How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen, or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. Habakkuk 1:2-4
The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; He examines everyone. The Lord examines the righteous and the wicked. He hates the lover of violence. He will rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked; a scorching wind will be their portion. For the Lord is righteous; He loves righteous deeds. The upright will see His face. Psalm 11:4-7
My words…
Praise
I live in a violent world with violent people. Habakkuk did, too. He and I share the same frustrations: Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. Habakkuk witnessed one nation conquering another, hauling off the king of the weaker nation, murdering his sons in front of him before gouging out his eyes. I hear of a shooter murdering school children, a sniper firing a rifle at police officers, and a truck driver steering into a crowd of sightseers. As a person who changes stride to keep from stepping on an ant, I cannot fathom the mindset of premeditated violence on another human. I don’t want to understand it. But You understand it, Lord. You witnessed murder in just the second generation from the creation of mankind. And the violence hasn’t stopped since. We cry out to you, “Where are You, God?” But You have provided all we need to stem the course of violence – Jesus offered so many perfect examples: love your enemies, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile. But the violent man turns a deaf ear to Your words and sets a destructive course. In doing so, he stands in the way of Your judgement. I praise You as the God who knows the heart of every person, making You the perfect One to judge both the peaceful and the violent.
Prayer for me
Keep me, oh Lord, from losing hope in a world where the wicked keep violence in their back pockets, ready to use when the notion arises. So much senseless violence wears on my heart. But meditating on Your word and being reminded of Your justice keeps my heart light. Help me look to You more each day.
Forgive me
Forgive me for questioning Your love and care for Your creation when I inquire: Don’t you see what is happening, Lord? Why don’t You act? You see everything, and You act according to Your limitless wisdom. Who am I to question You?
Prayer for others
Father, today I pray for those who choose violence as the first reaction to an injustice. They refuse to consider any other alternative. Perhaps they use violence to fill a hole in their hearts, a hole carved out by prejudice, hatred, and anger. Their acts of violence widen the hole and spur others to be imitators of their beliefs and actions. I pray they will look to You to fill their hearts and chase away the need for violence.
And there are so many grieving families around the world, their hearts ripped open at the loss of someone they held dear. I pray that these recent events will not drive them away from You but closer instead.
Thank You
Thank You for the intended acts of violence that never occurred because of Your intervening hand. For the vehicles that never crashed, for the bombs that never exploded, for the victims who did not perish – I thank You. Perhaps even my life was one that was spared?
More praise
Lord, You created violence within nature. But the earthquake and the tornado do not select those who lie in their paths. The lion and the spider do not hate their prey. The violent man selects his victims, hoping to hear their cries of pain. But You see him Lord, from Your place in the heavens. His acts of violence will not go unseen. And for this, I praise You.
