Contemplations #21 (Habakkuk: part 2 of 3)
“Then the LORD answered me and said: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith. Moreover, wealth is treacherous; the arrogant do not endure. They open their throats wide as Sheol; like Death they never have enough. They gather all nations for themselves, and collect all peoples as their own. Shall not everyone taunt such people and, with mocking riddles, say about them, “Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!” How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge? Will not your own creditors suddenly rise, and those who make you tremble wake up? Then you will be booty for them. Because you have plundered many nations, all that survive of the peoples shall plunder you — because of human bloodshed, and violence to the earth, to cities and all who live in them. “Alas for you who get evil gain for your house, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm!” You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. The very stones will cry out from the wall, and the plaster will respond from the woodwork. “Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed, and found a city on iniquity!” Is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labour only to feed the flames, and nations weary themselves for nothing? But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. “Alas for you who make your neighbours drink, pouring out your wrath until they are drunk, in order to gaze on their nakedness!” You will be sated with contempt instead of glory. Drink, you yourself, and stagger! The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and shame will come upon your glory! For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you; the destruction of the animals will terrify you — because of human bloodshed and violence to the earth, to cities and all who live in them. What use is an idol once its maker has shaped it — a cast image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in what has been made, though the product is only an idol that cannot speak! “Alas for you who say to the wood, ‘Wake up!’ to silent stone, ‘Rouse yourself!’” Can it teach? See, it is gold and silver plated, and there is no breath in it at all. But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him!’”(Habakkuk 2:2–20).
questions to contemplate:
(1) the end: this section of habakkuk’s writing records God’s response to the prophet’s second/earlier question about the Lord’s use of the babylonians to execute judgment. what is this “end” that God is speaking about? what or who would be coming to an end + when? how might this relate to the concept “day of the Lord” (see zephaniah 1:14–2:3 + 2 peter 3:8–15)?
(2) woes: when the prophet declares, “alas,” this is a way of expressing a “woe.” five woes are recorded by habakkuk (i.e. the proud/greedy, the unjust/dishonest, the violent/criminal, the immoral/exploitative + the idolater/unbeliever). who were these woes spoken to/against (i.e. the israelites, the babylonians, both)? think of a time in your life when you were greedy + took something that didn’t belong to you…what were the consequences? have you ever done anything to make yourself look good at the expense of others? though we may not be guilty of actual bloodshed or slave-driving, how might we be in the wrong today (see Christ’s words in matthew 5)? have you ever (been) taken advantage of (by) someone…in what way + how does this affect the way you interact with people today? what is idolatry + why are we so enticed/ensnared by things that ultimately aren’t beneficial/helpful/life-giving?
(3) silence: as it says in ecclesiastes 3:7, “[there is] a time to be silent and a time to speak.” in relation to God, how does one know what occasion it is (i.e. when to voice our thoughts + when to be quiet)? what value is there in being silent/quiet/still? how often in our daily lives do we experience complete silence? (how) do you actively/intentionally make space for God in your day/life?
quote to consider:
“We…need quiet time in the presence of God. Although we want to make all our time, time for God, we will never succeed if we do not reserve a minute, an hour, a morning, a day, a week, a month or whatever period of time for God and him alone. This asks for much discipline and risk taking because we always seem to have something more urgent to do and ‘just sitting there’ and ‘doing nothing’ often disturbs us more than it helps. But there is no way around this. Being useless and silent in the presence of God belongs to the core of all prayer”(Henri Nouwen).
