One scripture portion that has invariably challenged me every time I went through a crisis is the concluding portion of the Psalm of prophet Habakkuk in chapter 3: 17-18. This 7th C prophet witnesses the catastrophic proportions of injustice prevalent in the Jewish society. His heart is heavily burdened in this regard and has come to a state where he feels tired of carrying it on his shoulders anymore. Unlike some other contemporaries of his time he chooses to confront God on this matter by raising a complaint. God does reply to the prophet’s complaint by revealing him the role of the then Neo-Babylonian kingdom in the near future in punishing the unrighteous. The prophet is not unaware of this growing power but he is well aware of their great spoils and deeply treacherous attitude to other nations. In his opinion they are if not more unrighteous, equally wicked in comparison to the wicked in the Jewish society. In his deep dissatisfaction he confronts God again, this time raising a complaint against the Chaldeans. The prophet does report God’s reply to this second complaint in which God assures that He will bring the Babylonian power down to its knees in His time. The prophet’s dilemma, however, is this- he has to continue to be a mute witness to the injustice because the revelation awaits an appointed time! He is tired of lamenting and happiness seems to be a distant luxury.
As human beings we always need a reason that immediately appeals to our senses for the creation of the emotion we know as ‘joy’. But what do we do when at times the more we seek such a reason the more it eludes us? Moments like this were very much a part of prophet Habakkuk’s life. Nevertheless, we see a love, a joy, a faith, a relationship that transcends reason in his psalm. He says,
“Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour”.(Hab 3:17-18. NIV)
The prophet has grown to love his God more for who He is than for what He does. Another great example of a love that transcended reason is found in the words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They are faced with an unprecedented crisis which comes along with a solution! All they need to do to get out of this crisis is to worship the idol of Nebuchadnezzar. However, they take the path where logic and rational would not dare to go. The book of Daniel records their words in Ch 3: 16-18 like this,
“...we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (emphasis added. NIV)
For these great men what was more important was who God is rather than what He can do for them. What we can take away from their life is the blaring reality that only when our love transcends the realm of reasons, and begin to love God for who He is than for what He does, will our joys surpass its own fleeting nature.
Nobby Jose Varghese, (BD IV)
PTD Chairperson and Student of UBS
As human beings we always need a reason that immediately appeals to our senses for the creation of the emotion we know as ‘joy’. But what do we do when at times the more we seek such a reason the more it eludes us? Moments like this were very much a part of prophet Habakkuk’s life. Nevertheless, we see a love, a joy, a faith, a relationship that transcends reason in his psalm. He says,
“Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour”.(Hab 3:17-18. NIV)
The prophet has grown to love his God more for who He is than for what He does. Another great example of a love that transcended reason is found in the words of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They are faced with an unprecedented crisis which comes along with a solution! All they need to do to get out of this crisis is to worship the idol of Nebuchadnezzar. However, they take the path where logic and rational would not dare to go. The book of Daniel records their words in Ch 3: 16-18 like this,
“...we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (emphasis added. NIV)
For these great men what was more important was who God is rather than what He can do for them. What we can take away from their life is the blaring reality that only when our love transcends the realm of reasons, and begin to love God for who He is than for what He does, will our joys surpass its own fleeting nature.
Nobby Jose Varghese, (BD IV)
PTD Chairperson and Student of UBS
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