Habakkuk Questions God…Again? Part 2

Habakkuk 1:12-13a 12 Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge; And You, O Rock, have established them to correct. 13a Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look on wickedness with favor.

Habakkuk 1:13b-14 13b Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they? 14 Why have You made men like the fish of the sea, Like creeping things without a ruler over them?

Habakkuk 1:15-16 15 The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook, Drag them away with their net, And gather them together in their fishing net. Therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large, And their food is plentiful.

Habakkuk 1:17 17 Will they therefore empty their net And continually slay nations without sparing?

Habakkuk 2:1 2:1 I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, And how I may reply when I am reproved.

Cruel & Unusual Punishments: 15 Types of Torture

Cruel & Unusual Punishments: 15 Types of Torture

Cruel & Unusual Punishments: 15 Types of Torture

Habakkuk 1:12-17 **Four potential responses to God in the face of perplexity, suffering, and evil.

Outline Affirmation (vv.12-13a) Astonishment (vv.13b-14) Argument (vv.15-16) Apprehension (v.17)

I. Affirmation (vv. 12-13a) God’s Eternality: “Are you not from everlasting…” God’s Self-existence: “O LORD” God’s Personability: “my God” God’s Holiness: “my Holy One” God’s Omnipotence: “O Rock!” God’s Faithfulness: “we shall not die” God’s Purity: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil…”

“We will not die…” Habakkuk believed God’s promise to preserve His people, Israel, forever… Genesis 17:2-8 Deuteronomy 7:6 Genesis 26:3-5 Deuteronomy 14:1-2 Genesis 28:13-15 Deuteronomy 26:16-18 Exodus 3:3-15 2 Samuel 7:12-29 Exodus 14:1-6

II. Astonishment (13b-14) Psalm 5:4; 34:16; 34:21 The concept of moral relativity Why do the righteous suffer along with the wicked? One thing to note: the prophet has a perplexed faith…he still has faith! Dr. Adrian Rogers: Answering the “Whys” versus answering the “Hows”

III. Argument (15-16) Habakkuk’s problem: the issue of excessive punishment! God used the unrighteous to chastise His people just as He used the unrighteous to deliver! (See Isaiah 44:28-45:7) The danger of subjective morality! Short-term vs. Long-term perspective

IV. Apprehension (17) Sinning without repute? (consider Numbers 32:23) God’s justice & correction are established by God Himself…the instrument He chooses may change. Job 5:17 Proverbs 3:12

Conclusions Everyone responds to the problem of evil and suffering. How…is very important! No one—especially believers—can go on sinning with impunity. Doubt leads to one of two options… God always keeps His promises…for better OR for worse. Chastisement is a learning opportunity. God’s chosen instruments may vary…His goal does not!