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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
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2013 May 16



Habakkuk (1423-1435)
Donatello (c. 1386 - 1466)
Renaissance Style
From the Bell Tower of the Duomo of Florence, Florence, Italy
Image Source: Wikipedia


     Explanation: The book of Habakkuk is a dialogue between Habakkuk and the LORD in which the prophet struggles to understand the ways of the LORD (called a Theodicy) and finally comes to an assurance of the LORD's mercy even while he awaits the judgment which is coming first. The book opens in chapter 1 with the prophet crying out to the LORD against the violence and the injustice which go on unchecked among God's people. In reply, the LORD says that he will bring judgment through the Chaldeans, "that bitter and hasty nation" (v. 6). They will come with violence against kings and princes and overcome the strongholds. But Habakkuk asks the LORD how he can allow the wicked to devour those who are more righteous than they are since the LORD is "of purer eyes than to behold evil, and can not look on iniquity" (v. 13).


Habakkuk 1


     1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
     2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
     5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
     12 Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. 13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? 14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? 15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?


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