A Reason to Hope
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Key Verse: “The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Selected Scripture: |
THE NATION OF ISRAEL had been under Chaldean oppression for many years, and the Prophet Habakkuk possessed a strong impression of Israel’s despairing need. We witness his sorrowful lament, “How long, O Lord, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save?” (Hab. 1:2, New American Standard Bible) In this picture, we see Habakkuk, representative of all who love righteousness, asking ‘how long’ it will be until the present evil world will give place to the world to come “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (II Pet. 3:13) The Heavenly Father’s response to Habakkuk in our selected scripture are pronouncements of woe, indicating that the unjust will not remain unpunished for their iniquities; and the assurance is given that even though there might seem to be a delay, this present Gospel Age under the rulership of Satan, the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4), must run its course and move steadily on toward its prophetic fulfillment.
The promise of a new day proclaiming the restoration of all things lost due to the fall of father Adam had been a constant theme amongst God’s “holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:21) Our Key Verse indicates that in that day ‘The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.’ In that day, pride and wickedness will not flourish. They shall not remain to germinate, take root and grow; but in their place, blessings will come upon all by the enthronement of reverential truths in their hearts and lives. The Prophet Isaiah assures us that, “When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9) Truth, then abundant, is promised to change the stony, selfish hearts of men to hearts of “flesh.” (Ezek. 36:26) Man will become compassionate and loving one toward another as a result of God’s love toward them. The brightness of this new day will bring to light every hidden thing of secrecy and darkness; it shall clarify every truth; and expose every false belief and practice.—I Cor. 4:5; Luke 12:2
Before each sunrise is a night. The night of darkness pictures the night of sin—this present evil world—when darkness covers the earth and “gross darkness the people.” (Isa. 60:2) The experiences of this life provide each person with an individual lesson on the exceeding sinfulness of sin. When the offer of life is extended on terms of justice, love, and fidelity to truth, mankind will knowledgeably and eagerly choose that great blessing in the healing day. “His anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”—Ps. 30:5
What a blessing this sun will bring. The Sun of righteousness shall arise and will bring the blessing to “all the nations of the earth.” (Gen. 22:17,18) “Then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent” (Zeph. 3:9), and “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”—Isa. 25:8,9