Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Pre-exilic Prophets 4 (6)
Pray Psalm 115.1-3.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”
But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.
Sing 115.1-3.
(Plainfield: Nothing But the Blood of Jesus)
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, “Where is their God on high?”
You rule us, LORD, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Read Isaiah Habakkuk 2.1-14; meditate on verse 14.
Preparation
1. What will cover the earth?
2. How thorough will that covering be?
Meditation
Habakkuk preached in the very last days of the nation of Judah. He was greatly distressed by the sin that abounded everywhere, and God assured him that judgment was coming (Hab. 1). The future was uncertain, and the next step was not clear, what should the servant of the Word do?
First, we must at all times seek the Lord, bringing all our observations, concerns, fears, and questions to Him (Hab. 1). Then we must continue at our post. Here the idea of “standing guard” recalls both Ezekiel 33 and Isaiah 62. In Ezekiel, we stand on the wall to discover the dangers confronting us, so that we may proclaim the Word and warnings of God to His people. Habakkuk would do this faithfully and with tears. In Isaiah, we stand to seek the Lord in prayer continually, pleading for the Lord to revive and renew His people.
Jesus called His disciples to such a ministry in Mark 13.32-37. We must all stand watch to perceive the wickedness of our times and to call the people of God to repentance and renewal.
God answered Habakkuk’s prayer by telling him to publish the Word, condemning sin but casting the Lord’s vision of coming glory (v. 14), and instructing the people to wait in faith until His vision comes to pass (vv. 4, 20). Those who are entrusted with the ministry of the Word cannot do otherwise than to stay at their post and wait on the Lord. They must receive the Word of the Lord and run to obey and proclaim it, their souls filled to overflowing (Jn. 7.37-39) into every nook and cranny and person of their Personal Mission Field.
For thus Jesus fills the world with Himself, making the glory of God known in Himself and His works through the gifts and callings of His faithful people (Eph. 4.7-10).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
Evangelizing the lost is a good work for God’s children to do. No doubt.
But in churches today not much is said about growing in the LORD personally, or about helping other believers to love the Word, and grow in their faith as well.
The usual pattern is thus stated: get saved, get witnessing. And in the meantime, hold on until Jesus returns.
But:
Where is our search for godliness?
Where is our desire for holiness?
Where does the Law of God, and the keeping of it, fit in with our witnessing?
How do we run into our Personal Mission Field after reading the Word?
“We must all stand watch to perceive the wickedness of our times and to call the people of God to repentance and renewal.” The people who are already His need to daily repent and renew their Kingdom walk in Him. And we are called to encourage His people to repentance and renewal. To grow. To seek out and do those things that we have been created and called to do (Eph. 2.8-10).
“LORD, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments” (Ps. 119.166).
It was not the unsaved that Jesus took with Him into the garden to watch and pray with Him.
It was not the unsaved that Jesus wanted to teach, up to the very moment of His death.
It was His followers, His own, that He nurtured until the end.
And it was His friends that He appeared to upon His resurrection. Not the world.
“Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26.36, 38, 41).
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (Jn. 15.14).
“…the blameless in their ways are His delight” (Prov. 11.20).
God wants us to know Him. Love Him. Obey Him. Grow in Him. Work His Kingdom work. Pray and watch with Him. Fellowship with Him. Become like Him. And share Him with others.
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2.14).
“Thus” our beloved “Jesus fills the world with Himself, making the glory of God known in Himself and His works through the gifts and callings of His faithful people.”
“…that He might fill all things” (Eph. 4.10).
Reflection
1. How do you expect to glorify God in your Personal Mission Field today?
2. Why is starting each day in prayer and the Scriptures so important to living a God-glorifying life?
3. Whom will you encourage today in working their Personal Mission Field for the glory of the Lord?
God manifests and magnifies his own glory, and fills the earth with the knowledge of it, as plentifully as waters cover the sea, which are deep, and spread far and wide. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Habakkuk 2.14
Pray Psalm 115.9-18.
Pray that God’s glory will be known throughout your Personal Mission Field today as you run from reading the Word of the Lord to serve and bless Him in all your ways.
Sing Psalm 115.9-18.
(Plainfield: Nothing But the Blood of Jesus)
All who trust in Jesus yield—ever to His Name be glory—
find in Him their help and shield: Ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the LORD! He helps us evermore!
Fear Him, obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Blessings from our gracious LORD—ever to Your Name be glory—
will attend us evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, LORD, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Grant us, Savior, great increase—ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise. And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
