From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. Psalm 33:13-15 NIV

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:18-22 NIV

Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and it will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:2-3

Habakkuk is a recorded conversation between God and his prophet. Chapter 2 gives us God’s second response, and it is incredible in its detail. God tells his prophet to 1. write this answer down, so all can read, 2. then he assures Habakkuk this revelation will surely happen at the appointed right time, and 3. that the righteous will live by faith. God then goes on in verses 5-20 to describe in detail the 5 woes that will come to Babylon, in due time. Babylon will be plundered, (as they plundered others), their cities will be destroyed by fire (as they destroyed other’s cities), they will be disgraced and shamed (as they shamed others), and nothing will save them (because they put their trust in themselves and in idols made by men, not in the Lord God.)

But Habakkuk did not get to see this deliverance for himself, with his own eyes. God does give him some powerful statements of hope for the future such as, “but the righteous will live by faith,” Habakkuk 2:4b. God gives his eternal perspective saying, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea,” Habakkuk 2: 14 and, “…the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him,” Habakkuk 2:20.

These are messages we need to hear, listen to, and heed today. We also need to have faith like David when he wrote Psalm 11. We can be assured God is in his holy temple, he examines the wicked and the righteous, “he loves justice; upright men will see his face,” Psalm 11:7b. Another Psalmist assures us, “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations,” Psalm 33:10-11.

The Lord’s plans will succeed. When we look at the chaos of today’s world – resolve to put your hope in God and in his plans. Talk to him, have honest conversations, share your concerns and anxious thoughts, but leave them with him. He will eliminate the evil in our world, – in his time. We need to trust in him, trust that he is working in us and in our world.

By Grace Hunter