Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

Introduction

We continue our study on the Old Testament Prophets tonight. This is the 18^th prophet that we have looked at. (He is actually the 19^th if you consider that we studied Daniel in a separate study on the people in the Book of Daniel before we started this study of the prophets.)

Tonight we look at the Prophet Habakkuk, one of the Minor Prophets, who wrote this book that bears his name.

His name means “love’s embrace” or “he that embraces” or “strong embrace of God.”

We don’t know anything about Habbakuk’s parents or his birthplace.

He was a prophet of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, and is believed by some to have been of the tribe of Levi and even one of the temple singers based upon 3:19. Habbakuk referred to himself as a prophet in 3:1 and was the last prophet before the destruction of Jerusalem.

Rabbinical tradition says that he was the son of the Shunammite woman whom Elisha restored to life in 2 Kings 4:16-37. But we have no Scriptural basis for that tradition.

Habakkuk lived in Judah during the reign of Josiah’s son, Jehoiakim, who is spoken about in

2 Kings 23:36-24:5.

He prophesied about the coming of the Babylonians upon Judah. The initial invasion took place in 606 B.C. along with another invasion in 597 B.C. before Judah was destroyed in a final invasion in 586 B.C. The phrase, “in your days”, found in Habakkuk 1:5 would indicate that he prophesied sometime during the generation leading up to the first invasion So that would make him a contemporary of Jeremiah.

With the decline of Assyria, Babylon had become the dominant world power.

From this book Habakkuk wrote, we find that he was a questioning prophet. He wanted to know “Why?” and “How?” We will see his questions tonight and the answers that were given to him.

While other prophetic books brought God’s Word to people, this book first brought people’s questions to God and then it brought God’s answers back to the people.

I.         HABAKKUK’S DOUBT.

            A1.      His First Question. (1:1-4)

Habakkuk was saddened by the corruption he saw all around him. His days were a time of fear, oppression , persecution, lawlessness, and immorality.

Habakkuk was confused by God’s seeming indifference in the face of all of the evil of his day. He could not understand why God seemed to do nothing about the wickedness in society.

                        So we see here that he poured out his heart to God.

Today sin and injustice abound all around us, but we must not let our concern cause us to doubt God or rebel against Him as many folks do today.

We must consider the message that God gave to Habakkuk and recognize that God has long-range plans and purposes and He will bring about His will.

We must realize that God is still in control and that He is a good God and righteous, even if we don’t understand why He works the way He does.

            A2.      The LORD’s Answer To The First Question. (1:5-11)

God responds to Habakkuk’s questions and concern by stating that He will yet do unbelievable acts that will glorify Himself.

                        What were some of these unbelievable things?:

                        1.         Judah, which had been both prosperous and independent (even to the point of being independent of God), would become a servant nation overnight.

                        2.         Egypt, which had been a world power for centuries, would be crushed almost overnight.

                        3.         Nineveh, the capital of the mighty Assyrian Empire, would be so completely pillaged and destroyed that people would forget where it had been. (Cf. Nahum’s prophecy)

                        4.         The Chaldeans (or Babylonians) would rise to power.

Though these words were astounding and maybe even somewhat unbelievable to Habakkuk (and the people), they saw them fulfilled in their generation.

When circumstances around us become almost unbearable, we sometimes wonder if God has forgotten us. But we need to remember that He is sovereign. He is still in control. He has a plan and will judge those who are unrighteous in His time. He can choose to bring things about slowly or quickly.

                        We need to be willing to accept this and await God’s timing.

            B1.      His Second Question. (1:12-17)

We see here that Habakkuk was confused and appalled that God would use a nation more wicked than Judah for Judah’s punishment. That doesn’t make sense to us either does it?

                        It is like God using Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban to punish the U.S.

                        It doesn’t make sense to most people, so they dismiss the idea altogether.

Understand that the Babylonians didn’t know they were being used by God to help Judah return to Him. In fact, the Babylonians pride in their victories would be their own downfall.

Proverbs 16:18–“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Just as Judah’s pride had brought her down, so Babylon’s pride would bring it down.

Sin and evil are self-destructive. Sometimes all God does is leave those who sin to suffer the consequences of their own sin. But having said that, understand that those who are evil are never beyond God’s control. He is still sovereign!

God can use whatever unusual instrument He chooses to correct or punish those who sin.

When we deserve punishment, chastisement, or correction, how can we complain about the “rod” that God uses on us? (Whether it be a hurricane, tornado, flood, fire, drought, pestilence, or an evil nation.)

            B2.      The Lord’s Answer To The Second Question. (2:1-20)

Vs 1–The watchman and watch tower were often used by the prophets to show an attitude of expectation. (Isaiah 21:8, 11; Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:17)

So, verse 1 is a picture of Habakkuk’s attitude of patiently watching and waiting for the LORD’s response.

                        Vs 2ff–

                        Habakkuk’s two questions were:

                        1.         How long would evil prevail? (1:2-3)

                                    God said that the judgment, though it was slow to come, was certain.

                        2.         Why was Babylon chosen to punish Judah? (1:13)

Though God used Babylon against Judah, He was aware of Babylon’s sins and would punish it in due time.

Vs 3–All around us today evil seems to have the upper hand in the world. Like Habakkuk, we can sometimes get angry or discouraged as we see what goes on.

Habakkuk complained to God about it. God’s answer to him is the same answer He would give to us, “Be patient! I will work out my plans in my perfect timing!”

It isn’t easy to be patient. Is it? But it would help for us to remember that God hates sin even more than we do!

Punishment for sin will certainly come. We are not to despair. Rather, we are to trust God fully, even when we don’t understand why things happen the way they do.

Vs 4–The Babylonians were wicked and they trusted in themselves, and they would fall. But the just live because of their faith and trust in God!

Paul quotes this verse in Romans 1:17 and in Galatians 3:11 and the writer of Hebrews quotes it in Hebrews 10:38 right before the “Hall of Faith” chapter.

This verse can be helpful for any Christian who is living through a difficult time in their life without being able to see what the end will be. We must trust God with our lives and know that He is directing all things according to His purposes.

                        Vs 4-8

As we’ve said, Babylon was proud and trusted in itself and its military might. It lived to satisfy its own lusts at the expense of those it conquered. But it would be these very sins that would rise up to judge it, and the captives it wronged would eventually strip it and taunt it. Justice would come, but it would come slowly.

                        Vs 9-13

Babylon’s riches came from the misfortune of others. These riches would turn to worthless ashes in their hands.

                        Vs 14-20

Idolatry may seem to many like a sin that our modern society doesn’t have to worry about. But idolatry is not just bowing down to idols. It is trusting in what one has made with his own hands and therefore, in one’s own power as creator and sustainer. (Humanistic philosophy, which is so prevalent in our day, has elevated self as god.)

If we say that we worship the LORD, but we put our trust in ourselves, our bank accounts, homes, businesses, or even other possessions, then we are idolaters.

                        We must trust the LORD, not the things we have made with our own hands.

II.       HABAKKUK’S PRAYER. (Habbakkuk 3)

            Habakkuk praised the LORD for answering his questions. Evil will not triumph forever.

He saw that the LORD was still in control and that He could be fully trusted to vindicate those who are faithful to Him. We must wait on Him!

            Vs 1-2

Habakkuk knew that the LORD was going to discipline the people of Judah and that it was not going to be a pleasant experience. Nevertheless, he accepted the LORD’s will and asked for help and mercy.

He did not ask to escape the discipline, but accepted the truth that Judah needed to learn a lesson. God still disciplines in love, to bring His children back to Him.

Hebrews 12:5-6–“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

When discipline comes our way, we need to accept it and ask the LORD to help us change.

            Vs 3-16

Here we see where Habakkuk paints a picture of God delivering His people out of Egypt in Moses day.

God’s awesome power is not restricted to creating scenic wonders. He also uses it to execute righteousness and justice.

It is not enough to be awed by the LORD’s power. We need discipline in order to learn how to obey Him and live for Him.

            Vs 17-19

Crop failure and the death of livestock would devastate Judah. However, Habakkuk said that even in the times of starvation, he would still rejoice in the LORD.

His feelings would no longer be controlled by his circumstances, but by His faith in the LORD’s ability to give him strength.

When nothing makes sense and when troubles seem like more than we can bear, we need to remember that the LORD is the one who gives strength. We need to take our eyes off of our difficulties and focus on the LORD.

            It is the LORD who can give us the confidence we need to get us through difficult times.

In His timing, not ours, He will rid the world of evil. In the meantime, we need to live in the power of the Holy Spirit, confident in the LORD’s ultimate victory over evil.

Conclusion

Habakkuk had asked the LORD why evil people prosper while the righteous suffer.

The LORD’s answer was that they don’t in the long run.

He saw his own limitations in contrast to the LORD’s unlimited control of everything that goes on in the world.

God is alive and in control of everything that happens around us even when it seems things are out of control.

We cannot see all that the LORD is doing or all that He will do. But we can rest assured that He is God and will do what is right. Knowing this can bring us confidence, comfort, and hope in a crazy mixed up world.

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!