What Christmas Cards Don't Say
Advent Lessons from Habakkuk
Last year, in America, 3.1 billion Christmas Cards made their way into mailboxes, stockings, and work parties, many of them now displayed on mantels, kitchen tables, and refrigerators. These cards are adorned with sweet sentiments: Happy Holidays, Jingle Bells, Ho, Ho, Ho, Tis the Season, Merry Christmas, Peace on Earth, Joy to the World, Love and Joy, Hope and Peace.
But imagine receiving Christmas Cards bearing these greetings:
- God, are you there?
- God, are you good?
- God, what are you waiting for?
- God, why are you so scary?
While not an ideal candidate for a job with Hallmark, the prophet, Habakkuk, raises these questions as complaints lodged over God’s seeming injustice and indifference. In his short scroll toward the end of the Hebrew Scriptures (what Christians call the “Old Testament”), Habbakuk wrote unlike other prophets. While prophets typically call God’s people to faith and sometimes foretell events that would take place in the future, Habakkuk writes mostly a poem of lamentation. He cries over the people of God as they have turned away and toward idols, as they have exploited the poor and the weak, and as their leadership has been given over to self-aggrandizement. He laments an encroaching world power, Babylon, who will conquer the people of God during the 6th century BC. And mostly, in all that transpires, it grieves Habakkuk’s heart God seems distant, and worse, unjust.
And yet, Habakkuk engages God with these feelings and fears rather than simply dismissing God or ejecting from the relationship altogether. This is why Habakkuk is referred to as the “waiting prophet,” as he exclaims: “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what [God] will say to me” (Habbakuk 2:1).
For 2000 years, the Advent Season, the first season in the Christian year, mirroring Habakkuk’s waiting, has been a period of anticipating–of preparing to celebrate, once again, the miraculous arrival (the Latin word, adventus, means “arrival”) of a vulnerable infant born to humble parents. And, as Christians living after the advent of Jesus’ first coming, we also wait in anticipation for his return, the crescendo of God’s work when all things will be made new and the peace (shalom) of God will reign forevermore.
In a way, we don’t celebrate Advent, we linger in it. We wait in it long enough to see what God might be up to in the deepest parts of who we are. Sometimes this involves asking some of the most difficult questions we bear as human beings. Questions not unlike those that Habakkuk brought before God in ancient times.
While in the day-to-day, we hastily attempt to stop the pain, quench the thirst, suppress the sadness, mind the gap, fill the hole, or salve the wound, in Advent we are invited to stay open to our questions, longings, yearnings, and dreams. What might they teach us? How might they deepen us and shape us into people of substance and significance? We will wait together each Advent Sunday as we wade into these big questions. Then, we will gather for our Christmas Eve services as we explore Habbakuk’s last Christmas Card: “God With Us!”
Table of Contents
Week 1: God, Are You There?
Habakkuk 1:1-4 | November 28, 2021
1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
2 How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 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.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Personal Journal Reflection
- When we experience violence and injustice in our world we might question God’s presence, power, goodness, or any combination of those three. Reflect on a season where this was so in your life. What did it stir in you? How did you respond (are you responding) in the season?
- It is an interesting phrase, “the law is paralyzed” (v4). It seems that miscarriages of justice are too often the norm. But can there be law (moral “true north”) without God? Can there be justice without God? Reflect on how we might need God’s existence for the sake of ethical goodness and morality.
- Why do we long for justice? What does this look like in your life? How do you act upon the impulse?
Community Group/Family Discussion Guide
Introduction:
- Read this week’s passage two times through.
- Pray: Ask God to illumine your heart and prepare your mind for discussion.
Questions for Exploration:
- What stands out to you / disrupts you / grabs your attention in the Scripture? (Everyone who would like to, share. Please take less than 1 minute per person to share as this section is intended to be brief.)
- How is God’s Word connecting to your life / your work / your neighbors in this moment? (Read this question and then read the Scripture passage again for a third time. Take a moment to ponder the passage. Then, take 1 minute each to share.)
- Particular Questions for this week’s discussion:
- Would you be willing to share one reflection from your Personal Journal?
- What is God’s Justice (Biblical Justice)? Why does it seem to tarry? What might it look like in the day-to-day-week-to-week in your community group and/or family?
Questions for Discernment:
- What themes are arising for the group? How might the Holy Spirit be raising something to your collective awareness?
- In light of this week’s passage and theme, what action or spiritual practice is God calling you to that you can commit to individually or collectively this week?
- Pray through the Collect for the First Sunday of Advent. Pray for friends, neighbors, and co-workers that those in your group will be inviting to Christmas Eve services.
Week 2: God, Are You Good?
Habakkuk 1:5-2:1 | December 5, 2021
5 “Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
6 I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwellings not their own.
7 They are a feared and dreaded people;
they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,
fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong;
their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;
9 they all come intent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind
and gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings
and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities;
by building earthen ramps they capture them.
11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—
guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
12 Lord, are you not from everlasting?
My God, my Holy One, you will never die.
You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment;
you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
14 You have made people like the fish in the sea,
like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,
he catches them in his net,
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
and so he rejoices and is glad.
16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net
and burns incense to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
and enjoys the choicest food.
17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,
destroying nations without mercy?
2:1 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.
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Personal Journal Reflection
- It has been said that the Bible truly reflects life. Read God’s response to Habbakuk’s appeal for justice. Why does God raise up a people who are a “law unto themselves,” “whose strength is their god?” What could God God possibly be up to?
- Note Habbakuk’s response to God. Do you resonate? Is he leveling the same accusations and asking the same questions you may be asking when it seems that the “bad guys” win?
- Notice that Habbakuk does not pull out of his relationship with God. He does not pull away from God but leans toward him. What do you make of this? How does faith like this get cultivated? Or, do you feel that it is an immature and blind faith? If so, why?
Community Group/Family Discussion Guide
Introduction:
- Read this week’s passage two times through.
- Pray: Ask God to illumine your heart and prepare your mind for discussion.
Questions for Exploration:
- What stands out to you / disrupts you / grabs your attention in the Scripture? (Everyone who would like to, share. Please take less than 1 minute per person to share as this section is intended to be brief.)
- How is God’s Word connecting to your life / your work / your neighbors in this moment? (Read this question and then read the Scripture passage again for a third time. Take a moment to ponder the passage. Then, take 1 minute each to share.)
- Particular Questions for this week’s discussion:
- Would you be willing to share one reflection from your Personal Journal?
- Spend most of your time discussing this statement: “God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” Does your group agree or disagree? Why or why not?
Questions for Discernment:
- What themes are arising for the group? How might the Holy Spirit be raising something to your collective awareness?
- In light of this week’s passage and theme, what action or spiritual practice is God calling you to that you can commit to individually or collectively this week?
- Pray through the Collect for the First Sunday of Advent. Pray for friends, neighbors, and co-workers that those in your group will be inviting to Christmas Eve services.
Week 3: God, what Are You Waiting For?
Habakkuk 2:2-20 | December 12, 2021
2 Then the Lord replied:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.
4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—
5 indeed, wine betrays him;
he is arrogant and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
and like death is never satisfied,
he gathers to himself all the nations
and takes captive all the peoples.
6 “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,
“‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods
and makes himself wealthy by extortion!
How long must this go on?’
7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise?
Will they not wake up and make you tremble?
Then you will become their prey.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
the peoples who are left will plunder you.
For you have shed human blood;
you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
9 “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain,
setting his nest on high
to escape the clutches of ruin!
10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,
shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.
11 The stones of the wall will cry out,
and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.
12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed
and establishes a town by injustice!
13 Has not the Lord Almighty determined
that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,
that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,
pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,
so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!
16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory.
Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed!
The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you,
and disgrace will cover your glory.
17 The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,
and your destruction of animals will terrify you.
For you have shed human blood;
you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
It is covered with gold and silver;
there is no breath in it.”
20 The Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Personal Journal Reflection
- At some point, we turn our attention from the injustices in the world to look at the injustice in our own hearts, in our families, in our church. What might this exercise reveal about us?
- This injustice may involve dishonest gain, exploitation of others, and the worship of idols. As we prepare ourselves for the coming of King Jesus, note this: At the first Christmas, the Christ comes to bear judgment, but at the second coming, he will come to bring judgment. How does this passage allow us to be sober-minded in our view of ourselves? What does this prompt in you?
Community Group/Family Discussion Guide
Introduction:
- Read this week’s passage two times through.
- Pray: Ask God to illumine your heart and prepare your mind for discussion.
Questions for Exploration:
- What stands out to you / disrupts you / grabs your attention in the Scripture? (Everyone who would like to, share. Please take less than 1 minute per person to share as this section is intended to be brief.)
- How is God’s Word connecting to your life / your work / your neighbors in this moment? (Read this question and then read the Scripture passage again for a third time. Take a moment to ponder the passage. Then, take 1 minute each to share.)
- Particular Questions for this week’s discussion:
- Would you be willing to share one reflection from your Personal Journal?
- How does idolatry (the worship of other gods) take shape in our day? In our lives?
Questions for Discernment:
- What themes are arising for the group? How might the Holy Spirit be raising something to your collective awareness?
- In light of this week’s passage and theme, what action or spiritual practice is God calling you to that you can commit to individually or collectively this week?
- Pray through the Collect for the First Sunday of Advent. Pray for friends, neighbors, and co-workers that those in your group will be inviting to Christmas Eve services.
Week 4: God, why are you so scary?
Habakkuk 3:1-16 | December 19, 2021
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
2 Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
3 God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His glory covered the heavens
and his praise filled the earth.
4 His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden.
5 Plague went before him;
pestilence followed his steps.
6 He stood, and shook the earth;
he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
and the age-old hills collapsed—
but he marches on forever.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
the dwellings of Midian in anguish.
8 Were you angry with the rivers, Lord?
Was your wrath against the streams?
Did you rage against the sea
when you rode your horses
and your chariots to victory?
9 You uncovered your bow,
you called for many arrows.
You split the earth with rivers;
10 the mountains saw you and writhed.
Torrents of water swept by;
the deep roared
and lifted its waves on high.
11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens
at the glint of your flying arrows,
at the lightning of your flashing spear.
12 In wrath you strode through the earth
and in anger you threshed the nations.
13 You came out to deliver your people,
to save your anointed one.
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness,
you stripped him from head to foot.
14 With his own spear you pierced his head
when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though about to devour
the wretched who were in hiding.
15 You trampled the sea with your horses,
churning the great waters.
16 I heard and my heart pounded,
my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones,
and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity
to come on the nation invading us.
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Personal Journal Reflection
- A God of our own devising is not a God worthy of our worship. The God of the Bible can be truly scary, even terrifying. What does this passage teach you about God?
- What would your life be like if you viewed God with a grander scale and scope of God’s holiness and power?
- What would your view of Jesus be in light of this vantage point?
Community Group/Family Discussion Guide
Introduction:
- Read this week’s passage two times through.
- Pray: Ask God to illumine your heart and prepare your mind for discussion.
Questions for Exploration:
- What stands out to you / disrupts you / grabs your attention in the Scripture? (Everyone who would like to, share. Please take less than 1 minute per person to share as this section is intended to be brief.)
- How is God’s Word connecting to your life / your work / your neighbors in this moment? (Read this question and then read the Scripture passage again for a third time. Take a moment to ponder the passage. Then, take 1 minute each to share.)
- Particular Questions for this week’s discussion:
- Would you be willing to share one reflection from your Personal Journal?
- How have we sanded down the edges and lopped off the appendages of the Biblical God?
Questions for Discernment:
- What themes are arising for the group? How might the Holy Spirit be raising something to your collective awareness?
- In light of this week’s passage and theme, what action or spiritual practice is God calling you to that you can commit to individually or collectively this week?
- Pray through the Collect for the First Sunday of Advent. Pray for friends, neighbors, and co-workers that those in your group will be inviting to Christmas Eve services.
Christmas Eve: God with us
Habakkuk 3:16-19 | December 24, 2021
16 I heard and my heart pounded,
my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones,
and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity
to come on the nation invading us.
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.
Family and/or Friends Exercise
- How would a friend, neighbor, or co-worker who doesn’t go to church define or describe Christianity?
- What does “God with Us” mean? How might we best experience daily reminders of this truth?
- How is this choice to respond in joy in adversity and example of faith and not fatalism? An example of faith and not superficial superstition?
Works to Explore
Commentaries
The Minor Prophets, Thomas Edward McComiskey.
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: Habakkuk, O Palmer Robertson.
Faith Amid the Ruins: The Book of Habakkuk, Heath Thomas.
Videos
Overview of the Historical Context of the book of Habakkuk, Blacktown Anglican.