Thurs.’s Devo - Put Your Hope in the Lord


Read: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19; Rev. 9:1-21: Ps. 137:1-9; Pr. 30:10 
Habakkuk wrote this prophesy and sang it as a worship leader and member of the Levite family. The timing was probably between the fall of Nineveh 612 B.C. and the fall of Jerusalem 586 B.C. He is overwhelmed by the injustice he is witnessing - the poor being oppressed, the collapse of the legal system and the violence of the age. (Sound familiar?) He seems to work through his anxiety and in the last few verses he lifts up his head and puts his hopes in God. He sees a place in God where he can walk above the circumstances with the joy of the Lord. Let’s not let our life be three chapters of gloom and doom and three sentences of hope. Let’s let our lives be just the opposite. There is very little in the world to put our hope in but our world is outside this world. Our world is the big picture. God is in control of everything so we can put our hope in him and walk in joy unspeakable and full of glory!
In Revelation we have the fifth angel who opens the bottomless pit and allows locusts to be released on the earth. The first four plagues were on the earth itself but this one attacks mankind. Like the fifth plague of Exodus, God makes a distinction between his people and the rest of the people. They can not touch his people! Since this is a vision these locusts represent a powerful presence that is like a locust. They are allowed to torment but not kill the people. In fact, if doesn’t let them take death as an option though many would choose it. 
The sixth angel is allowed to kill man. The whole reason is found in verst 20; God is giving man a space to repent before it is too late. God’s heart is always for men to be saved and come to Him.
Lord, in these lasts days may we enjoy You and put our trust in Your unfailing love.