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Tuesday 20 December 2016

Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 2


Book of Small Prophet 

Habakkuk 

Chapter

 2


¹ I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint.



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 1)



Oh God my Father that we all stand on our watch post and keep guard over our sinful self, and over all the situations that the evil one sends, to make us turn against You. May we all have time to communicate with You in prayer because Your, are my source of hope and protection Amen. Although there are some who doubt if You listen to our prayers, however I am fully convinced that none of my prayers are, or have, ever been wasted. Amen.



² Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.


(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 2)



Oh God, my Father this is why You wanted me to type these posts so that anybody can read the messages easily and benefit from the blessings found in the Good News Amen.


³ For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it: it will surely come, it will not delay.



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 3)


Oh God my Father for those of us, who do not believe that the last hour will come they are to think again, for the truth will always be the truth and the end will surely come. I pray that we will all be found ready at the final hour of our lives amen.


⁴ Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 4)




Oh God my Father I feel sorry and pray for people who are proud with themselves and with their achievements and attribute all the goodness achieved as their own personal merit. This may be a trap that even I fell into when my superiors cheered me for two positive interventions. However it is not I who did all the work but Your Holy Spirit who dwells in me showed me the steps that needed to be done, and for this I greatly thank You my God and Father Amen.


⁵ Moreover, wealth is treacherous; the arrogant do not endure. They open their throats wide as Sheol; like Death they never have enough. They gather all nations for themselves, and collect all peoples as their own.



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 5)




Oh God my Father arrogance is a agteway to hell, but humility is a pathway to heaven, I pray that I will never tread this evil path which takes me far away from You and closer to the gates of Hell.



⁶ Shall not everyone taunt such people, and with mocking riddles, say about them, "Alas for you who heap up what is not your own! How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge? 




(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 6)




Oh God even I feel that I am taunted in my situation. Many people are telling me to go my way, however I pledge my obedience to You and only You. I am loading myself with misery and stress because of the pledge that I have made in Your presence. It is only You who can make the final decision and not myself Amen.



⁷ Will not your own creditors suddenly rise, and those who make you tremble wake up? Then you will be booty for them.




(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 7)




Oh God my Father in this world we can rely on or trust in nobody, but You, for those in whom we place our trust, today as friends may, later on, become our enemies. Amen. Therefore our complete trust is to be placed in You alone. Amen. I invite you to click on the following link and join me in the following song:-




In Christ the Lord I place my trust (Credit to sinkit28)





⁸ Because you have plundered many nations, all that survive of the peoples shall plunder you- because of human bloodshed, and violence to the earth to cities and all who live in them



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 8)



Oh God my beloved Father, I thank You for being so protective and caring. You are my champion, You who fights my battles and daily issues with love care and power and might Amen. I thank You Jesus, for the victory is always Yours Amen.



⁹ 'Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm! ¹⁰ You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life.



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verses 9 to 10)



Oh God my beloved Father we would do anything to insure ourselves against anything that would be of harm on earth. We even have a form of insurance called 'Act of God'. We have built around us what we believe to be many forms of security, which in truth are worthless, because if You choose to intervene nothing can stand up to You my God and Father Amen.  



 ¹¹ The very stones will cry out from the wall, and the plaster will respond from the woodwork.



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 11)




Oh God my beloved Father, we are meddling so much with nature, the world is becoming so sinful in its ways, that even nature is turning against us. Amen.



Natural disasters (Credit to Kim Duffin)



¹² "Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed, and found a city on iniquity!"


(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 12) 



Oh God my Father, those who build on bloodshed reap on bloodshed, but Your presence will not be with such builders for You are just and merciful. I pray that You make me a postitive builder and not a negative one Amen. 



¹³ Is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples laboronly to feed the flames, and nations weary themselves for nothing?



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 13) 



Oh dear Habbakuk my brother in Jesus Christ, you have a point, for at the point of death nobody takes anything with him or her but our coffin and the good and bad deeds that we did throughout our life on earth. Therefore it is best to reap for the day, and live as if that day is our last one on earth Amen. 



¹⁴ But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 14)



Oh God my beloved Father, there will come the day when the whole world will be flooded with the experience and knowledge of the Good News, and there will be no space or occaison for evil to spread its seeds Amen.



¹⁵ "Alas for you who make your neighbours drink, pouring out your wrath until they are drunk, in order to gaze on their nakedness!"



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 15)



Oh God my Father, although certain experiences of my life have been bitter and hard to endure, I still pray for those who have tested me and hurt me so much as to have made me the person whom I have become today my God and Father, I pray both for my healing and even for their own Amen. 


¹⁶ You will be sated with contempt instead of glory. Drink, you yourself, and stagger! The cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and shame will come upon your glory!


(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 16)



Oh God my Father I am drinking from Your cup, the wine is bitter sweet, it is the chalice of misery instead of glory. It is true that shame will come upon my glory, for my reputation is slowly coming to zero.



¹⁷ For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you; the destruction of the animals will terrify you-because of human bloodshed snd violence to the earth, to cities and all who live in them.



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 17)



Oh God my beloved Father, I am deeply concerned about the tribulations that other countries or nations experience especially due to war and illness leading to death. Even though I can only pray for such people I still share in their pain and suffering Amen. 


¹⁸ What use is an idol once its maker has shaped it-a cast image, a teacher of lies?For its maker trusts in what has been made, though the product is only an idol that cannot speak!



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 18)




Oh God my Father, why do we chose to believe in the created and not in the creator? Created things give pleasure for a limited time and then they are discarded, however Your pleasure is eternal Amen. I pray that this Christmas and every day of our lives, we chose what gives us long lasting pleasure that is only You my God and Father. Amen.



¹⁹ Alas for you who say to the wood, "Wake up! to silent stone, "Rouse yourself! Can it teach? See, it is gold and silver plated, and there is no breath in it at all. ²⁰ But the LORD is his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him!



(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 2 verses 19 to 20)




Oh God my beloved Father, many times we praise and worship that which deserves no worship and be cold towards that which merits praise and worship. I pray oh God my Father that we do not aim to obtain the greatest pleasure in life, because this will always be lacking in some way or another. It will never be enough to satisfy our cravings. However if we refer to You my God and Father, and seek our pleasure in You and in relationship with You this is an investment for life. For only You can satisfy our needs in You is found the greatest pleasure Amen.



Oh God my beloved Father, I would like to end this second chapter of the book of the Prophet Habakkuk with the following prayer:




Blessed be Your Name my God and Father, You who are a tower of refuge and consolation. May we all seek our fulfillment in You alone and not in the shadows that the world projects before us. They are all illusions, fame, power, wealth, that only give worldly pleasure but in themselves they are dead. Amen 







 
 
 
 






 


 




 



 
 
 

 

 


Monday 25 July 2016

Book of Small Prophet Habbakuk Chapter 1

 

Book of Small Prophet 

Habbakuk 

Chapter

 1

 

 

1. The oracle that the prophet Habbakuk saw. 2. O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and You will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save?




(Book of Small Prophets Habakkuk Chapter 1 verses 1 to 2)




Oh God, my Father we expect a lot from You, however, we do not realise that You work on a different level than us humans. While we cry out for revenge, You cry out for peace and mercy. Even though You appear to be silent and motionless all the time You are always active and are never at rest when dealing with humanity Amen.




3. Why do you make me see wrong-doing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. 4. So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous-therefore judgment comes forth perverted.




(Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 1 verses 3 to 4)




Oh God injustice and destruction are still the rule of the day even during our times meaning 2016. Many people are experiencing, death at the least moment that they expected it by means of terrorists who without warning claim the lives of innocent people, who think they are obeying the rules of their belief or religion, that may lead them to believe that destruction is justified. On the other hand justice itself is being perverted, magistrates are being accused of corruption, and ministers in parliament, also accuse each other of corrupt practices. There is nothing and nobody apart from You in whom we can truly believe and trust Amen.  




5. Look at the nations, and see! Be astounded! For a work is being done in your days that you would not believe if you were told.


 (Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 1 verse 5)




Oh God, my Father the news is really true. The message is really true, even for you who are reading this blog and meditating on the 'Word of God'. The good is that even, though we are sinners, some of us even hardened sinners, God loves us and accepts us as we are. Even though He does not like our sins He loves You and Me as we are and not as He wants us to be Amen.



6. For I am rousing the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous nation, who march through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. 7. Dread and fearsome are they; their justice and dignity proceed from themselves.




(Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 1 verses 6 to 7)


Oh God my Father when we act from the flesh, all that proceeds is the fruit of the flesh and not of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us. I pray oh God that You help me in becoming aware of those moments when  I am acting from myself, to when I am acting in the Spirit Amen.




8. Their horses are swifter than leopards, more menacing than wolves at dusk; their horses charge. Their horsemen come from far away; they fly like an eagle swift to  devour.




(Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 1 verse 8)



Oh God my Father as humans we have a limited view of reality, in truth what may be taking place in the world may be part of Your Master -plan as a preparation for Your second coming, thus paving the way for the end of time as we experience it today to another time that we or those who come later on will experience Amen.




 9. They all come for violence, with faces pressing forward; they gather captives like sand. 10. At kings they scoff, and of rulers they make sport. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up earth to take it. 11. Then they sweep by like the wind; they transgress and become guilty; their own might is their god!



(Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 1 verses 9 to 11)



Oh God, my Father the evil spirits have no choice whom to harass and overcome. Everybody is dead meat for them. They have no mercy to spare either for the king, the prime minister, ambassador or even the layman or pope. On finding us in a state of sin, they launch an attack and make a disaster of our souls. I pray that You be always with us as our protective shield Amen.



12. Are you not from of old, O LORD my God, my Holy One? You shall not die. O LORD, you have marked them for judgment; and you, O Rock, have established them for punishment.





(Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 1 verse 12)




Oh God my Father, God of ages, You who can never be created or destroyed, You who is all justice and justice itself, please have mercy on the world and even myself, for we are not always aware of what we do and end up joining the evil ones and bring judgement on ourselves Amen. 



13. Your eyes are too pure to behold evil, and you cannot look on wrongdoing; why do you look on the treacherous, and are silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they?



(Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 1 verse 13)



Oh god if there is somebody who is pure in this world it is You and not any human! However, questions such as the following easily and frequently come to mind. Why do certain situations are experienced by some of us and not by others, why do some dominate others and bring them under their control. Why do those who are known as being good perish at the hands of those who are known for their evil? Such things I do not understand my God and Father, however I am consoled by the fact that all is under Your control, and for some reason which is for our own good, although we do not see it or feel it at the moment in question all is happening as an asset on our behalf Amen.



14. You have made people like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. 15. The enemy brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his seine; so he rejoices and exults. 16. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his seine; for by them his portion is lavish, and his portion is lavish, and his food is rich. 17. Is he then to keep on emptying his net, and destroying nations without mercy?



(Book of Small Prophet Habakkuk Chapter 1 verses 14 to 17)




Oh  God my Father when we decide to take full control of our lives, we end up being prey for the evil one, who will stop at nothing to claim our souls by laying one trap after another for us to fall in. I pray that we will always make space for You in our lives and be happy to be co. pilots of the aeroplane of our lives Amen.


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:


Oh God my Father, I thank You for the works that You have done in my life, even for those that up to this day I still do not understand why they had to happen, or if they had to take place in the way they did. I give You full control of my life, so that all that I do and say will be under Your control Amen.