Habakkuk 1-3
AIM: Sorrow awaits people who live in opposition to God
A) Habakkuk, distressed by the evil he sees, prays to the Lord
(1:1) message of prophet Habakkuk received in a vision
(2-4) Habakkuk calls for help from violence, evil people/deeds, misery, perverted justice - why God doesn't listen/save
(Hab 1:5-7) Lord replied, Look I'm doing something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it. Babylonians/cruel/violent will conquer the world
(8-11) swift, fierce, charge, bent on violence, sweeping up captives with ease, moving like wind But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god.
(12) Habakkuk-Lord, God, Holy Eternal - not to wipe us out? - to correct/punish us for sins
(13) God is pure, can't stand sight of evil, will you be silent while wicked swallow up righteous?
(14-17) we caught/killed, like fish with no leader? hooked, netted - they'll worship "nets made us rich" will they succeed in conquests?
(2:1) Habakkuk, climbs watchtower, stands guard-post, waits to see what Lord says
Application: When you feel like God doesn't hear you or save those we care about, do as Habakkuk did, wait to see what the Lord says. When your tempted to despair about the world, will you instead go to the position he's called you to and wait to hear what the Lord says?
B) Lord shows Habakkuk what sorrow awaits the proud, murdering idol worshipers in the end
(2-3) Lord: write my answer plainly, a correct message for others-vision is future/end seems slow but will surely be fulfilled
(Hab 2:4-5) "Proud, trust in selves but are crooked, wealth/greed like death never satisfied, but righteous live by faithfulness to God (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:37-38)
(6-8) soon captives will mock-"thieves, rich by extortion" debtors will take everything- stand helpless, survivors will plunder you, you committed murder everywhere, filled towns with violence
(9-11) Sorrow awaits.. murders/ big house builders, dishonestly gained money, believers in wealth/security
(Hab 2:12-14) Sorrow awaits.. cities built with money gained through murder and corruption! work in vain, Lord promised earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord
(15-17) Sorrow awaits.. make neighbors drunk, nakedness, cut down forest, destroyed wild animals, committed murder throughout countryside, filled towns with violence (Hab 2:8,17)
(18-19) Sorrow awaits.. Idols carved by man, image that deceives you, trusting in your creation, a god can't talk, lifeless idols can't save, teach
(20) But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him
Application: Where are you despairing, can you trace the root cause to selfishness? Will you consider the lifestyle the Lord is warning against and consider his statement "the righteous live by faithfulness to God"? Pray right now, ask God to expose anything your life not pleasing to him and for his grace to remove it from you.
C) Habakkuk praises God in prayer/song describing his wrath and salvation
(3:1-2) Habakkuk prays with song: heard about you Lord, filled with awe of your works, help us again, in anger, remember mercy
(3-7) I see God moving, Holy One coming, brilliant as sunrise rays of light from his hands-pestilence, plague, earthquake, nations tremble He is the Eternal One
(8-11) Was it in anger God parted the sea? No Salvation! rivers, mountains, sun and moon "lift hands in submission"
(12-15) march in anger, trampled nations in fury, rescue chosen people/annointed ones. crushed wicked with his own weapons-destroyed the chief who rushed out like whirlwind
(16) I tremble in fear, will wait quietly for coming day
(17) Even though fig trees have no blossoms and no grape on vines, olive crop fails, fields are barren, cattle barns empty..
(18-19) I will rejoice in the Lord, be joyful in the God of my salvation! Sovereign Lord, my strength, makes me surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
Application: Who is God placing on your heart to warn of the coming wrath of God? Could the prompting of God be to reveal they are chosen. Will you pray specifically for God's anointing on there heart and schedule the conversation you need to have with them today. Send them a text message right now.
