I wonder if you can recall a time when you felt like you stepped into a different world. This may have been on a holiday, or when you read a novel and the narrative drew you into the world being described or maybe when you went to the theatre to watch a musical or a play. For me, it’s going to the theatre and absorbing myself into a musical that captivates me. As the music starts and the curtain lifts, I am transported into the story for a couple of hours. Then the curtain comes down, and I am back to reality as I walk out of the theatre. Escaping into the wonders of musical theatre is fine for a time but the effect wears off, and life returns to normal. Life with all its complexities and heartaches can often feel estranged and a long way from God’s way of love and justice that we long for. In our reading today we meet a prophet who could not equate the world around him and God.

Our reading for today, is from Habakkuk, one of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew scriptures.
The book of Habakkuk is a short narrative between the prophet Habakkuk and God. We know little about the prophet, other than he is believed to have lived around 600 BCE, before the fall of Jerusalem. He lived at a time of oppression, threats of violence and social injustices.  Habakkuk looked at the world around him and complained to God. Why, because he sees violence and injustices and laments, “how long shall I cry for help” (1:2). It’s as though he is having a crisis of faith, trying to equate a God of justice and love with the reality of life around him, questioning why God doesn’t act. A lament that we too cry out today as we watch the news and see the injustices, wars and suffering.

God replies to Habakkuk in chapter two, verses 1-4, that renews his faith and hope. Verse 3 says “For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie.” Habakkuk is encouraged to trust in God, that God has a plan and that the injustices around him will end. Then in verse 4 God shows him ‘how’ to trust and live in faith in his context; “Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness”. These words of ‘how’ to live ‘by faithfulness’, renewed his spirit as they can too for us today. A narrative that became a beacon of light for Habakkuk. For us today we can see God’s promise of a bigger plan, were words of truth, revealed in Jesus and that continue to be unveiled through His Holy Spirit for us today. Paul, in his letter to the Romans saw this and drew from Habakkuk’s narratives, in chapter 1 verse 17, where he speaks of the saving power of Christ: “For in it the righteous of God is revealed through faith for faith as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith’.”

Today, for us as we continue to walk in faith, let us draw wisdom from these narratives. How, by not taking on the burden of the world in worry, but instead through lamenting and action. Habakkuk, driven by the social injustices around him, cried out to God for an answer, God answered. Trust me Habakkuk, I have a plan, your role is to walk the way of righteousness. Christ revealed this way, God’s love in action, that saves and transforms. The good news is that we can trust God that the best is yet to come, that suffering will end.
Our role is to live by faith, fix are eyes on Christ and to not get weary of acting justly and sharing God’s love to those around us. Amen.