Time with Jesus - Friday, 05 October 2012
Hi all,
What is meant by the expression, “The just shall live
by faith”? There’s been much teaching on the topic of “faith” over the past
30/40 years and the word is better understood than it has ever been. But in the
context of the book of Habakkuk, what is meant? What did God intend the prophet
to understand by these famous words? Our meditation looks at this and comes up
with an answer that may well surprise us!
Blessings,
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Friday, 05 October 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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THE
JUST WILL LIVE BY FAITH
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Martin Luther is said to have launched the Protestant Reformation when
he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of All Saints' Church in
Wittenberg on 31 October 1517. His famous rallying cry “The just shall live by faith” has been
mistranslated in the KJV. Another translation states 4 "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and
their lives are crooked. But the righteous
will live by their faithfulness to God. Habakkuk
2:4 NLT This was not a deliberate mistranslation. It’s a slight
difference of understanding to the translators ±500 years ago.
The
issue for English speaking people becomes apparent with a careful reading of
the Book of Habakkuk. The meditation in verse today, describes the
circumstances around the “dialogue” between Habakkuk and God in Habakkuk’s
vision. This constitutes the first two chapters. In brief we read Habakkuk’s
complaint about the corruption and violence he sees in Judah. We read of his
accusation that God is doing nothing about it. The Lord replies and tells him
He is doing something. He is raising up the Babylonians to deal with His
people. Habakkuk was horrified. “Surely You won’t do that”, he says to the
Lord. “They are more wicked than we are. They are incredibly cruel. They
destroy all life when they invade. Men, women, children, animals, livestock,
crops and trees. Nothing is left alive when they depart”. It’s a terrible
picture of what he thinks the Babylonians will do to God’s people, the
occupants of Judah. This is the point where God tells Habakkuk that not
everyone will be slaughtered. Those who are seeking to follow Him in justice
and righteousness will be protected. They will live because of their
faithfulness to Him. i.e. The “just” (righteous) will be protected (will
live) by their faithfulness (faith) to God.
God had already told Habakkuk to write down the details of this vision
on stone tablets and for it to be distributed throughout Judah. They were to
be written so that those who run can read, or those who read can run. The
message was to be widely distributed. The vision would certainly take place
although it would not be in the immediate future.
At this point Habakkuk becomes reconciled to what the Lord has promised
and the magnificent prayer in chapter three is recorded. He realises that no
matter what happens to the people of Judah, those who love Him will survive.
The Babylonians can do their worst. He concludes with the glorious words, “17
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and
there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the
fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and
the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet
I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT In the 21st
century we need to learn from this for our future!
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
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37 In just a very little while, "The
one who is coming will come. He will not wait.
Hebrews
10:37 NIrV
2 Then the LORD said to me, "Write My
answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to
others. 3 This vision is for a
future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow
in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
Habakkuk
2:2-3 NLT
8 Dear friends, don't ignore this fact: One day with the
Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9
The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as
some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to
destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and
change the way they think and act.
2 Peter 3:8-9 GW
15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow
to anger and abundant in loving-kindness’ and truth.
Psalms 86:15 NASB
1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence-- 2 as when fire
kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-- to make your name known
to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3
When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains
quaked at your presence. 4 From of old
no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.
Isaiah 64:1-4 ESV
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“How long must I cry out to You and still You do not hear?
Violence is everywhere; Your people filled with fear.
Justice is impossible; corruption’s all around.
Why do You do nothing Lord? Why can You not be found?”
“Look round at the nations! Look and be amazed.
I am doing something that’s sure to make you dazed.
I’m raising up in Babylon, a cruel and wicked folk.
They’ll march through all the nations and make them wear their yolk.
They’ll crush all opposition; be forced to bend their knees.
Anyone who fight’s them will be butchered as they please.
They gallop on their horses and swoop down on their prey.
They scoff at kings and fortresses who try to bid them nay!
They slaughter men and animals; they burn the crops and trees.
The men are mostly massacred. The women mainly seized.”
O Lord, You are eternal. You are the Holy One.
Are You bringing discipline so we will all be gone?
I know we are wicked. But Lord they are much worse.
Surely they should be the ones whom You are going to curse?
Will you let them catch us like fish caught in a net.
They will string us up on hooks? Is that what we must get?
Will You let them do this to the folk who bear Your Name?
Surely there’s another way our wickedness to tame?
Is this Your intention and what You’re going to do?
I’ll climb my watch-tower to get a better view,
Of what’s about to happen. Perhaps You’ll change Your mind.
And some sort of alternative You’ll see if You can find.
“Listen very carefully and write My answer down.
Chisel it on tablets to take to every town.
Summon men to carry it; those who can run fast;
Distribute My warning because the dye is cast.
Many will be massacred. Many folk will die
But I’ll preserve the faithful. I will not deny,
Those who truly follow Me. They’ll certainly be saved.
All of those remaining will be butchered or enslaved.
It is sure to happen. Perhaps not by next year.
Sometime in the future, this judgement will draw near.
If it’s slow in coming, you must wait patiently.
But that it’s going to happen? It is a certainty.”
Jim Strickland – written 5th October 2012
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