Have we lost a sense of awe and wonder? what about a sense of awe of God? When was the last time we stood in awe of God? “lost in wonder, love a praise”?
This week we arrive at ch.3 and the 3rd and final prayer of Habakkuk. Prayer has led him on an adventure. The span of that adventure is seen in the difference between prayer 1 and prayer 3. Prayer has taken him on an adventure – a journey from angst to awe.
Prayer
He started a question of how & how long? Sharing doubt is right and part of that journey. But by prayer number 3 something has altered in him. Prayer has changed him.
Prepare yourself to read with this: Marcus Borg “a closed heart is insensitive to wonder and awe. The world looks ordinary when our hearts are closed.”
Open your hearts to a renewed sense of awe and wonder.
References to music in v.1 & v.16 present this as a psalm from angst to awe as a sung expression of worship. From worry to worship – – quite a journey.
How did he get there?
Silence
Ch.2 ended with the discipline of silence (how did your 2 hour challenge go?)
Habakkuk was told to be silent – an important preparation for awe and wonder.
“Lord, I have heard…”
Listen
He may not have understood all that God was going to do – but he has heard about God – including what He will do to the Babylonians. He heard. His mind was blown. He stood in awe.
Are you listening? (how – by praying and tuning into God’s words)
Remember
He recalls all that God has done in the past. Primarily leading to and during the Exodus. He remembered what God had done in the past and that had a profound effect on him in the present. Remembering is key in the Christian life – reading and sharing the eucharist.
“Active remembrance of God and His work becomes the horizon by which we see our world – it grounds our hope and illuminates our landscape”
Practice the practise of remembering. Read. Eat. Drink. Add it to the list of spiritual disciplines.
4 vital spiritual disciplines – are they present and practiced in your life?
Two requests:
v.2 repeat what You have done in the past – do it again.
There’s a request for us – ‘God, you have restored people in the the past. Would you do it again?’
Includes a call for justice / judgement.
“...in wrath remember mercy”
v.2 ends with an appeal for mercy. Habakkuk cries out for the mercy of God. After the exile God’s mercy reached its highest point in the person of Jesus. At the cross wrath and mercy meet. Sin has been dealt with and James writes ‘mercy triumphs over judgement’. Mercy and grace are mine – forgiven is my sin.
This is being experienced in our day as people are liberated and set free. Exiles are coming home to the Father because of Jesus!
"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us."
Finally – v.16 shows the effect: a physical impact results from standing in awe of God – trembling and quaking. Return to question – have we lost a sense of wonder?
May we practice those 4 disciplines – prayer, silence, listening and remembering!
May we offer those 2 prayers – ‘do it again’ and ‘remember mercy’
May we stand in wonder love and praise!
