Rev. George Miller
Dec 2, 2018
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4, 3:17-19
On Wednesday, after we decorated the sanctuary for Christmas, Nancy and David engaged in a lively conversation.
Nancy thought it would be cool to revive our former “Fun Nights” and do things that allowed people to get to know one another better.
For example, ask simple questions like “What famous person have you met?” or “What’s the most exotic location you’ve been to?”
Another fun question is “What’s your nickname and how did you get it?”
Think of the nicknames we give to people: Princess, Pumpkin, Pooh-bear, Peanut, Puddin’, Papa.
Turns out today’s scripture may be the nickname of the person who wrote it.
Though little is known about the author, it turns out that back then there was a plant called a hambakuku, which could mean Habakkuk was actually a fun little nickname, such as when you call a child Sunflower or Daffodil.
This little bit of information may not seem like much, but what it does do is make the prophet seem a little bit more real, and a little more accessible.
Just imagine, if you will, Habakkuk’s Dad coming home from work and being like “Honey, I’m home. What did our Little Plant do today?”
“Oh, he learned his ABC’s and 123’s.”
“That’s nice.”
“Honey, I’m home! I stopped by Publix to pick up dinner. What did Little Habakkuk learn today?”
“Oh, he learned about how God remembered Noah and made a bunch of promises to Abraham.”
“That’s nice.”
“Honey, I’m home. Sorry I’m late. Boss kept us an extra hour. How’s Hambooky today?”
“Oh, you know, he said he had a long talk with the Lord and accused God of being deaf and lazy.”
“What, what, what???”
…Oh Habukkuk…you funny little plant.
Basically, this is what we have in today’s reading. Habakkuk is a prophet living and working around the same time as Jeremiah.
The nation’s in turmoil; war is inevitable. But instead of pointing a finger at the people, this plant-named prophet points a few fingers directly at God.
He is very direct and upfront. He asks God how long things are going to go the way they are going.
He asks God how long he has to cry out for help before God listens. He asks how much more violence has to happen before God steps in and intervenes.
Habakkuk is relentless; he refuses to let God off the hook.
He is of the mindset that God is big enough, strong enough and capable enough to receive some much needed constructive criticism.
“How long are you going to let sin surround us before you do what you are supposed to do?”
This is a conversation in which Habakkuk displays incredible faith; a strong faith rooted in his knowledge of who God is, what God is about, and the things God has done in the past.
Habakkuk is tired of looking around and seeing nothing but strife and suffering, so he challenges God to act, daring God to be God.
Cool thing is this- God hears his complaint, God acknowledges his concerns, and God accepts his challenge…just not in the way Habakkuk expected.
God says that God is working things out, there is a plan in place, but 1st- things will get worse before they get better.
God hears Habakkuk’s complaint, and God says “Be patient. Wait. Stay right where you are.”
This message may not seem like enough, but apparently it is for Habakkuk, because it plants within him a much needed sense of hope.
Although things have not changed, although situations are still the same, Habakkuk does find a sense of peace, he does achieve a sense of comfort.
Even though the fig trees are still bare and the olive branches remain empty, this Flower-Of-A-Man finds a way to
faithfully rise up,
hold onto God’s promise,
stay strong,
dance like a deer, and
rejoice in the Lord.
Habakkuk starts off by confronting God, boldly asking “How long?” and he ends by saying “I will glorify the Lord!”
But how? How did he get there if nothing changed? Chaos still ruled the land and war was certain to arrive.
If the situation did not change, what changed in Habakkuk?
One theological theory is this:
by being totally honest with God, by not holding anything back, by saying exactly what he felt without apologizing or sugar-coating it,
he created a path for God’s healing spirit to enter in and to start planting the seeds of hope.
He felt God was not being God, so he held God accountable.
He had chutzpah, he had brass, he had a solid set of roots that went back thousands of years to his earliest ancestors.
Because he knew their stories, because he knew just what God had done before, he called upon God to do it again.
Habakkuk had the courage to confront and the courage to question God and in the process he became resilient!
On Tuesday’s Bible Study we had the chance to read the entire book and really delve into its dark places.
At one point Norma asked one of the most profound things: “Who am I to question?”
It was both existential and theological in nature.
“Who am I to question?” Norma asked.
Habakkuk questioned God.
Who am I too question?
Habakkuk questioned God.
Who are we to question God?
Who are we?
The Holy Spirit moved in Tuesday’s class, and the answers came quickly.
Who are we to question God?
We are Children of the Rainbow, descendants of Noah who was not forgotten.
Who are we to question God?
We are Children of the Covenant, grandchildren of Sarah who was promised her descendants would bless the world.
Who are we to question God?
We are Children of Dreamers, cousins of Joseph who found ways to flourish even when in jail.
Who are we to question?
We are Children of Muddy Feet and Mt. Zion, whose aunts and uncles walked through the Red Sea and received the commandments.
Who are we?
We are Children of Prophecy, whose kin called for justice and kindness, and dared God to do the same.
But perhaps, most importantly, as we start the Advent Season, who are we to question God?
We are Children of the Journey, joining others as they make their way into Bethlehem to see a newborn baby.
Who are we?
We are God’s Beloved Children, Brothers and Sisters preparing to see our Blessed Savior wrapped in swaddling clothing.
Who are we to question God?
We are Children of The Manger.
We are Survivors of The Cross.
We are Witnesses of the Resurrection.
We are Bearers of Good News, letting everyone know that:
nothing can separate us from the love of God, not death, not life, not angels, nor principalities, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation (Romans 8:38-39)
Who are we to question God?
We are God’s Chosen, God’s Beloved, God’s Righteous.
Just like ‘Lil Habakkuk, we are God’s flowers, we are God’s plants.
We are God’s mustard seeds, olive branches, and lily’s of the valley.
We are God’s cedars, mighty cypress, and oaks of Mamre.
We are God’s holly, ivy, and mistletoe.
Who are we to question God this Advent Season?
We are people on a journey,
starting in darkness,
heading to Bethlehem,
guided by a star,
filled with the hope
that God’s Great Light will burn bright and we can dance like the deer.
Because of this, there is nothing we can say, nothing we can ask, nothing we can question that God won’t be willing to hear and to understand. Amen.
A UCC Pastor's walk through the spiritual waters of Scripture, pop culture and life.
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