THE APPOINTED TIME

The little book of Habakkuk has a powerfully big message. The prophet Habakkuk is wanting to know in his lament to God why his chosen people, the Jews, are suffering so in captivity while the pagan nations are kicking their tails and destroying them with violence, evil practices, fear and mocking. Habakkuk wants to know why these Chaldeans (now known as northern Iraq) heathens are getting away with this stuff.
(Habakkuk 1)

“The Lord answered me:
Write down this vision;
clearly inscribe it on tablets
so one may easily read it.
For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it,
since it will certainly come and not be late.
Look, his ego is inflated;
he is without integrity.
But the righteous one will live by his faith.’
(Habakkuk 2:2-4)

The prophet says, ‘The Lord answered me’ and said ‘it’s not yet for the appointed time’ and ‘wait for it…it will certainly come.’ The three things we do not want to hear when struggling and waiting for help, solution or deliverance.

Habakkuk finally concedes:
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!” (3:17-19)

Waiting for the appointed time is often a tough time.

“Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” Jesus