Aug 2
Divine Service
Habakkuk 2:20
But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.
Where are we in the Bible?
Habakkuk is a book of questions. The prophet enters into a dialogue with God, where he voices his complaints and discomfort with the current conditions. Although, God does not give a straight answer, He calls Habakkuk to recognize that He is present with His people (2:20) and that He is working, although sometimes in unexpected ways (1:5). In both His responses, God calls Habakkuk to have faith and trust in Him (2:4 and 3:17-19).
We experience the presence and work of God in the church. Everything that the church is, and everything on which it is based, has its origin in the person and deed of Jesus Christ, who both is and brings salvation (Catechism 6.2.2). He laid the foundation in His teachings, life, death, resurrection and ascension which provide the foundation and establishment of the gospel, the apostle ministry, and the sacraments. The church of Christ is invisible and unfathomable and can only be grasped in faith (Catechism 6.3), yet the effects of God’s presence and actions in the church are visible and knowable.
Summary:
Like Habakkuk, who dared to question God yet was overwhelmed by His majesty, we too can have this experience in the church. It is a place where we can bring our questions and doubts, encounter God in awe and stillness, and gain a deeper understanding of who He is, what He has done, and how He is present among us. The church, founded and governed by Christ, is where He is present and at work, leading believers toward eternal life. As we come to Him with humility, trust, faith in His gospel, and the grace of the sacraments, we see Him working in our lives and walk our path of faith with renewed confidence and purpose.
Foundational Reading
Scripture: Habakkuk 2:18-20, 3:17-19
Catechism: 2.4.3, 2.4.4, 6.2.2, 6.3