ON OCT 7, the Rev Dr Gordon Wong, who teaches Old Testament and Hebrew at Trinity Theological College and is an author, gave a talk on Habakkuk, the first of a series on Old Testament characters, for members of the TRAC Board of Seniors Ministry. Sixty-one members attended the talk.

The Rev Dr Wong then gave the second talk on Nov 4, 2008 – on Daniel. Sixty-five members were present.

Here are the summaries of the two talks.

The prophetic writings of Habakkuk are as relevant today as they were 2,600 years ago.

The prophet Habakkuk, not known outside his book, wrote the book around the year 625 BC, before the conquest of Judah by the Babylonians in 605 BC. He was unique among the prophets because he spoke to God, expressed his frustrations with God and asked God why He was silent regarding his questions and slow to act regarding the injustices suffered by the righteous rather than delivering God’s oracles to the people.

God responded by revealing that He was going to deal with Judah with the help of the Babylonians. This shocked Habakkuk who questioned God, “How could you do it?” But he was told to be patient, to know that everyone would face judgment for his offences and to believe that the righteous would live by faith.

God then gave Habakkuk a vision of His infinite glory and these responses from God restored his faith in God and produced the beautiful expression in Chapter 3 verses 16-19 at the end of the book.

Chapter 1 helps us to learn about the nature of prayer. The God we trust and worship is also a God who wants us to talk to Him, to question Him, and a God who listens to our problems, doubts and frustrations. He wants believers to pour out their hearts, just as most psalmists do.

Thus, true worship requires worshippers to be honest in expressing their praises as well as their sadness and problems.

Chapter 2 helps us to understand and accept that God is in full control of all situations despite our heartbreaking experiences and circumstances.

God wants us to be patient, to wait on Him, to be faithful to Him and to remain righteous in the midst of rampant evils, terrible tragedies and seeming delays in actions on God’s part. He says in Chapter 2 verse 4, “ … the righteous shall live by faith”.

Chapter 3 helps us to realise finally, like Habakkuk, that we can trust God for our salvation and praise Him even “though the fig tree does not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines … and there be no herd in the stalls”.

In other words, we can praise God even in tears because we are sure that life on earth is difficult, that God’s love is eternal, even beyond this life on earth, and that Jesus Christ will return and bring all believers to heaven to be with Him forever more.       

Chan Kai Yau, a member of Barker Road Methodist Church, is a member of the TRAC Board of Seniors Ministry