“We have heard reports about the enemy, and we wring our hands in fright. Pangs of anguish have gripped us, like those of a woman in labor. Don’t go out to the fields! Don’t travel on the roads! The enemy’s sword is everywhere and terrorizes us at every turn! Oh, my people dress you in burlap and sit among the ashes. Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son. For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you!” Jeremiah 6:24-26
The prophecies of Jeremiah very often include warnings about invaders coming from the north. In general, they are seen as consequences of the choices of the Hebrew people and in particular of their leaders. Here the prophet warns his people that things are about to change dramatically. He is not advising that they change their actions—it seems that it’s already too late for that. The choices have been made, and the consequences of those choices are at hand. Jeremiah warns the people to be prepared.
Habakkuk was another prophet that just could not understand why God was using a Babylon people that were more sinful than Judah. “Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.” (Habakkuk 1:3) Habakkuk demanded a response from God. He wanted to know how long I have to pray for these things before you answer me. He held God responsible. He felt that God was not listening. God was not intervening. God was supposed to be righteous, but He was putting up with wrongdoing and allowing justice to be perverted. This was not the God that Habakkuk knew. He thought God was just and powerful and would respond to the prayers of his people, but instead it appeared that God was doing nothing to stop the terrible evil. Mature faith is to realize that God is in control no matter if we don’t fully understand what God is doing. I am like Habakkuk I cannot understand why God is allowing the sin to continue in America. Every day as I read the news I see where one of our leaders blasphemes God. I ask as Habakkuk, how long God will you allow this to go on?