Sermon Tone Analysis

Please open your Bibles with me to the book of Habakkuk.

Today, with the Spirit's help, we will study chapters 1:12-2:5.

Last week, we began a series on the Book of Habakkuk, and we're calling it Loud Faith in Quiet Seasons.

The prophet's "loud faith" is seen in the questions he asks as he laments the current state of affairs in Judah.

In asking how long he must cry for help without an answer or how long he should call out violence before there is rescue, the prophet appeals to God's character.

Throughout the book, Habakkuk tries to make sense of God's working in light of the truth of His character.

He sees wickedness, violence, and pagan practices and struggles to understand why God seems silent.

When God answers, Habakkuk learns that God has always been working and that He is raising the Babylonians (Chaldeans) to judge the wickedness of God's people in Judah.

The question we see from the prophet is essentially this: "How can God use them?"

Remember, according to Habakkuk, God's people are engaged in iniquity, destruction, violence, strife, and contention.

God responds that He is raising a nation known for iniquity, destruction, violence, strife, and contention to judge His people.

Do you notice the irony there?

Last week, we saw Habakkuk ask questions that remind us of our own that begin with the word "why."

(Why doesn't God do something?

Why doesn't He answer?

Why does He seem silent?)

Today, we see Habakkuk ask questions that, again, remind us of our own.

This time we are reminded of our questions that begin with the word "How."

How can a good God allow evil?

How can God use wicked people to bring about His plans?

How can God use them?

Look with me to the text as we find the second lament of Habakkuk, and then we'll read the first part of God's second response and unpack the meaning together.

**CHANGE SLIDE** - Scriptures

As we read, Habakkuk begins his second complaint or lament, which continues through to chapter 2, verse 1.

With this lament, he begins by affirming his faith in God.

He trusts the holiness of God, believes that God is eternal, and trusts Him personally as his God.

According to one commentary, "the prophet is calling on the holy, righteous Judge of the world.

And his expectation is that God will act according to his nature in the present circumstances."

(The Expectant Prophet: Habakkuk Simply Explained (The Holiness of God (1:12))

Look at verse 12 again.

**CHANGE SLIDE** - 1:12

When Habakkuk says, O Lord, he uses the personal name for God.

He's saying, I know you are my God; you are eternal and set apart from all in this world; therefore, I know we will not die.

Habakkuk appears to be working out his theology as he convinces himself that God's character would stop Him from bringing judgment through the wicked Babylonians.

Have you ever done something like this; you know the truth of what's happening, but you try to convince yourself that it couldn't possibly happen because God is too good?

I have been there, and it's a terribly depressing place to be when you're wrong.

It's as if Habakkuk was saying, "God, my God, the God I love and have a relationship with, you are good, holy, and kind.

Surely you wouldn't bring judgment upon your people with such horrible people as the Babylonians.

Of course, you wouldn't!

Who am I kidding?

No, we won't die here.

It's all going to be okay."

Despite God telling him that He would use the Babylonians for judgment, Habakkuk seems to talk himself out of accepting it.

When the prophet refers to God as "O, Rock," he is saying, "O, our refuge and place of safety, you wouldn't bring danger and harm upon us."

This is where we need to be careful.

Sometimes we can allow even our theology to blind us from the truth of God's word.

There are hard parts and sayings of the Bible that we cannot talk ourselves out of accepting simply because it doesn't line up with the nice and comfortable view of God that the easier passages have given us.

The lion of Judah is not a tame lion, and he will not tolerate sin for long.

He will correct sinfulness, which won't be comfortable when He does.

**CHANGE SLIDE**- Another Lament

Another Lament

Verses 13-17 compile the fullness of Habakkuk's second complaint.

He doesn't understand what God is about to do.

He knows that God is so pure that He cannot tolerate wickedness without acting against it, so how then can he not just allow a wicked nation to be raised up, but actually use them Himself?

Remember, Habakkuk cried out to God, saying, "How long do I have to cry out to you about the wickedness in Judah before you'll do something?"

And now, He's complaining, asking, "How can use allow such wicked people to devour us, your people?"

The complaint continues, as Habakkuk argues that God allows mankind to act like fish, and without rulers, there is no real justice.

The wicked can drag those weaker than them up like some kind of catch, leading the wickedness to further display their vile behavior by actually worshiping the nets they're using to enslave others!

He builds on the metaphor of fishing to bring up a troubling question.

Understanding that God has ordained the Babylonians to be used for correcting others, Habakkuk asks, very pointedly: "Will this violent, wicked nation, with no intention of handing out Godly justice, be permitted to continue its evil ways with no one to step in and stop their ruthless conquest?"

Remember, this is a dialogue between Habakkuk and the Lord.

That said, after asking his question, the conversation ends for just a moment while the prophet narrates his next move while awaiting an answer.

**CHANGE SLIDE**- The Watchman

The Watchman

Habakkuk is quite bold to ask the Lord such pointed questions, as he has since the beginning of their dialogue.

Bolder still is his statement in chapter 2, verse 1.

Habakkuk says he is going up to the rampart, or the watchtower, to take a stand and watch.

He wants to position himself in a place where he can watch the horizon and see if God will still bring the Babylonians to punish Judah.

Some have considered this a metaphor, but he was likely being literal here: He spoke his mind, aired his theology, and now he wants to see if God is still planning to use a wicked nation.

Habakkuk declares I will "look out to see what [the Lord] will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint."

He means that based on God's response, whatever it might be, he will finally be able to answer his laments and, therefore, be able to explain the issues to others as well.

As an expectant prophet and faithful watchman, he waits on the Lord.

Waiting on the Lord is one of the hardest things we are commanded to do as believers.

We must trust that God always answers our prayers.

That said, sometimes we receive a "yes," sometimes a "no," and sometimes a "not right now." Whenever someone says, "God didn't answer my prayers," the correct thing is to say, "God didn't answer my prayers in the timing or way that I wanted."

God always answers the prayers of His children, though.

Habakkuk knows this and positions himself to see the answer unfold.

What about you?

Have you made requests of the Lord and then faithfully watched to see what the answer would be?

It takes tremendous patience to do such a thing, but if we are to live by Faith, then we must trust our God and wait on Him.

In Habakkuk's case, God's response begins with the next verse.

**CHANGE SLIDE**- God Responds

God Responds

The Lord spoke to Habakkuk and commanded him to write the vision on tablets and make it plainly visible, so the one running can easily read as they pass by or, perhaps, so the one who reads can run to tell others.

There are three key things I want to point out about God's answer to Habakkuk, which I think can apply to our own prayers and strivings with God, and we see them in verses 3 and 4.

First, the vision awaits its appointed time.

This means that a fixed period must pass before the prophecy is fulfilled, but waiting on an answer should not be regarded as failure or deception.

Instead, the waiting period can be endured with the Lord's guarantee of approaching fulfillment.

Because He is sovereign, God has ordained all that comes to pass, and our responsibility is to trust that He will answer according to His will.

Second, if it seems slow for the answer to come, wait for it.

In Habakkuk's case, God ordained the Babylonians to bring judgment on Judah, but He also ordained judgment to come to the Babylonians.

Judgment on Judah only had to wait until 586 BC, not too long after the prophecy was written.

The judgment for the Babylonians waited until 539 BC, much longer, but God ordained it, and nothing stood in its way.

2 Peter 3:9 tells us that the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some count slowness to be.

Although it might seem slow in coming, when God answers a prayer, nothing can stop His plan.

We should pray for strength and resolve in waiting on answered prayers.

Third, and this is the key of the book of Habakkuk, the Righteous live by Faith.

The nation of Babylon was prideful, puffed up because of its own accolades.

Judgment was coming because of their pride which kept them living unrighteous lives.

This was an issue of spirituality, not nationality.