Faithing

Psalm 89:1-18 • Psalm 89:19-52
Hab. 2:1-4,9-20 • James 2:14-26 • Luke 16:19-31

Habakkuk wonders about whether God’s rule of justice is really effective in a world which appears so unjust. In chapter one, Habakkuk issued two complaints toward God. First, the national leaders are corrupt, motivated only by the accumulation of wealth and power. God answers Habakkuk’s complaint saying that God will send a foreign army to depose the current leadership. Habakkuk complains a second time after the foreign army. They are as bad as the evil ones they replaced. Will God respond? Will God administer justice?

Today Habakkuk opens with: “I will stand at my watchpost, and …keep watch to see what he… will answer concerning my complaint.” God’s answer: “There is still a vision for the appointed time… If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.”

Verse 4 seems to speak the core of the message: “Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.” There is a translation footnote that translates “faith” as “faithfulness.” The Hebrew word means “firmness, steadfastness, fidelity.” The righteous live by their firm, steadfast, fidelity and faithfulness.

From that bedrock of faithfulness, Habakkuk speaks powerfully toward the proud, powerful and wealthy. “Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses… who build a town by bloodshed, and found a city on iniquity!”

Habakkuk lives in a time of injustice and the misuse of power. The wealthy pursue their own gain; violence and arrogance abounds. Habakkuk speaks judgment to the powerful. He waits upon a firm foundation: His steadfast fidelity toward God.

Marcus Borg liked to use four Latin words to expand our understanding of faith: assensus (belief); fiducia (trust); fidelitus (loyalty); visio (vision).

Habakkuk has a vision of trust in God that prompts his steadfast loyalty. Elsewhere in today’s reading, James says that faith is a verb, acted out in deeds that are faithful to God’s vision. And Jesus gives a vision of what loyalty to God rather than toward one’s one interests looks like. All three of these expressions of faith have practical effect — economic and social impact.

The implication: It’s not so much about what you believe, it is about your loyal, active trust in a vision that belongs to God.

Written by Lowell Grisham

Lowell Grisham is now serving as Interim Supply Priest for St. Theodore’s, Bella Vista and enjoys worshiping with St. Paul’s online.