1. September 4, 2016

10. Habakkuk – Kha-va’-kook (He that embraces; a wrestler)

11. Timeline of Old Testament Prophets
Josiah B.C.
Jehoiakim B.C.

12. Habakkuk (He that embraces; a wrestler)
Author
Habakkuk, prophet with priestly background (a Levite)

13. 19…For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by [my] stringed instruments.
…only a Levite was authorized to use an instrument to accompany his songs in the Temple.

14. Habakkuk (He that embraces; a wrestler)
Author
Habakkuk, prophet with priestly background (a Levite)
Date
Around BC
Theme
A defense of God’s goodness and power in view of the problem of evil
Christ in this book
Christ is portrayed as the One who justifies the righteous by faith; and the One who will one day fill the earth “with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”

15. Habakkuk’s dilemma
The problem of wickedness
The significance of God’s judgment
God’s sovereignty

16. The burden of Habakkuk was published during a time of increasing moral and spiritual deterioration in Judah
The evil reign of Jehoiakim was a sad contrast to the days before him, under his father, King Josiah (Jer 22-26).

17. Habakkuk was confused and bewildered
Habakkuk was confused and bewildered. He had lived during the days of the great Reformation under King Josiah.
He had seen the evil empire of Assyria collapse. But now he was seeing the rise of another wicked power, Babylon.
The world seemed to be in upheaval.

18. Violence was abounding.
Lawlessness was prevalent.
God’s people were being oppressed.
Blatant idolatry was replacing the worship of the one true God.
“The law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgement proceeds” (1:4).
Anonymous

19. Habakkuk’s dilemma
The problem of wickedness

20. 2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But You do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry,     but You do not come to save. 3 Must I forever see these evil deeds?     Why must I watch all this misery?

21. Habakkuk believed in interrogatory prayer.
Intercessory prayer is when we ask God for things.
Interrogatory prayer is when we ask God questions.
Dr. Peter Hammond

22. “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed!
5 The Lord replied,
“Look around at the nations;     look and be amazed!

23. Knowing and Doing the Will of God”
“Experiencing God:
Knowing and Doing the Will of God”
has a simple -– but challenging -– message: Find out where God is at work and
join Him there.
Henry Blackaby

24. 6 I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people
6 I am raising up the Babylonians,     a cruel and violent people. They will march across the world     and conquer other lands…

25. Habakkuk does not like the answer that He receives from his Lord!
Habakkuk believed in interrogatory prayer.
but
Habakkuk does not like the answer
that He receives from his Lord!

26. who are eternal—surely You do not plan
12 O Lord my God, my Holy One, You
who are eternal—surely You do not plan
to wipe us out?
O Lord, our Rock, You have sent these Babylonians to correct us,     to punish us for our many sins.

27. cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery?
13 But You are pure and
cannot stand the sight of evil.
    Will you wink at their treachery?

28. made us rich!” they will claim. in their heartless conquests?
16 Then they will worship their nets and burn incense in front of them. “These nets are the gods who have
made us rich!” they will claim.
17 Will You let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever
in their heartless conquests?

29. Habakkuk’s dilemma
The problem of wickedness
The significance of God’s judgment

30. 2 Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

31. 4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
NKJV

32. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

33. “The just shall live by faith.”
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written,
“The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17 NKJV

34. 6 So we are always confident, knowing
that while we are at home in the body
we are absent from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Cor. 5:6-7

35. 14 as the waters fill the sea,     the earth will be filled with an awareness     of the glory of the Lord.

36. 19 What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, ‘Wake up and save us!’ To speechless stone images you say,     ‘Rise up and teach us!’

37. Can an idol tell you what to do?
They may be overlaid with gold and silver,
but they are lifeless inside.

38. Habakkuk’s dilemma
The problem of wickedness
The significance of God’s judgment
God’s sovereignty

39. 20 But the Lord is in His holy Temple
20 But the Lord is in His holy Temple.     Let all the earth be silent before Him.”

40. 2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; midst of the years!
This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk
2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech
and was afraid;
O Lord, revive Your work in the
midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
NKJV

41. 17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,     and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,     and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,     and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!

42. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
    He makes me as surefooted as a deer,     able to tread upon the heights.

43. 14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands
14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands? 15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
Job 13:14-15

44. What Next?
Ask tough questions
Listen to and live God’s word

45. Find out where God is at work and
join Him there.
Henry Blackaby

46. What Next?
Pray for revival

47. …O Lord, revive Your work
in our time

48. What Next? Pray for revival
Rejoice with confidence in the Lord – no matter what

49. 18 …I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!

50. Do this
in remembrance of Me

51. Whirlpool galaxy M51
Some 23 million light years from earth
At the core lies a black hole surrounded by “dust lanes”

52. The Glory of the Risen Lord
All Heaven Declares
The Glory of the Risen Lord

53. The glory of the risen Lord, Who can compare
All heaven declares
The glory of the risen Lord,
Who can compare
With the beauty of the Lord
Forever He will be
the Lamb upon the throne
I gladly bow the knee
and worship Him alone

54. the glory of the risen Lord the Lamb upon the throne
I will proclaim
the glory of the risen Lord
Who once was slain
to reconcile man to God
Forever You will be
the Lamb upon the throne
I gladly bow my knee
and worship You alone.