Is God enough for you? Are you satisfied with Him alone? The prophet Habakkuk grappled with these questions before finally arriving at his confession. In Habakkuk’s day, the nation of Israel was experiencing the removal of God’s material blessings in their land. Malice triumphed over justice as thieves prospered at the expense of the righteous. Where were the blessings that are supposed to accompany obedience? Was God guilty of “casting His pearls before swine” by allowing the fruitfulness of the wicked?
In chapter one, Habakkuk questions God with such laments as, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” and “Why do you tolerate the treacherous?” Answering the cries of His confused servant, God responds with the promise of punishment for the faithless, revealing the justice of His character.
By the end of chapter two, Habakkuk realizes his folly. Perhaps it was God’s final statement, “But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” God not only had an answer for Habakkuk, He was the answer! The Lord is in His holy temple—what more could you possibly need? What more could you want? He is enough. Habakkuk responded to this revelation with awe and humble submission. He shrugged off the focus on material blessings that had previously consumed him and boasted, “I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Is this our boast? Do we boast in God alone? An unfortunate trend in the American church today is our boasting of the material blessings of God instead of the Creator Himself. We open our hands and cry, “Bless me,” but there is so much more. If only we opened our eyes, we would find all we could ever want in the face of the One who calls us to come and know Him every day. We as the church were created to be the holy bride of Christ and to experience Him, the wildest of lovers. Why, then, do we look past the ultimate gift, life with Jesus, to the less satisfying material blessings of money, comfort, and success? It’s time we stop seeking the hand of God and start seeking His face. The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.
Dig Deeper:
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for all the blessings you give me each and every day. May I never take them for granted? I am in awe of your undeserving love.
