Sunday, November 17: “Applied Faith”

Habakkuk 1: 12, 13: “Are You not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. You, O Lord, have appointed [the Chaldeans] to judge; and You, O Rock, have established them to correct. Your eyes are too pure to approve of evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor.”

Viewing two troubling things—the rise of the Chaldean army and the decline of Judah’s faithfulness to God—Habakkuk could have easily doubted the survival of the holy nation. But thoughtful analysis of the Lord’s character led to the proclamation of faith that God’s purpose was discipline, not destruction. This should not be surprising; after all, Habakkuk is the prophet who taught St. Paul that “The righteous shall live by his faith’ (Habakkuk 2: 4, Romans 1: 17, Galatians 3: 11).