Thankfulness In A Covid World

Introduction

Good morning. It’s so great to see everyone back. We have just crested the 2 month mark since we’ve really been in worship here in our worship center. You know another other great thing about our worship today is that we get to see family. It’s been a long time, and I love it that I get to see you all. Talking on the phone or through video is great, but its not the same as in person. As we begin to re-integrate, things for a lot of people could be different. I’ve heard this term spoken by some “a post Covid-world.” From some, business could be different, health practices could be different, the way we interact out in the public could be different. The way people are hired and come back to work could be different. Although the days ahead might seem dark and unsure, life will go on. Ministry will go on. The Lord’s purpose for His church will continue. Taking a look around will all that’s been going on, it’s easy to focus on what’s broken and the potential uncertainty.

The prophet Habakkuk faced something similar. He took a look around, and was seeing all these challenging events taking place. From his point of view, many were going unchecked. There were no checks-and-balances. There was no justice. It just about feels like there is wrongdoing all over the place. It almost looks like as one problem or challenge come up and is dealt with, the next challenge is on the horizon, fast approaching. This could get a person thinking, I just the last hurdle, and the next one, that I wasn’t expecting is staring me in the face. Perhaps you’re dealing with something like that this morning. Our passage this morning is going to open up in the early stages of a conversation between Habakkuk and the Lord. The forecast for Habakkuk’s world has called some overcast days, with a very good chance of rain. Habakkuk is in some dark days. I’d like to invite you to open your Bibles with me as we read together the first 4 verses of Chapter 1 in Habakkuk.

Habakkuk 1:1–4 ESV

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? 3 Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. 4 So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.

Pastoral Prayer

[Display Verse 2]

As we start this morning, we’re greeted with the words, “O Lord.” When we heard these two words, at first glance they can sound a bit negative (O Lord, say a couple different ways). So depending on the phonetics of the phrase it can lend itself to appearing to have different meanings. The way “O Lord” is used here, Habakkuk is using a name for God which is highlighting and bringing emphasis to the relationship that is shared between the two. This shows us Habakkuk sees the relationship as healthy, and the relationship is open to carry on this conversation. Think about the conversation you have between you and your bestie, or best friend. Now think about when you have something on your heart that you need to share. Typically, we open up and let the other person in on what’s going on. We share with them in hopes that they can see from our point of view. Habakkuk is coming to the Lord and opening his heart. Here in verse 2 He’s not saying everything that’s on his heart. We’ll get to that in just a moment.

We do see Habakkuk saying, “how long shall I cry for help and you will not hear? or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?” One aspect we can pull from the surface here is that Habakkuk has been talking to the Lord about this for a while. How long, we do not know. We get that sense from the words “how long.” It would be like being stuck at a stop light that was taking forever. Some of us have been there. You know that light that you roll up to at 5 in-the-morning that turns yellow as you’re about 100 feet from the intersection. So, now you’re sitting there waiting. Then you notice the song the radio finish, and you begin to think — ok any moment now. Then the next song finishes. Now, you’re ready to go. You’ve waited long enough. What do you do? Do you continue to wait. Or do you take a look around to see of the coast is clear and go for it? Habakkuk is tired of being stuck at the stop light. He’s ready for the Lord to get a move on. Habakkuk’s talking a look around. But the thing is, he’s stuck. Things can only get a move on with the Lord, and only when the Lord’s ready.

Habakkuk could be felling his prayer has gone unanswered. He hasn’t been answered. We see here how Habakkuk’s crying. We can’t say for sure if the crying involved actual tears or not. Perhaps Habakkuk was recalling previous works of the Lord, where the Lord displayed his mighty power. Sometimes when we hear God’s people crying there is a balance between their distress and the affirmation that God has heard them. In Exodus 2:23 and following, we have an example of the people of Israel crying for their rescue from slaver. God heard the cry. In Psalm 22. We see a lament of David asking, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me.” The book of Judges is full of these kinds of examples. One of the first Judges we hear about is Othniel. The Bible tells us in Judges 3:9 that “when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel.” What’s going on, “I cry for help, I cry to you “Violence!”

Although we see the word “cry” used twice here. The word has two meanings. When you go to the grocery store and you come out a ton of those plastic bags. You’ve got one bag with the bread, another bag with banana’s and celery. Then there’s another bag holding the milk, and perhaps another bag with all the canned goods. When we get home, I’ve always wondered why we try to get every bag of groceries in one load? And, it seem to happen every time, when you’re half way to where you put your groceries, that’s when you notice the bag that’s holding about three cases of canned good starting to break. At the point we have two options, we hurry or we send to call for help. That’s what Habakkuk is doing, when he says “I cry for help.” It means he’s sending out a call for help. It would be like saying, hey this bag of groceries is about to break — a little help here would be great. What happens when that help doesn't come. Usually the ante is upped, and we reach out with greater importance. The need is greater and sometimes more urgent. That’s what we have here with the second “cry.” This “cry” is more urgent, and Habakkuk is trying the emphasize that when he says, “Violence!” Think of this as a scream. It might sound weird to scream violence, violence. Today, people might look at you trying to figure out what’s going on with y’all’s pastor. Is he doing okay over there? But! if we were to put it into the context of “FIRE, FIRE!” Now, the cry of urgency means something. Habakkuk is using the word Violence, like FIRE, to express the circumstances of his distress. His heart is burdened. Habakkuk is doing everything he knows to do in trying the gain the attention of the Lord. Today, you might be feeling like you’re crying FIRE FIRE. I’m calling to the Lord, but so far there’s nothing. You might feel like Habakkuk where you’re seeing all this stuff laying around. You see all these broken branches, and they’re everywhere.

[ Display Verse 3]

Habakkuk witnessed destruction, violence, strife and contention. He is witnessing the sin of the land everywhere. The thing about everywhere is it’s not being committed out in the tool shed, back room or behind the barn. The sin of the land is being commited openly. It’s being committed in the street. It’s being committed in the living room. It’s being committed at the market. It’s being committed for all to see in the public spaces. We have destruction, violence, bitter arguments, quarrels between people all going on. Habakkuk asked the Lord, why is He “idly.” Habakkuk is saying to the Lord, how can He be inactive or tolerant of the wrongdoing. In Habakkuk’s culture, the king was looked to for maintaining justice. For Habakkuk, it didn’t seem like anything was being done. Habakkuk concludes with:

Habakkuk 1:4 ESV

4 So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.

The law appeared to have lost its effectiveness. Nobody cared about the law. Essentially the law lost its authority. Looking from Habakkuk’s point of view, God’s justice looks to be powerless in the face of destruction, violence and all that’s going on. The righteous are unable to overcome the wicked. This is part of the spark that leads Habakkuk to cry to God for help.

Habakkuk’s faith in the Lord was on what you might call a roller coaster ride. When we start to live by circumstances, we’re going to ride a roller coaster. What are we to do? What can we do today to see through the darkness that could be looking back at us? There’s two things we can do. First, we can remember God’s glory. Turn with me to (When Habakkuk says Selah, he’s saying, “just thing about this, pause for a moment and reflect”):

Habakkuk 3:3–4 ESV

3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.

The Lord gave Habakkuk a revelation. The Lord revealed Himself to reflect on God’s Glory. Second, we can rejoice in God’s goodness. Turn with me as look at the last three verses of Habakkuk.

Habakkuk 3:17–19 ESV

17 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, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

Habakkuk’s saying, “Look, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know this much, the Lord God is still my Lord. Life might change. But the one thing I am sure about is the standard of my life does not change!

Conclusion

Praise doesn’t look to circumstances, praise does not look at appearances, praise doesn't look to explanations. It praises God for who He is! Back in verse 3 where Habakkuk was asking why, “Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?” Habakkuk is no longer asking why. Habakkuk is seeing the Lord in a new way. In the days of gray, Habakkuk is finding thankfulness in his heart though rejoicing “in the Lord.”

God might seem absent. Crops and livestock may fail. We see the trust in God to overcome the powers of chaos. Habakkuk knows that dark days will come, but so will the sun shine. We, like Habakkuk can live by faith. That’s because we stand on the bedrock of the Word of God!

Our faith doesn't live by circumstances. It lives by the promises of God!

Our faith doesn’t live by appearance. It lives by the providence of God!

Our faith doesn't live by circumstances. It lives by praise!

Bonus: weekly devotional Psalm 150

Perhaps God has revealed Himself to you in a new way over the last several weeks. That’s a call for praise. You might be in the middle of a downpour. We can praise God for the umbrella and rubber boots. Because we know the downpour is passing. How is your heart responding this morning? I invite you to come up. Do you need prayer this morning? I invite you to come, and together we can stand before Almighty God!

Closing Prayer