The everyday prophet

Most prophets have the courtesy to tell you when and where they lived.

But all Habakkuk says is "Hey, I had this vision, and here it is ..."

Why couldn't you be like Zephaniah, the prophet after you? At least Zeph says he lived during the reign of Amon king of Judah. (O yea, that guy...).

Why couldn't you be like Nahum, the prophet before you? At least Nahum says he's from Elkosh. (Oh yea, Elkosh... isn't that where you get those great falafel balls?).

But all Habakkuk says is "I had this vision, and here it is ..."

This, in fact, is the first lesson of Habakkuk: Habakkuk's vision is for every day; Habakkuk's vision is for all days.

Not that those other books aren't for all days as well. It's just that Habakkuk wasn't much of a history major -- and we can learn from that: We learn that the Bible is not just a history book.

We learn that the Bible is an everyday Book.

For example, Habakkuk -- whenever he lived -- said this about when he lived:

"Look around the nations and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it..."

Okay Habby. When exactly was that? When did God do something so amazing that no one would believe it ...?

I mean, the world you describe was a pretty miserable place: violence everywhere (1.2); people love to argue and fight (1.3); and there is no justice in the courts (1.4). What amazing thing was God doing? What you write sounds pretty ho-hum to me...

(Habby: are you getting this stuff from the Economist?...).

Fast forward centuries: The Apostle Paul is somewhere -- it happens to be Psidian Antioch in present day Turkey -- and what does he say to the people?

"Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it..."

But why did Paul invoke Habakkuk then? Paul, living in that awful time of the Roman tyranny over the Jews? Violence was everywhere; people love to argue and fight; and woe betide you in the courts if you were not a Roman citizen ...

... sounds like something right out of the Economist ...

In the headlines today: Death toll rises in Afghanistan; arguing and fighting over health care; wacky court appointments...

Logos2Go

Habakkuk 1.5 Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't beleive even if someone told you about it ...

Acts 13.38 "Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God--something the Jewish law could never do. Be careful! Don't let the prophets' words apply to you. For they said, `Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.'