Living by FaithSample

A Time to Lament

Habakkuk was angered by the injustice in Judah. The strong preyed upon the weak. The poor were exploited. There was great violence. Idolatry was rampant. The courts of law were corrupt. The culture was immoral. Everything noble was perverted and evil reigned without restraint. Habakkuk was disgusted and wished that God would intervene. Judah was God’s kingdom. They were given the law of God. They were chosen to be a light to the world. Instead, the Judean society was in decay with all its institutions tainted by sin. 

We can resonate with Habakkuk when he says, “destruction and violence are before me.” We see rapes, murders, and riots happen regularly on our streets. Corruption is seen in our government offices and justice is often denied. Doesn’t the sight of such wickedness cause immense sadness? Don’t you feel helpless with such social evil?

What was Habakkuk’s answer to such evil? It was what the Bible calls a lament. He poured out his broken heart to God. He wept at the fallen depravity of man. He knew he could not solve the problem of the sinfulness of man. He didn’t become a social justice hero thinking he had the solution to societies’ evil. The problem of sin requires a divine solution. 

Some 600 years after Habakkuk, another prophet wept at the wickedness of Jerusalem. Jesus personally experienced destruction and violence as His countrymen conspired against Him. His trial was done in a kangaroo court perverting justice. Yet on the cross as Jesus died, perfect justice was upheld and a solution for the sins of the world was made – the perfect atonement of Jesus. When you see injustice and sin in this world, lament and behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).