Scripture Reading : Habakkuk 3
Theme : Habakkuk’s Worship
Recalling God’s Greatness (1-15). Habakkuk strengthens his faith in God by remembering God’s greatness that He has revealed in the past. Habakkuk’s faith is not blind, but grounded firmly in God’s revealed character and power that He has demonstrated throughout history. He remembers God’s revelation and glory at Mt. Sinai, Teman, and Mt. Paran (Deut. 33:2-4) when God disclosed Himself. This same glorious and powerful God will execute His divine justice like a mighty warrior.
Worshipping God’s Greatness (16-19). Habakkuk grieves greatly because of the coming, horrific destruction (v.16). Yet, he understands that this destruction is not the end for him and his people. In this, Habakkuk rejoices and lives by faith in God. The same God who promises to bring death and destruction, is the same God who promises to bring life and fruitfulness. In the end, God will restore Habakkuk and the nation of Israel to the Promised Land (tread on my high places, cf Is. 58:14). This will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom and the new heavens and new earth. Habakkuk can rejoice even in the toughest times because of this eternal perspective (2 Cor. 4:17).
Praying the Scripture
- Habakkuk did not stay in his bewilderment even though not all of his questions were answered by God. He moved forward in his worship, love and zeal for God because what God has revealed about His power and character is sufficient for Habakkuk. This is how we ought to live as Christians (Rom. 1:17) when we do not have all our questions answered by God. We must move forward in our worship and love for God, not by blind faith, but by the firm foundation of His revealed truth. Let’s pray that we will not be paralyzed in our puzzlement.
- As pilgrims on earth, believers ought to seek a greater country (Heb. 11:10), not this world, no matter how great is our country. If we lose our perspective of our eternal home, then we will easily be discouraged and sad in this world because there will always be disappointments in this fallen world (Job 5:7). Let us always keep our eternal home in perspective so that we can rejoice in God even in tough times. This does not mean we can be lazy and just wait for heaven to come like some Thessalonians (2 Thes. 3:10). It means when suffering and trouble come, we can still rejoice because we know this is not the end, heaven is. Even when our loved ones die, we can rejoice because we will see these Christians in heaven (1 Thes. 4:13).
经文：哈巴谷书3
主题：哈巴谷的崇拜
回想神的伟大（1-5）。哈巴谷回想起神过去所显示的伟大，由此坚固自己的信心。哈巴谷的信心不是盲目的，乃在神历史历代所展示的大能和属性里稳固扎根。他纪念神在西奈山、提幔和巴兰山启示自己的时候所彰显的荣耀（申33:2-4）。这一位荣耀和强大的神将如威武的战士一样施展祂神圣的公义。
敬拜神的伟大（16-19）。由于犹大即将面临残酷的毁灭（16节），哈巴谷大大哀伤。可是，他明白这次的毁灭并不是他与犹大人的结局。因此，哈巴谷欢欣，在主里凭信心而活。这位应许死亡与毁灭的神也是应许生命与结果子的神。最后，神会使哈巴谷与以色列国复兴，领到应许之地（神使我稳行在高处，参赛58:14）。这将在千禧国度与新天新地创立时应验。因着这个信念，即便在最困难的时候，哈巴谷依然可以欢喜（林后4:17）。
用经文祷告
- 哈巴谷虽然没有得到所有的解答，他不停留在困惑中。他更加敬拜、爱戴并热衷于神，因为神所启示的大能和属性对他而言已足够了。当我们没得到所有的答案时，身为基督徒的我们也要如此（罗1:17）。我们必须更加敬拜、爱戴神，但这不是出于盲目的信心，乃因他所启示真理的稳固根基上而行。让我们祷告自己不会被困惑绊倒。
- 不论我们的国家有多强大，身为世上的客旅，信徒当向往一个更大的城，不是这个世界（来11:10）。我们若忘了自己有永恒的天家，我们便会在这世界上轻易感到沮丧、悲伤，因为这堕落的世界总会有令人失望的事（伯5:7）。让我们不忘自己有个永恒的天家，叫我们即便遇困境时也能在主里喜乐。这并不表示我们能怠慢，如某些帖撒罗尼迦人，只等待天堂的降临（帖后3:10）。这表示当困难与患难来临时，我们仍然能喜乐，因为知道这不是结局；天堂才是。即便亲人离去，我们仍能喜乐，因为我们在天堂能与这些圣徒再次相遇（帖前4:13）。
