Surrounded by violence, seeking the mountaintop, discovering faith

By Dean Collins

It was the early eighties, and I was living in a campus ministry house on Miller Avenue in Auburn, Alabama. We were sandwiched between two fraternity houses, one in front of us and one in the back. I was in the kitchen and I heard the dog barking. I looked out to see a fraternity brother with a baseball bat just beating the fig tree mercilessly. So I went out and stopped his attack on this innocent and rather large fig tree. I decided not to dialogue long with the young man holding the bat but I did stop his destruction.

I’m sure the fraternity brother wasn’t angry at the tree. The tree was simply the victim of some real or perceived injustice or difficulties in this student’s life. He didn’t want to talk. Maybe he was embarrassed by his violence. He simply walked away.

Most violent acts don’t make sense. I suspect we tolerate or, worse, take pleasure when those we see as the enemy get what we believe to be justice.

Dismayed by violence

Habakkuk, a peer of Jeremiah, was dismayed by the violence surrounding him, and he wanted justice for those who were causing it. He saw the difficulties and suffering emerging for Southern Judah. He knew of the oppression caused by Babylon in neighboring areas. But he also realized the sins of Jerusalem. As this short book opens, Habakkuk cries out for God to help God’s people. The Hebrew word mishpat is used in the text. This word can be translated both as judgment and as justice. Habakkuk argues that destruction and violence are all around and Jerusalem needs God’s help. And Habakkuk laments as he both sees the violence and considers God’s response.

Seeking mercy

God would bring justice, but it would come with judgment. Babylon would be used to address the sins of Judah. And then later God would also deal with the Babylonians for their excessive destruction and their pride. Habakkuk isn’t sure he likes the answers God is offering, so he decides to climb up in a watchtower and to see God’s plan for the future (Habbakuk 2). He wants God to write it out and make his will clear.

I’m with Habakkuk on that idea. Many times I wish God would make it abundantly clear how he will take care of my problems, fix my mistakes, or reveal a path forward. But his response is often the same as Habakkuk received. “The righteous shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Yes God will act, but we, like believers all through history, must come to him in faith. Faith that God is involved. Faith that God has a plan. Faith that what is unseen is in fact in the hands of God. Faith that while God is in his temple he remains completely involved in our lives.

Yes God will act, but we, like believers all through history, must come to him in faith.

In chapter 3 of Habakkuk the prophet confirms he knows of God’s reputation. He acknowledges that while he may not like it or completely understand it, God will work his plan.So Habakkuk asks that God do it with mercy. That’s a wise approach. It is God’s mercy that we need. And it is his mercy that sent us a Savior. Justice and mercy come together in Christ. One without the other would be horrible.

Finding faith

One of the most beautiful expressions of faith and hope is found in the last three verses of Habakkuk. As I think back to the early eighties in Auburn, I remember discovering and memorizing these verses as I went through difficulties and uncertainty. I carried these words on a notecard in my pocket to remind me to hold on, to have faith in God even when I couldn’t see his plans. Forty years later I still find myself in need of these truths.

The evidence we see about our circumstances can and, by the world’s standards, should give us despair. But we must not live by what is visible; that is not faith. Faith demands that we hope and even rejoice when we can’t see the fruit or even the blossoms that tell us fruit is coming soon. It is that kind of faith that will bring strength to our steps. It is hope when things appear hopeless that allows us to climb the mountain and one day even dance and leap on the mountaintop God has destined for us to enjoy.

God’s Word for you today
Habakkuk‬ ‭1:2-5, 12-13; ‬ 2:1-4, 20; ‭3:2, 17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Samuel Clara on Unsplash