Knowing God in The Trial

When it is difficult

Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”

Pray for students to recieve understand and have faith in the trial.

Habakkuk 1:2-6 “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.-H complaint

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own.” - Gods Response

Context

To begin the book Habakkuk of begins with the prophet Habakkuk making a complaint against God. In Habakkuk 1:2-4 the prophet is in frustrated over Israel’s neglection of the torah and violence and sin that is plaguing the nation. Habakkuk said, “how long do I cry for help, and you will not hear”

(Habakkuk 1:2 ESV) this is known as Habakkuk first complaint. In this complaint Habakkuk believes that Israel has fallen to injustice and that God is not punishing sin doubting in what God is doing in the situation

God is using a nation called babylon to punish the israelites. God was using the nation of Babylon which was seen as a wicked sinful nation to bring his judgment on the people of Israel.

Habakkuk is struggling to understand God’s plan to bring justice upon the nation by means that he believes put God’s justice into question

Wrestling in faith

So what does a prophet that lived 1500 years ago have to do with us?

well God after hears habakkuks complaints he is struggling.

Habakkuk 2:1 “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.”

after being scared, frustrated and praying he sits by himself and waits on what the Lord has to say to him.

God responds

Habakkuk 2:4 ““Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

God calls believers to live in faith, one of the most famous verses in Habakkuk is Gods call to Habakkuk to live by faith, this is the same verse that is quoted through out the rest of scripture.

Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””

Hebrews 10:38 “but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.””

Hebrews 11:1-3 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

New Covenant standard

Mark 9:22–24 ESV

And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

after his son was struggling for so long with an unclean spirit this man desprately states help my un belief

Faith is not easy, folks i will tell you that if you have ever been told that you are not allowed to doubt or wrestle with your faith ill tell you that that is a lie.

Habakkuk was wrestling for a long time but is called to live with by faith and even at the end when he comes to faith he is worried.

sometimes it is difficult to have faith and can be scary. that is okay

Habakkuk 3:16-19 “I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”

Habakkuk calls the reader to have faith irrespective the situation. It demonstrates God’s hand working in all things together. Even when we as believers may struggle in our faith God is gracious and allows us to question Him; He provides faith in all circumstances.

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

Jude 1:20-23 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”