Habakkuk, A Conversation With God From Sobbing to Singing

Habakkuk 1-3

Habakkuk 1.1-5

The nation is going down the tubes. Every day brought more shocking news of the deteriorating conditions. When it seemed like things could not get any worse, more news would come of even further decline. Living in those times brought special challenges to the people of God. It tested their faith and perseverance.

Things were spiraling out of control. The economic situation, the moral mess, the problem with the legal system were all part of the nation's demise. The law was paralyzed. The wicked had the righteous in a place where they could not make a move in the courts. Judges were ruling against the Word of God. God's people had the courts turn on them, ruling in favor of wickedness. The judicial branch of the government and the decisions handed down from the judges' bench is a good indicator of where the nation is spiritually.

There was violence all around.
There was widespread breakdown in relationships, conflict was everywhere. There was no peace.

Things are falling apart. It seems as if the downward trend will not stop.

Habakkuk grew frustrated.
Human frustration... not being able to work my weed wacker. Go to Mr. Pawson... lawnmower tires.
Spiritual frustration... praying and getting no answer.

Habakkuk was perplexed and on the verge of despair. Yet he was still praying. He was still going to God with the things that perplexed him. Our prayer life is a spiritual barometer of our where we are spiritually. Are you still going to God? Then All is not lost!

God is letting us see the heart struggles of a man of God and how He worked in his life to bring him peace.

There are lessons in this little book for you and I as we pray for our families, the church, our nation, the world and ourselves.

1. Chapter One A Burden: The Problem
Habakkuk's complaint
LORD, You're showing me these things and You are not doing anything!
The "seemingly" indifference of God to our prayers.

He was perplexed vs.2-4
The silence, the seemingly inactivity of God, the "apparent" unconcern of the LORD troubled his soul.

Habakkuk appears to be a contemporary of Jeremiah. We know both of these men struggled with the ministry God has given them.
Jeremiah 9:2 Oh, that I had in the desert a lodging place for travelers,so that I might leave my peopleand go away from them;for they are all adulterers, a crowd of unfaithful people.

Jeremiah 12:1 You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before You.Yet I would speak with you about Your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Jeremiah 20:14-15, 18 Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying,“A child is born to you—a son!” Why did I ever come out of the wombto see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?

But even after God judged Jerusalem, Jeremiah's faith held firm! And God was faithful to the prophet.
Lamentations 3:22-26 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.


So Habakkuk persisted and God spoke. v.5

Do not judge by mere appearances. "I am doing a work."
God has given us great promises and is working out His great purposes.

A further problem is our inability to understand what God is doing.
Many times we do not understand. Many times we don't understand the workings of God in our lives, what He is doing, why He is doing what He is doing. God told him he would not believe it.

The second problem: How can a holy God use a wicked nation to punish His chosen people? 1.12-17
It certainly was not the answer Habakkuk expected.

It is good to wrestle in prayer over issues that trouble us but it we need to remember to wait and listen to God speak to our hearts.

So often we do not understand what God is doing. We are told plainly in Isaiah 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

We are told that but we do not always receive it. We want to know what God is going to do, how God is going to work this problem out, when God will do it.
He has given us His Word. We so often, like Habakkuk want more information. We want the specifics. God gave them to him and he struggled more.


2. Chapter Two A Vision The Solution

Habakkuk decided to wait.
To the on who waits, God does not remain silent.

One of the wisest things you can do is wait for the LORD. It brings the best for you and brings added benefits of peace and strength.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

In waiting God spoke finally.

God's answer

The just will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2.4
Romans 1:17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

Hebrews 10:38 And,“But my righteous one will live by faith.And I take no pleasurein the one who shrinks back.”

God is just.
Israel had sinned: pride, greed, selfishness, murder, drunkenness, lust and idolatry.
God is faithful.

Affirming our faith in the face of "seeming" contradictions.
God is good.
God is in control.
God loves me.

3. Chapter Three A Prayer The Assurance
Habakkuk's response

I heard what You said LORD and I didn't like it. But I am going to live by my faith. I am going to trust You. Don't stop doing what You are doing! v.1-2

Verse 17 Jump up and down
Verse 18 Spin around for delight in God.

Habakkuk started in the depth of a valley, stood on his watch tower and ended up dancing on the mountains.
His faith in God lifts us up, He restores our soul, and He gives us hope for the days ahead.

Maybe today things have you down in the valley. Maybe the nation's spiritual condition has you down. Maybe things in your life. God is working a work in you.