Standing Watch on the Ramparts

Scripture:
I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
Habakkuk 2:1

Observation: In chapter 1 of his writings, Habakkuk makes two "complaints" to the Lord. The first is that the Jews continue to sin over and over, and the Lord does nothing despite the cries of good people, and the Lord says he is about to send Babylon as punishment. The second compliant is that great people-groups are treacherous and wicked and don't believe in the Lord, and thus aren't holy in advancing the Lord's purpose. He compares them to a fisherman who brings up a massive haul of fish, then worships his own net instead of the provider of the fish. And after making this complaint, but before the Lord answers, Habakkuk says this ... he will stand his watch and await the Lord's answer.

The Lord does answer, though the response is a bit vague, going into some 'woes' upon those who trust in their own wisdom and strength, that he will punish those who desire to destroy others, and to wait for his action for it will surely come. It seems, however, that this entire part of Habakkuk's prophesy - both his complaint and the response - can be viewed not just about Babylon, but as a general model of how the Lord responds to situations where one powerful person or group or movement seeks to destroy righteous believers.

First, the righteous people should wait. The Lord will act, but it will be on his own timing.

Second, the Lord will destroy the lives of those proud people who used their might (physical, emotional, mental) to attack believers and slander the Lord's name.

Third, even the things the wicked did in their lives will be worthless and destroyed, for they were always made through unholy acts.

This all applied to Babylon, and did come to pass. However, this also applies through the centuries to evil political movements, other violent empires, wicked individuals and their followers, and even popular social movements designed to harm innocent people.

Application: As I consider this idea ... that the Lord has a plan for dealing with the evil movements, spun from the minds and hearts of wicked people, destroying a generation of innocent minds and attacking believers as if faith is a hate-crime ... I also see what I am to be doing. This is not our fight to fight. Instead, we are to live by our faithfulness (v4) and ... stand watch. We are to wait patiently and look to the Lord for what he will say and do. We are to be stationed on the ramparts, safe from wicked attacks upon the secure walls of faith, and simply await the Lord's response.

I have issued my complaint before the Lord about all this, time and time again. When Habakkuk complained, the Lord described his model for responding, and Habakkuk's final response to all this (before writing a song of praise) was to acknowledge that the Lord was in his temple, and the whole earth should be silent before him. That truth still holds.

The Lord is seated on his throne, and I should not rant and rave and shout in despair. Instead, I should be silent, knowing the Lord has a plan. Yes, I will praise him, and I will lift my prayers to him so they may rise like incense before his throne in heaven, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. However, my further laments and complaints have no value.

Woe to those who wage war on the believers of the Lord, and on the faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Woe to their schemes and lies, woven with the design to destroy the lives of the lost, confused, and gullible. These plans will fall, the idols created to honor their systems of thought will be destroyed, and the institutions that advance the lies will end. This will not happen by my hands, nor by the work of any man, but by the very plan and will of the Lord.

I will stand my watch on the ramparts and wait on the Lord's response.

Prayer: Lord, you are on your throne, and I know it. I do think often about the wickedness of this world, and about how the wicked lies being passed as wisdom today are destroying the lives of so many. However, I do know you have a plan, and that you love your creation. While I wish you would respond soon, the fact is I have faith that, soon or in some more distant future, you will respond, and your timing will be perfect. Please protect me and my family as we stand our watch from the ramparts of the wall, which is your Church and our faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.