Whenever we are reading the
Bible, it is a good idea to take down some notes. If we open our
sensory faculties as well as listening to the Spirit of God teach us,
writing notes only helps us to gain a greater understanding of what
God has to say to us personally through His word. Such is the case
with Habakkuk as he begins to stop everything and simply listen to
God. Habakkuk has been in a testing place as he has not understood
the ways of God thus far in his book, and now he is ready to hear
what God has to say. Let's look at the words of the Lord to Habakkuk
in chapter two and verse two:
And the LORD answered
me, and said, Write the vision, and make [it] plain upon tables, that
he may run that reads it.
Let's
imagine ourselves in Habakkuk's position for a moment. We have stood
upon our watch, set upon a tower, and quieted ourselves to hear God
speak, and He answers us. What a moment that must have been for
Habakkuk, but then look at God's first words to Him, “Write the
vision”. This was such an important vision that God desired
that Habakkuk write it down. It is amazing how many things we can
easily forget if we do not simply write them down, particularly when
it comes to spiritual things. We are the beneficiaries of Habakkuk's
writing today. Are we not glad he wrote it down?
Next the
LORD said, “and make it plain upon tables”. In other
words, make it simple. Engrave it upon tables in such a way that
everyone may understand it. It is important that the Bible is taught
simply so that everyone within its hearing may comprehend what God is
saying through His word. Too often complication is added, and many go
away from the Bible and use the excuse, “the Bible is too hard to
understand.” We must share the scriptures and the gospel within
them so simply that even a child could understand them. This is the
case with Habakkuk. God tells him not only to write down the vision,
but to also make it plain.
Finally
God gives the reason for writing the vision and making it plain. He
said, “that he may run that reads it.” The idea portrayed
here is not that the one who reads it may run away when he reads it,
but rather that he may run with it when he does. In other words, he
becomes a talebearer of the vision that is presented. He becomes a
witness and gives testimony to what he has read. When the Bible is
presented in a simple fashion, it makes it easy for a person to pass
it along to another. This vision from God is going to be so important
that people will be wanting to share it with others.
So let's
examine ourselves today in light of these words of Habakkuk. Have we
stopped to listen to God lately? If so, what have we heard from Him?
Is the message or vision from Him one that we should write down? Is
the word from Him one that may be written so simply that others will
desire to share it with people they know? It is one thing to read and
listen to the Bible, and it is quite another to begin to share what
we have learned with someone else. Perhaps today we should simply
stop everything, listen to our Heavenly Father, have our pen and
papers in hand, and be ready for that which we are about to hear or
see.
Next
time we will learn more of this vision that is so important from God
to Habakkuk, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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