Habakkuk 3:2-13 (NIV)
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.[a] 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. 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.
John 12:1-11 (NIV)
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.” 9 Meanwhile, a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Do It Again
I remember when… alas, “Times sure have changed.” Many of us have grown up listening to stories our parents and other seasoned saints have shared with us. The stories told will always hold a place in our heart. Many of the stories we hold most closely to are stories of conquest and overcoming great obstacles and challenges. Some of the stories became songs like, How I got over, my soul looks back and wonders how I got over. We sing Guide me Oh Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land. We get “happy” when we hear Trouble don’t last always and Didn’t my LORD deliver Daniel. Songs tell the stories of how GOD has engaged humanity. For this reason, when life gets the hardest we try to remember a better time in the past. The pitfall in this however is we have a tendency to make the past look a lot brighter than it really was. We gloss over the really difficult parts. We forget how our actions and inactions may have led to the plight we are in.
In our text found in Habakkuk, the writer reflects the sentiment of having heard stories of the greatness of GOD and the deeds of GOD done in a previous era. Verse 2 says, “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. I have heard what you did LORD now can you do it again? He goes into details of what GOD has done and how in the end, despite all odds, GOD came out to deliver his people and save His anointed one. I don’t know about you, but I too long for GOD to do something. We all have some things we would love to see happen. Not always for individually but for humanity as a whole. One songwriter wrote, LORD I hear of showers of blessings, thou art scattering full and free, let some drops now fall on me. Even me LORD, Even me. Telling the stories of the LORD as recorded in the Bible are normative for our faith. We learn that if it has been done, it can be done and if it hasn’t been done, it just hasn’t been done yet. GOD is not limited to the past memories and stories we know. GOD has done and is doing more than we know. I usually shy away from focusing on the past, yet today I acknowledge the past has a place. It is a memory marker not to be lived in but to be learned from. It is true that a people who forget their history are destined to repeat it. If we totally forget what lead us into temptation how will we avoid the trap the next time? LORD you have fixed us before, forgiven us before, delivered us before, please do it again.
Lent provides us opportunities to reflect on who GOD is to us and how we have witnessed GOD moving in our lives. We reflect not just on stories we have heard but on experiences we have had. I close with a memory I have of a cloudy, rainy, dreary day. The kind of ay best spent indoors, but I was out. As I was driving I looked up and saw piercing through the clouds rays of light pouring through. Surrounded by clouds the light broke through. This scene I take with me and share, no matter how many clouds there are there are also light beams that can break through. DOn’t give up. LIVEBIG
Points to Ponder: Reflect on a story you have heard that encourages you. Have you ever shared it with anyone? What would you like for GOD to do again in this day and age? How aware are you of the needs of others? Could you be like Mary?
40 Days of Lenten Meditations 