I have favorite chapters in the Old Testament. One is Exodus 33, Moses’ pursuit of God’s presence with him as he leads the people into the Promised Land (yesterday’s devotion). The second is Habakkuk 3.

The Book of Habakkuk is a dialogue between the prophet and the LORD God. Habakkuk is having a hard time understanding why God is doing what He is doing. The Prophet could not understand why God would use a nation more evil than Israel to bring discipline and chastisement to Israel for their evil ways.

How often do we also wonder as the Prophet did, why God is doing what He is doing in our lives. Eventually in the dialogue the Prophet caught a glimpse of God and heard the declaration, “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” [Hab 2:20 NIV]

No matter what we see or don’t see, what we understand or don’t understand, God is on the throne and we bow before Him. That is exactly what Habakkuk does in the third chapter. He finally expresses in prayer what each one of us must also come to grasp – no matter what it looks like from our perspective, God is on His Eternal Throne – let all the earth be silent before him.

“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 Savior.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on the heights.“ [Hab 3:17-19 NIV]