Have you cried out against injustice? Have you screamed that things are not fair? Have you been fed up with people getting away with things that you know they shouldn’t. Did you receive an answer? Did you see justice served? Did you blame God? Or did you cry out to God?
We have our own idea of what fair is. Though most of us generally have the same view of fairness, it still often leans slightly in our favor, if we are honest with ourselves. But injustice is something different. It is often based on law, even if some laws support injustice.
Habakkuk was a prophet who lived during the reigns of King Saul, Kind David, and likely died sometime during King Solomon’s reign. We cannot pinpoint when he wrote each piece of his book, but the injustice he speaks of in chapter one lines up with much of what was happening in Israel during the reign of King Saul.
The cry for help due to the violence against the people could reference unfair treatment. On the other hand, it may reference the various wars Saul took the Israelites into. Regardless of the reason, Habakkuk was crying out to God for help. He even implies (or perhaps blames) God is not listening. He is crying out for God to open his eyes and see the injustice, the violence, and to rescue them from it.
We, too, can cry out to God when we see injustice. We can ask that God do something about it. What we should not do is assume God does not see it. For God is omnipresent, meaning he sees everything and is everywhere. God knows. God has a plan. He may just be waiting for someone to cry out to him on behalf of those suffering. So, cry out, but don’t blame God.
I pray we all know we can cry out to God when we see injustice. I pray we know that God already knows what is going on. I pray each one of us will petition God on behalf of ourselves and others. Cry out to God. Cry out against injustice. Know that God is omnipresent. Petition God for yourself and others.
Habakkuk1:2
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
Marty Pressey 