Psalms 8:1, 31:1-4

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Habakkuk. Verse 4 got my attention:

Habakkuk 1:4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

Habakkuk is a proper noun derived from a verb meaning “to embrace.” Its form indicates an intensification of the verb—strong embrace. The content of his letter suggests that Habakkuk is “wrestling” with God on a topic:

Habakkuk 1:1 ¶ The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

Habakkuk 1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

Habakkuk 1:3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

Our GOD is not averse to us wrestling with Him; remember Jacob (Genesis 32:24-30). Consider Job. Jeremiah wrestled with issues as well (Jeremiah 20:7), as did other saints, most notably David (Psalm 10:1; 42:9; 43:2; 44:23). However, Habakkuk was not likely named “wrestler.”*

Embrace and wrestle are separate words. Although not every name fits the personality of the bearer, it does usually happen that characteristics develop that appear to suggest some prophetic implications in a given name. Habakkuk was a hugger. Being a prophet, we are inclined to think he drew close to His Lord, and embraced, or clung, to Him.

There was no animosity being expressed against God in Habakkuk’s complaint. It was an honest assessment of the political circumstances prevailing in his day. His words describe our own circumstances. (Although we have received a merciful intervention by His grace.)

Along the still waters, I noticed that Habakkuk wanted to know, “Why doest thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance?” Ezekiel was shown the evils perpetrated by the rulers of his day (Ezekiel 8:7-18). I remember while Lighthouse was praying and fasting, and assaulting satanic strongholds in America, God would impress on me to lead the church to pray that God would expose (reprove) the evil going on in America to the American people—and He did. Exposing sin is the first step of God toward addressing it. See Ezekiel 9:1-6.

Habakkuk discerned that social grievance, spoiling, violence, strife, and contention arise from iniquity increasing in the land when “the wicked doth compass (surround and enclose) about the righteous” (Habakkuk 1:3). The result is that “the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth,” and what “judgment” is executed is perverse: “therefore wrong judgment proceedeth” (Habakkuk 1:4).

I think what is true of our nation is also true of our homes. If iniquity is countenanced, order and peace dissolve into chaos and violence. In such an environment, “wrong judgment proceedeth.” If in our hearts we regard iniquity, God will not hear us. Nothing can be more devastating than to have the ear of GOD turned away from us (Psalm 66:18). Peace will not rule in such a heart (Colossians 3:15), nor love, nor joy (Galatians 5:22-23). The heart will not be committed to God’s works, and so the thoughts will not be erect, straight, firmly grounded in truth (Proverbs 16:3). Such are easily taken in the snare of Satan, and held captive to his will.

Habakkuk embraced GOD and held to Him, though he grew weary, and cried, “How long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear” (Habakkuk 1:2). But as Ruth clung to Naomi, Habakkuk embraced the heart of GOD and held on through his doubting and pouting.

God had responded to Habakkuk’s complaint by extending His reproof to the heathen (nations), commanding the Gentiles to “regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will…” said the LORD, “…work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you” (Habakkuk 1:5; see 6-11). Yet, God, Who is of purer eyes that to behold evil, nevertheless, continued to look “upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest [His] tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he” (Habakkuk 1:13).

Habakkuk paused his complaining and quietly awaited the anticipated reproof (Habakkuk 2:1).

I thought of Habakkuk, to whom God had given a message to deliver, a “burden” (Habakkuk 1:1), but it seemed to him that no one listened, no one heeded (Habakkuk 1:5-12). He was ignored (Habakkuk 1:13-17). Even by God!

I thought of my own bouts with doubting and pouting. I thought of how often I have complained like Habakkuk. And the Spirit spoke to me through the prophet: “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it” (Habakkuk 2:2). He said, moreover, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3).

Take hold of GOD, do not let go! Embrace Him! Embrace the call!

In the valley, Jesus met me there, and called me to His wounded side, and spoke these words to my heart: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. We went together into the harvest, goodness and mercy following.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v798eds-shepherds-pasture.html

[*The root word is never used to identify wrestling. Yet the words for “embrace” (חָבַק) and “grappling” (wrestling-אָבַק) differ only in the initial letter, and both involve clasping and holding.]