Deeply Stained Within

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

May we be deeply moved in waves of contrition and repentance for our own sin & rebellion (Hab 1:6-11). #Repent #TurnNowToGod #America #TheNations

MORNING WATCH NOTES (and extended subscript to the nations):

This is the horrific vision that God gave the prophet, Habakkuk. A pagan nation of cruel violent people (Babylon) will descend on Judah like a blazing relentless desert wind. This godless nation will gobble up other nations as well, having their way with whatever cruelty they wish.

The war horses of Babylon run like the cheetah and are more fierce than ravenous wolves. Their charioteers charge from a far off and swoop down like eagles, picking off and devour their unsuspecting prey. They scoop up captives as they go. No one is safe. They scoff kings & princes; laugh at their fortresses and walls. Then, like the wind, they are gone, leaving behind nothing but a sweltering desolate landscape.

But God tells the prophet, Babylon was not innocent for having been God‘s instrument. NO! They went beyond all restraint to their own destruction. They were deeply guilty and flawed because they viewed their own strength was their God.

Lord, the prayer sentries, the watchmen on the walls, must sit dumbfounded with the prophet and consider what horrific plan lay ahead for Judah. Would God, could God, do such a thing (vv12-16)?

May this Sentry be moved to waves of contrition and repentance for my own deep sin.

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SUBSCRIPT TO THE NATIONS:

I ask what will be in store for my own great nation (America) and her great allies. Where will pride in our own strength, our arrogant disregard of God and our distain of justice bring us? Is there any nation on earth today that God may be raising up to do to us what Babylon did to Judah and the ancients?

That is not a far fetched question. Consider China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. All of these are mentioned in one way or another in prophecies of these end times.

A local pastor spoke recently and reminded his congregation of how the nations viewed the nation of Israel after her 70 years of captivity in Babylon.

”When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” (Psm 126:1-2)

“The other nations were amazed” to see how God had blessed Israel.

There was a day when the nations would have looked upon America and said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” But today that light has grown dim and the nations laugh at us. Mock us. Scorn us. America has left the God of her fathers. May the Lord send sweeping revival across this land like a fast moving prairie fire. May there be an awakening of national one global proportions.

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Perhaps the prophet Habakkuk and those righteous who were with him, like we today, could find some comfort in the words of Israel’s king, David, the Psalmist:

”But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence…

[…no matter who: Babylon, China, Russia, Iran; AMERICA, GREAT BRITAIN and others are not without their own history of violence]

“[God] will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds.

[If God spared not his own chose people from judgment and correction, how safe are those without God’s covering of mercy and grace?]

[But our] righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.“ (Psm 11:4-7)

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GOD PROMISES TO SHOW HIS FACE TO THOSE WHO ARE HIS RIGHTEOUS ONES, WHO CHOOSE VIRTUE

Did God Exalt Evil?

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

May we turn daily and acknowledge God, our gracious Sovereign (Hab 1:6) #AcknowledgeGodAsSovereign #GodExaltsNations #GodAbandonsNations #RighteousnessExaltsANation #SinDestroysANation

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

So what is so “astounding“ about God‘s vision to Habakkuk? Well, God says, incredibly, that he has raised up a nation of cruel and violent people. EVIL: did God make this nation cruel and violent? NO! He elevated this nation on the world stage (Job 12:23). Men are cruel, violent and evil because of the lust and greed in their own fallen hearts (John 3:18-20).

This nation, Babylon (also a key metaphor of evil throughout much of Bible prophecy – Dan 2:36-39; Rev 18:2,3) and its king, did not acknowledge God as its source of strength. They attributed their wealth, might and power to their own strength and ability. Instead of blessing the world, they became a curse to the world. Ultimately God would cast them off as well.

[William Grunall states in his classic, The Christian In Complete Armour, “Sometimes [God] allows an opposing force to arise, so that at precisely the right moment he can raise up a more magnificent pillar of remembrance to himself. This pillar will stand in the very ruins of that which contested [God’s] power. Thus, when he intervenes, all must say, “Almighty Power was here“ Pg.46]

It is foolish to ignore and disrespect a gracious God, who exalts men and nations. Lord, may I (may America) daily acknowledge you as my (and our) Sovereign.

God’s Infinite Vision

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

Place your faith in the eternal wisdom and plans of God (Hab 1:6). #InfinitVision #PlanOfTheAges #GodIsSovereign

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Here is the vision that will astound, even terrify, Habakkuk and the people of God (v5). God has been infinitely at work to raise up a nation (a pagan, gentile nation), Babylon, to rain down judgment on Judah. Habakkuk, in his short life and span of prophetic call, is just arriving to where God has been for generations.

God has been long suffering, not willing that any should perish. God is ready to curb his judgment at the first sign of repentance. But now the time has come (2Pe 3:9,10). Habakkuk will be one of the last trumpet calls to repent. God was right. Habakkuk could not believe it (vv12,13). God is eternally at work in the affairs of men (Job 12:21-24). Lord, I may fully trust in your infinite plan for the nations, for my good and your glory.

Extraordinary Evil; Extraordinary Judgment

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

Pray expecting the unexpected from God in his judgment of evil (Hab 1:5). #ExpectTheUnexpected #PrepareToBeAstounded

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

God has stirred up the heart of the prophet toward the evil God sees. The prophet has asked the right questions of God (vv2–4) and he is a ready recorder of God‘s answers. God says, “Hold onto your Ram’s horn Habakkuk (my translation). You are not going to believe what I am doing, even now as you speak with me. You will be astounded.”

Extraordinary evil requires extraordinary acts of God. Do we see extraordinary acts of evil in our day? Is God still sovereign? Strap on your seatbelt. God is still in the business of extraordinary acts. His acts in judgment are certainly already in progress. Judgment on the nations (on America) will look nothing like we might expect. Instead, we may be astounded at what God does and how he does it.

Lord, the heart of this old sentry pounds in expectation for the unexpected in our day, something no one could have conceived of happening.

Evil: Prompts For Prayer

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

May evil find judgment at the hand of God (Hab 1:1–4). #Revival #Prayer #Awakening #America #GlobalAwakening #Repentance

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

What Habakkuk sees in the vision he received from God is the state of society in his day. He sees what others might see even in our day. They are Prompts to PRAY!. “Violence is everywhere I look. It goes on and on, unchecked. PRAY! The evil running rampant in our streets creates havoc and misery for its victims. PRAY! People argue and fight at the least provocation. PRAY!

Where is the law? Nowhere. It is paralyzed. PRAY! There is no justice in corrupt courtrooms. PRAY! The wicked outnumber the righteous and justice is perverted. PRAY!” So, we too ask, “Lord, how long must we cry out for help; when will justice fall?” Lord, the press of evil begs the urgent prayer of this sentry on the wall; that God might judge the wicked and spare the righteous. PRAY!

Soul Ablaze In Prayer

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

May hearts be set ablaze in prayer for revival and awakening (Hab 1:1–4). #Revival #Prayer #Awakening #America #GlobalAwakening

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Who learns more quickly, the student who is uninterested in a subject, or the student who is inquisitive and asks questions about the subject? Just so, who would pray more effectively, the person told he must pray, or the person who knows the call of God to intercede? This is Habakkuk.

J. Edwin Orr (authority on revival*) says, “Whenever God is ready to do something new with his people, he always sets them to praying.“ Look again at verse one. It is God who sends the questions that stir the prophet’s heart and sets him ablaze in prayer.

The questions that burn in the heart of Habakkuk are the questions God intends to use to set the prophet’s heart ablaze in prayer for his people. Lord set my heart and soul on fire in prayer for revival, awakening and restoration.

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* For those interested: J. Edwin Orr on Revival

God Quiet? Ask Why!

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

May you never fear to ask God honest questions (Hab 1:1–4). #AskGod #HonestQuestionsHonestAnswers

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Here we have the prophet Habakkuk (his name may mean “embracer” or “embraced“ (literally it means to hold in one’s hands). Was Habakkuk the “embracer” of the people to comfort them, or to be an “embracer” of the problem of divine justice in a wicked world? Or was he the “embraced” one who God had chosen as his messenger?

Either way, Habakkuk was God‘s prophet and his message stands as unique among the prophets. His writings are more the record of a dialogue between him and his Creator God. His primary question, as ours is today, why does such evil persist in our world without any consequences?* These first four verses could be internet headlines today. Lord, if I am honest, I must admit that I too wonder just how long before you set this crooked old world straight again?

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* The Bible Knowledge Commentary on Habakkuk, Pgs 1505-1507.

Embracing A World In Crisis

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

May the darkness of sin around us lead us to pray for the justice and mercy of God (Hab 1:1; 3:2). #DeepIntercessions #TheWorldInCrisis

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Habakkuk is a prophet of God who shows up sometime prior to the Babylonian captivity of the Jews. He is a contemporary of Jeremiah. Nothing more is known of him. There is however, some wide agreement that he may have been a musician of the Levitical office (see 3:19). Further, his writings resemble the literary style of the psalms.*

Habakkuk often sounds more like David pouring out his heart to God than a preacher raining down judgment on the people. He is more poet than prophet. The darkness of sin running rampant in our world, should bring God‘s people to a deeper place of repentance and devotion to him. Lord, Habakkuk calls me to think more deeply on the state of our world and to plead for God’s justice and mercy (3:2).

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* The Bible Knowledge Commentary on Habakkuk, Pgs 1505-1507.

Ignore God? Perilous!

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

Turn now to God from any godless way (Jer 47:1-7) #TurnNowToGod #Repent #IgnoringGodIsPerilous

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

A lot has been written and a lot can be said of the history between Israel and the Philistines.* The Philistines have always been a thorn in Israel’s side; even to this day with Palestinians and Gaza. Israel should have driven them from the land in the Exodus. (Exo 23:31-33; Jos 13:1–3). They did not and they worshipped pagan Philistine gods.

This prophecy of Jeremiah intensifies God’s intention to judge any godless people. The message is the same for the Philistines and every other nation – repent and turn to God while there is still time (Nineveh is a good example – Jon 1:1,2) Lord, every lawless, godless act will be judged. The time to turn is now. For me to ignore God comes at great risk.

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* History of the Philistines, Palestinians and Israel. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Philistine-people

https://www.gotquestions.org/Israel-Philistines.html

Can’t Outsmart God

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

Run not from God, but run to him (Jer 46:27,28) #RunToGod #Repent #TurnTowardsGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Judah, having taken Egypt as an ally, will find herself exposed to a new and greater threat. Was she wrong to take Egypt as an ally? No. But thinking she could avoid her judgment by putting her trust and hope in another other than God was foolish thinking.

The prophecies of Judah being overrun by Babylon, are now a certain possibility. God will route Judah and send her into exile for her sin and rebellion against God. But God will eventually return her to her land. This is a promise. Lord, no matter how I try to manipulate my welfare, you always work things out to your glory and my greater good.

ECLIPSISM

Eclipism:

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Focus on the wonder of God’s power in creation and the complexities of his created universe.

Is it a sign? Yes & Maybe. Watch and wait. Be dressed in readiness.

Crosshairs of Judgment

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

Rely on Jehovah God alone and not any false gods or carnal self reliance (Jer 46:1–26). #TrustJehovahGodAlone #TurnNowToGod #repent

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

In the reigning days of wicked King Jehoiakim, Jeremiah announces judgment, not only on Judah, but on the surrounding nations as well. Babylon is on the rise. Egypt is about to fall, leaving Babylon as the reigning superpower. Hear the words of judgment on Egypt for her pride, arrogance and reliance upon her military night.

“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘I will punish [Egypt] and all her so-called gods, her rulers, and all those who follow those false gods.’” Yet God is merciful to all people, and yet at some point in the future, Egypt shall recover. Lord, I will put my trust in no other God but Jehovah.

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Is the handwriting on the wall America? – Billy Graham

A Cup Running Over

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

Come quickly in humble repentance and surrender to God (Jer 25:15,16) #TheCupOfJudgment #TurnNowToGod #Repent

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

In the closing days of the reign of Jehoiakim of Judah, Jeremiah pronounces judgment on the nations. God will use godless nations to bring judgment on his people for their sin and indifference towards God. But the godless shall not escape the judgment of God for their sin, pride and arrogance. They too, will be devastated, some never to rise again.

God’s anger with the nations is like a cup filled to the brim and running over. None will escape judgment – save only those who turn in repentance to God from the road of sin they travel (v5).

AMERICA SHOULD HEED THE WORDS OF JUDGMENT SPOKEN BY JEREMIAH

NO ONE IS SBOVE THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS OF GOD.

Lord, the life of this old sentry was changed forever when I turned off the road of sin I was traveling and got onto your “highway of holiness” (Isa 35:8,9). *

ALL PRAISE TO THE LORD

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* See my testimony blog post: Window of Opportunity

“Cancel Culture”, 600 B.C. – Alive & Well

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION:

Be discerning of the voices around you (Jer 26:20-24). #CoolHeadsPrevail #BeDiscerning #StillSmallVoiceOfGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

In contradistinction to king Hezekiah, who led the people to repent at the words of Micah, the prophet (vv18,19), Jehoiakim killed Uriah the prophet for delivering a similar message as Jeremiah to Judah. (Hezekiah was Jehoiakim‘s great great grandfather). “Cancel Culture“ – alive and well in 600 BC. Jehoiakim tracked Uriah down in Egypt, brought him back to Judah, and executed this prophet of God.

Finally, in the case against Jeremiah, Ahikam, who served under godly king Josiah (2Ki 22:12-14) sided with the elder wiser men in the room (v17). The court acquitted Jeremiah. One innocent, prophet killing was one too many (v15). Lord, I cannot always rely on the loudest voices in the room and must listen for the still small voice of God.*

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* See a similar event when hot headed priests planned to kill Peter. A wise and elder Pharisee shed wisdom on their deliberations.