Habakkuk 1-3 - Prayer Tents

Habakkuk 1

1This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision.H4853H2265H5030H2372

Habakkuk’s Complaint

2How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.H3068H7768H8085H2199H2555H34673Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.H7200H205H5027H5999H7701H2555H5375H7379H40664The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.H8451H6313H4941H5331H3318H7563H3803H6662H6127H4941H3318

The Lord’s Reply

5The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed!

For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.H7200H1471H5027H8539H8539H6466H6467H3117H539H56086I am raising up the Babylonians

, a cruel and violent people. They will march across the world and conquer other lands.H6965H3778H4751H4116H1471H1980H4800H776H3423H49087They are notorious for their cruelty and do whatever they like.H366H3372H4941H7613H33188Their horses are swifter than cheetahs

and fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their charioteers charge from far away. Like eagles, they swoop down to devour their prey.H5483H7043H5246H2300H6153H2061H6571H6335H6571H935H7350H5774H5404H2363H3989“On they come, all bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind, sweeping captives ahead of them like sand.H935H2555H6440H4041H6921H622H7628H234410They scoff at kings and princes and scorn all their fortresses. They simply pile ramps of earth against their walls and capture them!H7046H4428H7336H4890H7832H4013H6651H6083H392011They sweep past like the wind and are gone. But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god.”H7307H2498H5674H816H2098H3581H433

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

12O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal—surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins.H6924H3068H430H6918H4191H3068H7760H4941H6697H3245H319813But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?H2889H5869H7200H7451H3201H5027H5999H5027H898H2790H7563H1104H666214Are we only fish to be caught and killed? Are we only sea creatures that have no leader?H6213H120H1709H3220H7431H491015Must we be strung up on their hooks and caught in their nets while they rejoice and celebrate?H5927H2443H1641H2764H622H4365H8055H152316Then they will worship their nets and burn incense in front of them. “These nets are the gods who have made us rich!” they will claim.H2076H2764H6999H4365H1992H2506H8082H3978H127717Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?H7324H2764H2550H8548H2026H1471

Habakkuk 2

2I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he

will answer my complaint.H5975H4931H3320H4692H6822H7200H1696H7725H8433

The Lord’s Second Reply

2Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.H3068H6030H559H3789H2377H874H3871H7323H71213This 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.H2377H4150H7093H6315H3576H4102H2442H935H935H3094“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God

.H5315H6075H3474H6662H2421H5305Wealth

is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.H898H3196H3093H1397H5115H7337H5315H7585H4194H7646H622H1471H6908H59716“But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying, ‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve! You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’H5375H4912H4426H2420H559H1945H7235H3513H56717Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.H6965H6621H5391H3364H2111H49338Because you have plundered many nations; now all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence.H7997H7227H1471H3499H5971H7997H120H1818H2555H776H7151H34279“What sorrow awaits you who build big houses with money gained dishonestly! You believe your wealth will buy security, putting your family’s nest beyond the reach of danger.H1945H1214H7451H1215H1004H7760H7064H4791H5337H3709H745110But by the murders you committed, you have shamed your name and forfeited your lives.H3289H1322H1004H7096H7227H5971H2398H531511The very stones in the walls cry out against you, and the beams in the ceilings echo the complaint.H68H2199H7023H3714H6086H603012“What sorrow awaits you who build cities with money gained through murder and corruption!H1945H1129H5892H1818H3559H7151H576613Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard, but all in vain!H3068H6635H5971H3021H1767H784H3816H3286H1767H738514For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.H776H4390H3045H3519H3068H4325H3680H322015“What sorrow awaits you who make your neighbors drunk! You force your cup on them so you can gloat over their shameful nakedness.H1945H7453H8248H5596H2573H7937H5027H458916But soon it will be your turn to be disgraced. Come, drink and be exposed! Drink from the cup of the Lord’s judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame.H7646H7036H3519H8354H6188H3563H3068H3225H5437H7022H351917You cut down the forests of Lebanon. Now you will be cut down. You destroyed the wild animals, so now their terror will be yours. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence.H2555H3844H3680H7701H929H2865H120H1818H2555H776H7151H342718“What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation—a god that can’t even talk!H3276H6459H3335H6458H4541H3384H8267H3335H3336H982H6213H483H45719What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, ‘Wake up and save us!’ To speechless stone images you say, ‘Rise up and teach us!’ Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside.H1945H559H6086H6974H1748H68H5782H3384H8610H2091H3701H7307H713020But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”H3068H6944H1964H776H2013H6440

Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk’s Prayer

3This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk

.H8605H2265H5030H76922I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.H3068H8085H8088H3372H3068H2421H6467H7130H8141H7130H8141H3045H7267H2142H73553I see God moving across the deserts from Edom

, the Holy One coming from Mount Paran. His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise.H433H935H8487H6918H2022H6290H5542H1935H3680H8064H776H4390H84164His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden.H5051H216H7161H3027H2253H57975Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind.H6440H3212H1698H7565H3318H72726When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One!H5975H4128H776H7200H5425H1471H5703H2042H6327H5769H1389H7817H1979H57697I see the people of Cushan in distress, and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.H7200H168H3572H205H3407H776H4080H72648Was it in anger, Lord, that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!H3068H2734H5104H639H5104H5678H3220H7392H5483H4818H34449You brandished your bow and your quiver of arrows. You split open the earth with flowing rivers.H7198H6181H5783H7621H4294H562H5542H1234H776H510410The mountains watched and trembled. Onward swept the raging waters. The mighty deep cried out, lifting its hands to the Lord.H2022H7200H2342H2230H4325H5674H8415H5414H6963H5375H3027H731511The sun and moon stood still in the sky as your brilliant arrows flew and your glittering spear flashed.H8121H3394H5975H2073H216H2671H1980H5051H1300H259512You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in your fury.H6805H776H2195H1758H1471H63913You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe.H3318H3468H5971H3468H4899H4272H7218H1004H7563H6168H3247H6677H554214With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey.H5344H4294H7218H6518H5590H6327H5951H398H6041H456515You trampled the sea with your horses, and the mighty waters piled high.H1869H3220H5483H2563H7227H432516I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me

, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.H8085H990H7264H8193H6750H6963H7538H935H6106H7264H5117H3117H6869H5927H5971H146417Even 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,H8384H6524H2981H1612H4639H2132H3584H7709H6213H400H6629H1504H4356H1241H751718yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!H5937H3068H1523H430H346819The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer

, able to tread upon the heights. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)H3069H136H2428H7760H7272H355H1869H1116H5329H5058