Habakkuk 1: Fear Unlocked
When I first wrote this it was meant to be a chapter within a book about fear. I made a curious discovery when I started looking at definitions of the word fear. The initial definition is what you would expect: “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.”1 Some definitions also noted that the anticipation of danger may be real or imagined. Fear whispers in every worry that keeps you up at night, in the paranoia that no one actually likes you, and in the shame that tells you to hide.
My research got interesting when I looked at the history of the word. The etymology of fear in English can be traced back to Old English, Old Germanic, and Old Norse. It was derived from words like calamity, peril, and sudden danger. Curiously, in Old Norse the original word was fár. This word connotes evil, mischief, plague. It’s important to note that mischief in our modern usage is like playful puppies and Dennis the Menace. Historically, the word mischief meant something much darker. Evil and mischief go hand-in-hand.
Seeing the Old Norse idea of fear prompted me to look at the biblical Hebrew definition. Here I found something totally different. The Hebrew word for fear is yārē' which speaks to both terror and awe. In fact, fear and reverence are almost consistently intertwined in the Hebrew usage. Over and over again, when people felt fear they also felt a sense of awe. Perhaps that’s what God intended us to feel when we are afraid. Our fear is meant to humble us before God and to rely on Him to cope with it. In the Hebrew usage, fear was intended to point to Adonai, King of the Universe, even if the fear was induced by an enemy army or an egomaniac king. If fear is meant to protect us from harm, then it only makes sense that it should draw us to God.
Looking again at the Old Norse usage, I realized there is no reverence to be found here. Only darkness. Satan is not creative, he is corruptive and exploitive. A fear response that doesn’t draw us to God, leaves us only with evil, mischief, and plague. When I saw the word ‘plague’ I was reminded of Psalm 91, the prayer of protection. This psalm explains that those who take refuge in God are under His protection. Read the following excerpt, keeping in mind the Old Norse definition of fear.
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” (Psalm 91: 4-6 emphasis mine).
A pestilence is a disease, specifically an epidemic or a plague. How can a disease stalk in the darkness? Is this merely poetic license? Metaphor? Counselor and teacher John Eldredge explains, “...the early church believed that …‘the pestilence that stalks in the darkness’....referred to demonic powers and forces.”2 You see, the ancients understood that plague and pestilence could be literal or metaphorical, or even both at the same time. In ancient Canaanite texts, the word for plague is a divine name and they understood plague and pestilence to be living creatures.
The ancients’ understanding of the supernatural was so much more complete than ours. There is evil, mischief, and plague in the world. The Old Norse were right to name it. But the Hebrews understood something even more essential– reverence for the Most High God. Fear that brings us to God strips evil and mischief of their power.
The prophets provide a picture of what it looks like to run to God during times of fear. The prophets were people of praise and pain, worship and woe, love and lament. If we study the prophets, we can learn how to hold our fears out to God with quavering voices and shaky hands and worship Him with fear and trembling.
Enter Habakkuk. Habakkuk wrote a short little book of prophecy. It’s only three chapters. But these three chapters pack a punch. Possibly because Habakkuk didn’t start out writing a book of prophecy. His writing began as a lament. He was heartbroken over the state of his nation. Corruption and violence were rampant. There was no care for what we would call today at-risk demographics–the poor, widows, orphans, and immigrants. People cared only for themselves. Their kings trusted in the power of the empires around them, believing that silver and gold could buy them safety. The prophet Jeremiah was a contemporary of Habakkuk and his writings paint a very clear picture of just how bad things had gotten. One passage which makes my heart stop is in Jeremiah 9, “Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning. You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me.” (9:5-6)
This verse cuts me to the quick because it describes my world too. In fact, many of Jeremiah and Habakkuk’s descriptions seem a little too on the nose for my liking. The people of Judah embraced the lies of power and wealth. They sold themselves to the highest bidder, be that an empire or a pagan god. They numbed their consciences with wine and sex and violence. Their corruption broke the hearts of the prophets. God’s people should always be brokenhearted over the wickedness around them.
So this is where we find Habakkuk. He begins his lament with an accusation. “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2).
Did you know you’re allowed to talk to God that way?That you can express frustration, even anger? How long must we struggle, Lord? Are you listening? In my own life, I have begged, I have pleaded, I have waited and answers do not come.
Here is a fear uncovered. I am afraid God is not listening. I am afraid God is not interested enough in my life and my problems to even listen, let alone lift a holy finger to do anything. I am afraid God is not really with me. Sometimes I am even afraid that God is not as good as I’ve been told.
Returning to Habakkuk, God gives a swift reply: “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.” (Habakkuk 1:5). God goes on to describe a harrowing conquest by the Babylonians to punish the unfaithful, corrupt Israelites. Habakkuk’s lament and frustration has been heard by God. And God is going to do something.
To be honest, Habakkuk isn’t thrilled with this answer. I don’t blame the guy. If the punishment for corruption and violence is more corruption and violence I would like a Plan B. God and Habakkuk go back and forth for the next two chapters. Bring justice God, but not like that. God’s ways are often not our ways.
Here is another fear unlocked. The fear of not having control. We don’t have nearly as much control over most things as we think we do. Control is perhaps our greatest delusion. Particularly, control over other people and control over circumstances. Habakkuk had no control over his fellow countrymen, the leaders of the kingdom, or of God. He had no control over the corruption, violence, and chaos unfolding around, or the coming destruction God foretold. The only thing Habakkuk could control was his response.
The beginning of Habakkuk2 should really be the end of Habakkuk 1. Chapters and verses were added much later and, well, sometimes it doesn’t always make sense. Anyway. Habakkuk 2 opens with our overwhelmed prophet climbing a watchtower. He declares, “I will stand at my guard post And station myself on the tower; And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, And what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved” (2:1 AMP). Habakkuk expected a response. More than that, he expected correction. He expected God to set him straight. So, he positioned himself at the watchtower and waited with expectation.
Here is where we will leave Habakkuk for today. Waiting. Wondering what God will say next. But let me point out one thing: Habakkuk’s fear did not drive him away from God. His fear didn’t send him into hiding. His fear seems to have emboldened him to approach God.
Are you more inclined to dive into a bunker or climb a watchtower? Do you batten down the hatches, or position yourself on the ramparts? Do you hold your fears and concerns and confusion out to God for a response, even a correction? Or do you hold them tightly to your chest because fear tells you that you can only trust yourself?
I encourage you to not answer too quickly. Pay attention to your patterns. Notice where you get tense or what causes your mind to spin. Then, notice what you do next.
God, I confess fear sometimes pulls me from you. There are times when I don’t quite think I can trust you or your plans. There are moments I’m tempted to doubt your goodness and your wisdom. Holy Spirit, help me to turn away from listening to my fears and to listen to You instead. You are my counselor and comforter, my constant friend. Help me to live surrendered to you and your will. And when I am afraid, draw me close to you. Amen.
