, you will recognize the darkness that is all around you.

But the world that has rejected God does not live, nor is it expected to live by God’s moral law. And as believers we are called to pray for these people. and we are called to bring the Light of the world to these people in the way that we live.

Be like Habakkuk. Be courageous, faithful and set your gaze on Jesus. Wait patiently and share the Gospel in your world. God loves even those who seem the least likely among us.

That brings me to the familiar scriptures found in the New Testament that we are reminded of when we read Habakkuk 2:4 “…But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.”

Romans 1:17 Galatians 3:11

1. Answers in Genesis
   Finding Jesus in Genesis ↩︎

How beautiful upon the mountains

are the feet of those

who bring the Gospel of Peace!

Isaiah 52:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.