Faith Faces the Mystery of History (The Book of Habakkuk)

In God We Trust

Theme Why is there injustice in the world? Why is there injustice in the world? How can God allow this? How can God allow this? Habakkuk questions God about unpunished evil. Habakkuk questions God about unpunished evil. God’s answers and ways are surprising to us. The answer will lead us into a deeper and more confident faith as we are moved from worry to wonder and from fear to faith. God’s answers and ways are surprising to us. The answer will lead us into a deeper and more confident faith as we are moved from worry to wonder and from fear to faith.

Habakkuk 1:2-4 How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

God’s Ways are Often Very Mysterious Habakkuk’s 1st Complaint – Injustice Reigns (1:1-4) Habakkuk’s 1st Complaint – Injustice Reigns (1:1-4) Why do you allow unpunished evil in the world?’ God’s people (and all others) practice injustice and violence. God’s people (and all others) practice injustice and violence. The righteous cry out, ‘How long, O Lord, will you allow wickedness to persist and even triumph’? The righteous cry out, ‘How long, O Lord, will you allow wickedness to persist and even triumph’? When will we see your justice? When will we see your justice?

Habakkuk 1:5-11 "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk.

Habakkuk 1:5-11 "Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour; they all come bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them. Then they sweep past like the wind and go on-- guilty men, whose own strength is their god." "Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour; they all come bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them. Then they sweep past like the wind and go on-- guilty men, whose own strength is their god."

God’s Ways are Often Very Mysterious God’s 1st Answer – Judah Will Be Judged (1:5-11) God’s 1st Answer – Judah Will Be Judged (1:5-11) ‘I will send the Babylonians to punish my people.’ Be utterly amazed. Be utterly amazed. God’s plan is to use a proud and pagan nation to bring His judgment. God’s plan is to use a proud and pagan nation to bring His judgment. Are you ever surprised by God’s answers to your prayers? Are you ever surprised by God’s answers to your prayers? Don’t we tend to expect God to answers our prayers with the answer we have in mind? Don’t we tend to expect God to answers our prayers with the answer we have in mind?

God’s Ways are Often Very Mysterious How do you respond to God's inscrutable ways?

God’s Ways are Often Very Mysterious A Closer Look at the Inscrutable God A Closer Look at the Inscrutable God God’s inaction mystifies us. God’s inaction mystifies us. God’s unexpected ways astound us. God’s unexpected ways astound us. God’s unusual means dumbfound us. God’s unusual means dumbfound us. History is still under God’s divine control, plan and timetable. (cf. 1:6) History is still under God’s divine control, plan and timetable. (cf. 1:6)

How God’s Sovereignty and Free Will are Affirmed in Scripture Compatibilism The Bible as a whole, and sometimes in specific texts, presupposes or teaches that both of the following propositions are true:

How God’s Sovereignty and Free Will are Affirmed in Scripture 1. God is absolutely sovereign, but his sovereignty never functions in such a way that human responsibility is curtailed, minimized, or mitigated.

How God’s Sovereignty and Free Will are Affirmed in Scripture 2. Human beings are morally responsible creatures--they significantly choose, rebel, obey, believe, defy, make decisions, and so forth, and they are rightly held accountable for such actions; but this characteristic never functions so as to make God absolutely contingent."

How God’s Sovereignty and Free Will are Affirmed in Scripture Isa 10:5-19 Isa 10:5-19 God intends to use Assyria to punish and discipline Israel. (vv. 5-7; 15-19) God intends to use Assyria to punish and discipline Israel. (vv. 5-7; 15-19) Assyria wants to invade, rape and pillage Israel. (vv. 7-11) Assyria wants to invade, rape and pillage Israel. (vv. 7-11) Assyria is punished for it’s pride and sins. (vv , 16-19) Assyria is punished for it’s pride and sins. (vv , 16-19)

How God’s Sovereignty and Free Will are Affirmed in Scripture Gen. 50:19-20 Gen. 50:19-20 Joseph’s brothers intended to harm Joseph (for evil). Joseph’s brothers intended to harm Joseph (for evil). God intended to use Joseph to save Israel (for good). God intended to use Joseph to save Israel (for good).

Habakkuk 1:12-13 O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Habakkuk 1:17-2:1 …Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. …Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

The Saint’s Perplexity at God’s Ways Habakkuk’s 2nd Complaint – Aren’t The Babylonians More Unjust? (1:12-2:1) Habakkuk’s 2nd Complaint – Aren’t The Babylonians More Unjust? (1:12-2:1) ‘Can those who are more wicked swallow up the more righteous?’ If God’s inaction mystified us. If God’s inaction mystified us. Then His use of the Babylonians shocks us. Then His use of the Babylonians shocks us. The problem is not really solved but compounded by God’s solution in the mind of the prophet. The problem is not really solved but compounded by God’s solution in the mind of the prophet.

The Saint’s Perplexity at God’s Ways Habakkuk’s 2nd Complaint – Aren’t The Babylonians More Unjust? (1:12-2:1) Habakkuk’s 2nd Complaint – Aren’t The Babylonians More Unjust? (1:12-2:1) ‘Can those who are more wicked swallow up the more righteous?’ How can we reconcile God’s use of the Babylonians with God’s character? How can we reconcile God’s use of the Babylonians with God’s character? Habakkuk waited upon the Lord for an answer. Habakkuk waited upon the Lord for an answer.

Habakkuk 2:2-4 Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith-- Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith--

The Saint’s Perplexity at God’s Ways God’s 2nd Answer – Trust in My Timing (2:2-5) God’s 2nd Answer – Trust in My Timing (2:2-5) ‘ I will make all things right in My time.’ The righteous are to be messengers of faith in God despite being able to see all of His ways and plans clearly now. (2:2; cf. Heb 2:5-8) The righteous are to be messengers of faith in God despite being able to see all of His ways and plans clearly now. (2:2; cf. Heb 2:5-8) God’s timetable and ways are not man’s ways, so we must wait and trust in Him. (2:3; cf. Isa. 55:9) God’s timetable and ways are not man’s ways, so we must wait and trust in Him. (2:3; cf. Isa. 55:9) God’s judgments are just and will certainly come upon those who deserve it. (2:3-5; cf. 2Pet 3:8-9) God’s judgments are just and will certainly come upon those who deserve it. (2:3-5; cf. 2Pet 3:8-9)

The Saint’s Perplexity at God’s Ways Responding to the Inscrutable God Commit your problems and perplexities to God. (2:1) Commit your problems and perplexities to God. (2:1) Expect the Lord to answer you. (2:1) Expect the Lord to answer you. (2:1) Watch and wait for the Lord’s answer. (2:1) Watch and wait for the Lord’s answer. (2:1) Trust in God. Live by faith. (2:4; cf. Heb 11:1-2) Trust in God. Live by faith. (2:4; cf. Heb 11:1-2)

The Saint’s Response From Faith The God Who Is Enough 'Tis far, far better to let Him choose The way that we should take; If only we leave our lives to Him He will guide without mistake We, in our blindness, would never choose A pathway dark and rough, And so we should ever find in Him, "The God Who Is Enough."

The Saint’s Response From Faith Habakkuk’s Five Woes (2:6-20) Habakkuk’s Five Woes (2:6-20) Woe to the dishonest. (2:6-8) Woe to the dishonest. (2:6-8) Woe to the exploiters. (2:9-11) Woe to the exploiters. (2:9-11) Woe to the lawless (nations). (2:12- 14) Woe to the lawless (nations). (2:12- 14) Woe to the debauched. (2:15-17) Woe to the debauched. (2:15-17) Woe to the idolatrous. (2:18-20) Woe to the idolatrous. (2:18-20) Habakkuk had faith that God would bring justice ultimately. Habakkuk had faith that God would bring justice ultimately.

The Saint’s Response From Faith For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 v. 14 – The extent of God’s kingdom – the whole earth. But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." Habakkuk 2:20 v. 20 – The extent of the worship of God – the whole earth.

The Saint’s Response From Faith Habakkuk’s Prayer of Faith (3:1-18) Habakkuk’s Prayer of Faith (3:1-18) Humility in prayer. (Eg. v. 2-3) Humility in prayer. (Eg. v. 2-3) Adoration in prayer. (Eg. v. 3-4) Adoration in prayer. (Eg. v. 3-4) Petition in prayer. (Eg. v. 2, 16) Petition in prayer. (Eg. v. 2, 16) Faith in prayer. (Eg. v ) Faith in prayer. (Eg. v )

Application: Faith & Providence All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. —Emerson

Application: Faith & Providence 1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

Application: Faith & Providence 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalms 37:1-7 (NIV) Psalms 37:1-7 (NIV)

Application: Faith & Providence The just shall live by faith. The just shall live by faith. God’s way may be enigmatic, but we still must trust Him. God’s way may be enigmatic, but we still must trust Him. God’s means may be puzzling, but we still must trust Him. God’s means may be puzzling, but we still must trust Him.

Application: Faith & Providence Waiting and watching in prayer is the response of faith which God desires. Waiting and watching in prayer is the response of faith which God desires. Trust in the Lord, who will make the scales balance in the end. Justice will be done, but in His time. Trust in the Lord, who will make the scales balance in the end. Justice will be done, but in His time. God is in control, despite appearances to the contrary. God is in control, despite appearances to the contrary.

Application: Faith & Providence Dwight L. Moody's favorite verse was Isaiah 12:2: "I will trust, and not be afraid.” Dwight L. Moody's favorite verse was Isaiah 12:2: "I will trust, and not be afraid.” Faith in our Lord is put to the test when we consider the injustices we see. God never explains His actions fully but calls upon us to trust Him. We will never figure it out but if we pray and wait, we will see Him act (unless it’s not in His timing!). Faith in our Lord is put to the test when we consider the injustices we see. God never explains His actions fully but calls upon us to trust Him. We will never figure it out but if we pray and wait, we will see Him act (unless it’s not in His timing!).