Day 6: Stand, station, look
I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint (Habakkuk 2:1).
Our Father, You are God Eternal, from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2) — the Ancient of Days (Isaiah 43:13, Daniel 7:9), the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). The Lord Jesus taught us to approach You in prayer with worship and reverence, fixing our hearts on who You are. And as we contemplate Your sovereignty, Your might, Your majesty, we are filled with the absolute awe of Jeremiah:
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17).
We are filled with the confident expectation of David, In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:3).
We are filled with the patient assurance of Habakkuk, I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me... (Habakkuk 2:1).
Our Father, like the prophets, the disciples, the community of believers through the ages — the great cloud of witnesses that surround us (Hebrews 12:1) — we often do not understand the world and its workings. Habakkuk's words of anguish resonate deeply with us as we look at our own times:
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen? Or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? Why do You make me look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds... (Habakkuk 1:2-3).
But in all of his angst, frustration, and outrage against evil and injustice, Habakkuk did not lose the realization that You are God: Lord, are You not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, You will never die (Habakkuk 1:12). And ultimately, You instructed the prophet to wait for Your timing (Habakkuk 2:2-3).
Lord, for us too, it sometimes becomes difficult to maintain our spiritual equilibrium. We struggle to be sober and vigilant without becoming horrified, shocked, saddened, and overwhelmed by the evils and ills of this world. We, too, are surrounded, world-over, by conflict, turmoil, violence, evil, and injustice.
Remind us that You are still God. Remind us that the Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster (Proverbs 16:4).
As we pour out our prayers, requests, and laments before You, may we develop a posture of quiet, confident waiting — assured that though it linger [Your answer] will certainly come (Habakkuk 2:3). Teach us to stand at our watch, station ourselves in our assigned position of diligent duty, and look for Your perfect will be be done.
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