Introduction
When the world around us appears to be nothing short of chaos and evil, and God seems silent regarding injustice and violence, it is only natural to wonder where God is and why He allows such injustice, violence, chaos, and evil. Habakkuk asks the same questions one might ask in today’s world: Why does God allow evil people to prosper? Why does a sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient God allow evil to exist? Why does evil seem to go unpunished? And why does God sometimes reprove a lesser evil by sending a greater evil?
God Answers Habakkuk’s Question
God responds to Habakkuk by revealing His plans for justice. Yes! Judah will be punished, but the Babylonians will also receive their own consequences. Ultimately the message of the book of Habakkuk points to the coming Messiah, a “special servant” (3:13), who will deliver the people and fill the earth with the Lord’s sovereign majesty (2:14).
Habakkuk Offers Hope
God’s people today are just as concerned about the violence in our world as Habakkuk was in his day. It may seem that God is powerless to stop violence and evil. However, through the emotionally charged, one-on-one conversation that Habakkuk has with God, we learn that sometimes God uses suffering for His own purposes and that, in the end, wicked people do not succeed. Heath A. Thomas writes, “Early Christian reception of the book of Habakkuk understood the book as a source of hope and inspiration for faithfulness to God in the light of the faithfulness of God (emphasis added).”[1]. When trouble comes, one can rely on God, and His people know He is in control of all things and fulfilling His perfect plan. He has been faithful throughout history and will continue to be faithful into all eternity.
Along with the prophet Jeremiah, Habakkuk in his day, and God’s people in our day, can exclaim with bold confidence and assurance, “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him” (Lamentations 3:22-24, HCSB).[2] In this journey through the book of Habakkuk, the reader will discover hope for all circumstances because God’s people can trust in His faithfulness, character, and sovereignty.
[1] Thomas, Heath A. Habakkuk. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 9
[2] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced employ the Holman Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009)
One Year Bible Reading Plan: March 14
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Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan. Deuteronomy 23-25 Mark 14:51-72
Praying, Meditating, and Journaling the Psalms:
Choose one of the following Psalms: Psalm 14, 44, 74, 104, or 134.
1: Read the psalm through in its entirety.
2: Take one verse at a time and pray the verse back to God as it applies to your life.
3: Meditate on the verse and ask the Holy Spirit what He is trying to teach you about God, your Christian walk, or about yourself.
4: Journal what you prayed about and the results of your meditation.
5: Move to the next verse. Continue through the entire psalm this way.
6: Write down one verse that stood out the most to you today on a 3X5 card and carry it with you throughout the day. Memorize the verse and hide it in your heart.
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
Week 11: March 13-19
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| NET, The TEXT Bible, Hardcover, Comfort Print By Thomas Nelson The NET The Text Bible is a new approach to engaging God’s Word, with the attention and in-depth nature of your favorite podcast, as if you’re in such a thought-provoking conversation with a friend that you lose all track of time because you are communicating on a level that piques your interest on multiple subjects and emotions. With a four step Bible study approach: Talk to God; Encounter God and humanity; eXamine your heart; Talk to others, this Bible features study notes, questions and articles all designed to get you to dwell on the biblical stories; to let your heart and mind truly soak in the warmth of God’s wisdom and truth found in the Scriptures. |
Focus on the Text:
- Text-ing the Text: use the 4-step process of Scripture engagement
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- Get to Know the Text: provides concise history of a major event or character
- Follow the Thread: navigate the Bible across topics
- Anatomy of the Text: describes parts of speech or important types of literature such as parables or apocalyptic books
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- “Who is God?”: 100 short devotions on the person and character of God
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| Spiritual Formation Is…: How to Grow in Jesus with Passion and Confidence – eBook By Rod Dempsey & Dave Earley / B&H Academic Rod Dempsey and Dave Early draw on years of experience as pastors, church planters, professors, and transformed believers to equip readers to grow in their spiritual walk with Christ.Spiritual Formation Is… challenges believers to grow upward, inward, and outward in their spiritual formation by loving God, loving one another, and loving our neighbors. Written in a down-to-earth, approachable style that invites readers to come as they are, Spiritual Formation Is… introduces the principles, philosophy, and practice of sanctification. |
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Romans 8:37 – Kneels Before God
Romans 8:37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.” Our victories come when we are on our knees praying.
Scatter Kindness
Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” Kindness never goes out of style. Scatter some wherever you go.
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God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars
by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars?
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
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