IN commencing a new Old Testament scripture it is helpful to try and see its context in history. The trouble with Habakkuk is that except for his prophecy we know next to nothing about him. It is understood that he prophesied before the exile in Babylon, and that his prophecy occurred in the reign of Jehoiakin, about 608 BC. We can read of Jehoiakin in 2 Chronicles 36: 9ff and 2 Kings 24: 8ff. Who Habakkuk was is uncertain. Some have speculated that he was a Levite; whereas others say that he was of the tribe of Simeon. Hebrew tradition puts his prophecy in the reign of Manasseh, who succeeded Hezekiah as king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 33).

HABAKKUK'S BURDEN.

Many people feel that these Old Testament prophecies have very little relevance for Christians and the Church of today. Having spent much time in reading and meditating on the book of Habakkuk, I have found that Habakkuk's burden revealed in these opening verses is something that I can empathise with.

Habakkuk plainly lived at a time in Israel when the condition of the life of the people of Israel had fallen to a very low ebb. In his prayer to God, Habakkuk speaks of 'violence'. Plainly law and order had deteriorated in a marked way, and 'violence' suggests that this was used continually to exert the will of evil people on others. Habakkuk speaks of injustice where people are not getting justice from those set up to promote and exercise justice. Habakkuk speaks of wrong being tolerated, and this can describe all sorts of evils in society, which bring oppression and injury to people, specially the poor. Habakkuk speaks of violence, strife, conflict and law being paralysed. The picture is of evil triumphing and people suffering because of it. What is worse is that this whole picture shows a nation that has departed from the Lord in a serious way.

The burden of Habakkuk is that he sees all this wrong, and wants to see it brought to an end, but finds himself impotent to do anything about it. His burden is that there is no one he can go to in order to promote change, because those who are supposed to uphold right and justice are caught up in the evil, and part of the problem. Habakkuk's problem is that he sees all this evil, and he feels the burden of the wrong, and mourns over how Israel has fallen from the righteousness of God, and it is a constant burden every day on his soul, and he longs for better things to return. This burden is expressed in his prayer and praying. He goes to God to seek his intervention to bring Israel back to justice and righteousness. It is plain that this burden of the state of Israel was heavy on his mind and soul. The evil of it troubled him. The consequence of it caused him to fear. His mind was full of anxiety about it. As a prophet he could speak to the people, but the people did not listen.

SPEAKING TO US TODAY?

I have been brought to a halt in thinking at this point. Before considering Habakkuk's prayer, because of this syndrome which we see in Habakkuk as he looks over Israel, it seems to me it has great relevance for us to today.

Israel in Habakkuk's time was not only the nation but also the people of God, the church. Today, church and state are very much looked on as separate. However God not only looks on the church, but also the state.

When we look at our country on the one hand, and on the condition of the church in our country on the other hand, have we any cause to be burdened as Habakkuk so evidently was. For those Christians who are concerned for the glory of God, and the souls of human beings, I believe we have. I myself feel burdened deeply for the condition of the church in the United Kingdom, and for the way things are going in the state in the UK. I believe all Christians who are concerned for the glory of God and the good of souls should be so burdened.

Whatever the attitude of human beings on earth, God is still the creator of heaven and earth, and the whole earth belongs to him, and as the bible reveals, the whole earth is under his control. God is concerned about the way human beings are behaving, and governments are ruling, whatever individuals may say to the contrary. Atheism and unbelief will not alter this, and people neglect and disregard God at their peril. If governments continually rule without concern for God and his law, then our worries about global problems, whether natural or man made, will increase. Should not all true believers be burdened over the state of their nation, which is increasingly becoming more godless.

Far greater is the state of the church a source of great burden to the faithful soul. I am speaking as a member and a minister of the Church of England, and particularly of the condition of the Church of England today. There is no question that the influence of the Church of England has diminished greatly over recent times, and the question this raises is why this should be. There is no shortage of activity and work being done within the church of England. Clergy and congregations are busy, perhaps too busy, with all sorts of projects to promote Christian charity and increase the number of people who worship in church Sunday by Sunday. In spite of this, except for notable exceptions, the number worshipping Sunday by Sunday has diminished, the giving for the ministry and maintenance of the Church and its work has also diminished. Funds are scarce and the number of the clergy have decreased, and as far as the country as a whole, and even the government, is concerned, the Church of England is of little overall importance. The influence of the church for good in the land has grown less and less, and government, media, and business live more and more without regard for God's law or creative purpose. At election time politicians do not regard the opinion of the church and its members with any great importance for the collecting of votes. The church has lost its influence.

The burden here is that it is the business of the Church of England to care for the eternal welfare of souls. The minister when inducted into the ministry of a particular church and parish is given the cure of the souls in the parish. When this was made part of the installation of a new minister, the church saw the importance of the value of individual souls, and the truth that when this life is over there is only two destinations for human beings, either hell and eternal misery, or heaven and eternal bliss. The church took very seriously the teaching of the bible that souls are lost eternally unless they are saved by faith in Jesus as Saviour and sin bearer. Today this need for the souls of human beings has been lost under a general opinion that God's love embraces all people regardless of faith or way of life, and so to the church mind today it is regarded as inconceivable that God would cast anyone into hell. This opinion is held against the plain teaching of the bible and the teaching of Jesus in particular. The parables of the sheep and the goats, the weeds and wheat, and the wise and foolish virgins, all show Jesus clearly teaching that hell is a reality, and heaven is only for those whose sins are washed away by the blood of Christ's sacrifice.

With all the activity and earnest effort of both clergy and people, why is there not growth and blessing in our churches. Why are congregations decreasing in number rather than increasing. Why is the church so invisible in the community. Why are so few attracted to the worship of God. This is the burden which should be troubling faithful souls. It may be easy for those congregations which are comparatively large and where spiritual life is evidently present, to shut their eyes to the state of the church in general, but even in such church's where there is evident blessing, the burden for the lost and the need for a significant out-pouring of the Spirit of God is lacking.

Why is God not blessing his church? What are the things within the church which have caused God to withdraw his Spirit's power? When we read the letters of Christ to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 1 to 3 we are brought face to face with so many things which caused our Lord Jesus Christ to call for true repentance. As I dwell on the burden that I have for the Church of England, I have to say my heart is heavy upon me. I see things which, from a biblical point of view, cause God's displeasure. I see two main ones.

The first is the attitude prevalent in the church towards the bible. It seems axiomatic in the wider church that the bible only contains the word of God, and that it is quite in order to exercise human wisdom in interpretation of God's word that plainly is against the plain and obvious meaning of the text, and this is done even with the words of Jesus. If ministers and people are ready to question the mind and teaching of Christ, and reject at will according to human wisdom, how can the church expect Christ to give his blessing. We must get back to the truth that the Bible is the word of God, and must be received and believed and obeyed, for if we do not then God will withdraw himself further and further from the church, as we see in the threatening of God to do to Israel in their journey through the wilderness of Sinai when they departed from his law.

The second cause of God's displeasure is practice based on belief that has changed the meaning and institution of the Holy Communion into something that Christ never meant it to be, and which suggests, at the least, that Christ is not up to his high priestly working in heaven, of presenting his finished all sufficient sacrifice to the Father for the acceptance and justification of all who believe in him. The practice today suggests Christ needs the help of earthly priests, who are sinners themselves needing Christ's intercession, in the celebrating of the Eucharist. This is not only derogatory to Christ, but also nothing short of blaspheme. How can Christ gives his blessing to a church which treats him like this.

It is a fact that with all the many and good sermons preached in the Church of England, it seems as a general rule that the preaching is determined to know everything except Christ and him crucified. How can the Holy Spirit give his blessing on such preaching, when his ministry is to glorify Christ.