"Like Deer on the Heights" December 18 Readings: Habakkuk 1:1-2:5, Revelation 6–7, Psalm 144:1–4, Proverbs 30:32-33

Today's Readings - Habakkuk 1:1-2:5, Revelation 6–7, Psalm 144:1–4, Proverbs 30:32-33

Devotional - Like Deer on the Heights

Every day you watch the news and you ask the same question. Why, Lord, why? Why do you permit things like that to happen? You read of atrocities and wonder, "Where was God?"

Prophets asked questions like that throughout the Old Testament era. They observed the sin, the wickedness and the wretched consequences of that sin in the world and wondered where God was. They knew two things about God - he was sovereign and he was good - and they couldn't make sense of it all. So they took their concerns to God.

Habakkuk was one of those prophets. His book is a journey in discovery of the purposes of God. In chapter 1, verses 1-4, Habakkuk confronts God with his sense of injustice.

How long, Lord, must I call for help
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence
and you do not save? Why do you force me to look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? (1:2-3)

How could a righteous and holy God watch the evil that was going on in Israel and not step in? How could he allow evil men to oppress the innocent? How long was he going to sit back and let this happen?

Habakkuk had a rare privilege most of us never get. God answered his question. It was not the answer he expected or wanted. He wanted a soft hand of correction but God was going to do something more. In Habakkuk 1:5-11, God explains himself. Look at verse 6.

Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,[c]
that bitter, impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.

Say what? That wasn't a little corrective discipline. That was a nuclear response. Whatever problems there were in Israel, the Babylonians (Chaldeans) were only worse. Wicked. Violent. Cruel. And Habakkuk couldn't understand why God would use them to punish his people. He responded to God in 1:12-17, and in verses 12-13, said this: 

Are you not from eternity, Lord my God?
My Holy One, you will not die.
Lord, you appointed them to execute judgment;
my Rock, you destined them to punish us. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil,
and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous?
Why are you silent
while one who is wicked swallows up
one who is more righteous than himself?

He understood what God was doing, that he was using Babylon to execute judgment on his people for their sins, but he could not understand why he was doing that. How could God tolerate people who were even eviler and use them again his own people? 

In chapter 2, God answered Habakkuk - with both barrels. He let him know in no uncertain terms that he had things well in hand. He was going to deal with evildoers - both in Israel and in Babylon. Verse 20 (we'll have to dip into tomorrow's reading!) sums it up. 

But the Lord is in His holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him. 

That is a very dignified way of saying, "I'm in charge here, Habakkuk. Why don't you settle down and let me handle things?" Be quiet, trust God and watch him work. 

And that is exactly what Habakkuk did. In chapter 3, he expresses his newfound trust in God's purposes. Verse 2 expresses it well. 

O Lord, I have heard the report of you,

    and your work, O Lord, do I fear.

In the midst of the years revive it;

    in the midst of the years make it known;

    in wrath remember mercy.

He had heard of the awesome power of this God, but now he knew it firsthand, and he stood in awe of God's glory. He was content now to stop telling God what to do and to simply trust God to do his work. He called out for God to renew his work of power, but now it was in a spirit of absolute trust. 

The book ends, in verses 17-19, with an affirmation of that faith. Habakkuk realized that hard times were coming to Israel, but he would trust God through them. Whatever happened, God would bring him through. He could trust in the good God to see him and his people through whatever came. 

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold    and there be no herd in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer's;
    he makes me tread on my high places.

In Israel, I saw a type of small deer walking near En Gedi on a rocky mountain paths. I could never walk there without falling, but these small creatures walked sure-footed on the worst terrain. When we trust in God, when we give ourselves fully to him, we stand like those deer, in the power of God, whatever harsh terrain we encounter. In faith, we walk confidently where in the flesh we would fail and fall. 

Thank you, Lord, that you make my feet stand firm in the mountain heights. May I trust in you always. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Do you often ask God, "Why?"
Do you trust him enough to walk in obedience when you do not understand?
Can you remember a time when God established you "like a deer on the heights" - helping you stand through difficult times?