Passage Read: Nahum 2 - Habakkuk 2
Meditation Verses: Habakkuk 1:2-4
Thought
Violence and wickedness, destruction, strife and contention. The law is ignored and justice never served. These things should break the heart and repulse us. We should hate these things and cry out to the Lord for their end. They should not be counted as normal and endured. How long, Lord, until You do away with all evil? Why do You make us see such things? Why do You allow such things to endure and multiple across the land? God appointed man to rule over all creation, and to govern himself according to His principles, learning from His likeness, submitted to His rule, but man has turned away from the Lord and chosen to do things according to his own wisdom and desires. Violence and wickedness and contention is the result of going our own way. This is what happens when we reject the Lord.
Application
God is going to bring the whole world to account; He will judge every person for their choices and deeds. I have to wait patiently for that day, but I should cry out to the Lord to speed the day of His return. More than that, I should call out the violence and wickedness and strife in our world, the rebellion against God, and call men to repent and turn in faith to full submission to the Lord. I shouldn't put up with these evil things! I shouldn't just go on my way and keep my head down and do whatever I can for myself in this world. At least I should cry to the Lord for justice! But in compassion, I can plead with my neighbors to repent and turn to Christ.