From the Men's Bible Study, Oct. 27

Habakkuk 1:1-4;2:1-4

In vv. 1-4, Habakkuk asks God why he is not listening or acting. “Violence” is being done to us; our basic human rights are being violated. The state is in confusion and near anarchy (“law becomes slack ... justice never prevails ...”, v. 4). The “wicked”, fellow Jews or foreigners, have taken over!

God responds: make my message “plain” (2:2) so all hear it: my justice will come at “the appointed time” (2:3), in the “end” times. But God’s time may not be human time, so “wait for it”. “The proud” (2:4, the enemy), those who are self-sufficient, don’t endure (“their spirit is not right”), but those who trust in God, “the righteous”, continue to “live”, to keep the faith, even in these difficult times. God has a plan for the future: the faithful will be rewarded, the wicked punished.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4,11-12

V. 1 indicates that “Paul” is the principal author of this letter; “Silvanus, and Timothy” share in writing it. (“Silvanus”, called Silas in Acts, worked with Paul in Thessalonica and Corinth. “Timothy” joined him at Lystra, in central Asia Minor.)

Paul gives thanks for the Christians at Thessalonica on two counts:
their growth in “faith” (v. 3, trust) and love – for faith works itself out in love; and their example to other churches of remaining faithful in spite of sufferings (v. 4).

With this objective (“to this end”, v. 11), Paul continually petitions God in prayer
to make the Christians at Thessalonica worthy of being called by God, and to support to completion (through the power of, “the name of our Lord Jesus”, v. 12) whatever intentions (“resolve”, v. 11) and acts of trust in God they initiate. Thus Christ’s godliness (goodness) will be seen in them, and theirs in Christ. This will be achieved through the Father’s and the Son’s “grace” (v. 12), his gift of love.

Luke 19:1-10

Now we meet Zacchaeus, a tax collector working for the Romans and therefore also rich – a despised person and an outcast from Jewish society. He is curious about Jesus (v. 3). Jesus senses his presence up in a “sycamore tree” (v. 4). He even invites himself to Zacchaeus’ home! The crowd grumbles (v. 7), for Jesus has crossed social and religious barriers: good people don’t associate with sinners. Zacchaeus, unlike the rich ruler, is prepared to give generously, and to recompense anyone he has defrauded, as the Law requires. “Salvation has come” (v. 9) to Zacchaeus’ house, indeed to his whole household: Jesus chose to stay with him, Zacchaeus accepted him and has changed his life. Being saved is the same spiritual experience as inheriting eternal life and entering the kingdom of God. In spite of the crowd’s grumbling, thinking him “lost” (v. 10), the tax collector is a “son of Abraham” (v. 9), a true member of God’s people.
Submitted by Dick Nelson