The Complete and Proper Response to God

In the final sermon in the book of Habakkuk, we are going to explore a proper response to God. Now, I want to say that this is a bit complex because we have covered the response of Habakkuk throughout the last month. But up to this point, there has not been a full evaluation.

Now that Habakkuk has heard from God two times now and has pronounced His belief that God will serve justice, we are able to hear a complete response from God. The response begins with

The Proper Reaction

As humans, we all react to things in different ways depending on many different circumstances. For instance, we respond with maybe disappointment to good news because we had different expectations. In some cases we receive good news but there is something else going on in life that decreases the happiness in that moment. The reaction that Habakkuk has voiced throughout this book has changed slightly over time. It began as anguish and frustration in chapter 1, moved to seriousness and disappointment at the end of chapter 1, but now we see more than just emotion. Last week we read in chapter 1 verse 2 that Habakkuk feared the work of the Lord, or respected His power. However, in verse 16 we are able to see the true awe that He had.

A proper reaction to God’s revelation of His will, His judgment, and mercy is awe. God’s work evokes emotion in us but this power goes beyond emotion and shakes Habakkuk to the point of physical shaking. “My lips quiver at the sound” is a reference to silence that has the prophet has been overcome by. He is writing these things down but He no longer cries out to God because of an acceptance of His will.

This physical reaction points to the second half of the verse where Habakkuk commits to silence until God acts and brings about “the day of trouble.” This is a reaction that is founded in a place of true faith Habakkuk has, trusting that God’s ways are higher than his own.

When we pray, how often do we resolve to remain quiet on the matter until the Lord works? There is great patience when we have faith in the Lord. In chapter 2, Habakkuk announces that he will wait on an answer but now He has received the answer and vows to wait on the fulfillment of that answer.

Are there limits that we have placed on our trust in God? Is there anything that the Lord will do that we don’t believe is worth waiting on? When we read His word, we must trust that He will do His will and that will and its timing is better than what we might have imagined for ourselves.

Our reaction is important, especially if it is a public one, because it testifies to our trust in the Lord. But the response to God is also complete when we have

The Proper Evaluation

In verse 17, Habakkuk gives a summary of the situation by alluding to plants and a harvest. He knows that in the midst of the terror that the people of God will encounter, the agriculture will take a hit. The fig tree will not blossom, the vine will be absent of grapes, olives will not grow, no crops in the field will produce, and the livestock will waste away to nothing.

This is a biblical idea that Leviticus 26:18-20 reflects: And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.

Such a punishment is fitting when Judah has turned from the Lord and is no longer faithful.

Habakkuk understands the moral failings of his people, he understands the extent of the punishment, and now realizes the ramifications of the punishment. This is the situation that he finds himself in.

The reaction to the power of God is important. The evaluation of the current and future situation is important. However, the following point is likely the most difficult thing for us. Next, we see

The Proper Resolution

I love the hymn we sing often, “I Am Resolved” because it not only speaks to beliefs that we hold but also the actions that we take because of those beliefs. Verse 18 tells us that Habakkuk resolves for one thing: that the Lord will be the source of his joy. Apart from a person having faith, this is likely one of the most difficult things for us, as sinful human beings, to do. All too often, we allow temporary worldly circumstances to dictate our level of joy. But these circumstances vary from day to day, even hour to hour. It is exhausting to go from low to high and back to low when joy is concerned.

However, when we rejoice first in the Lord, there is consistency because our standing with the Lord never changes. Even when we find ourselves in the midst of dark sin, the forgiving nature of God allows our joy to remain the same. We rejoice in Him and Him alone. Any other source of joy will fail us.

And when I use the word joy, I want to go beyond just a feeling or emotion. Joy is contentment in situations. This contentment typically results in happiness but it should not be defined simply as feelings or emotions. This is why Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” When we rejoice in the Lord, it has a great long term effect on our lives.

But the why behind rejoicing and taking joy in the Lord is found in Habakkuk’s belief that God is his salvation. The deliverance from the coming situation is at the forefront of Habakkuk’s mind! It is because the Lord will rescue His people from harm that he is filled with joy rather than sorrow.

If you are here and you have been saved, I want to encourage you this morning to take full joy in the Lord because He has saved you and will continue to deliver you from your sinfulness. Afterall, this is what we have been saved from!

Habakkuk responds in awe, he evaluates the situation, he resolves to rejoice in the Lord, and finally he has

The Proper Recognition

The recognition comes from the source of Habakkuk’s resolution, that the Lord is his salvation. Because the Lord is the source of his salvation, it means that he can be strengthened, it means that he will be swift and gentle like a deer, and that he will approach the heights of the heavens.

Such a recognition has monumental effects on our lives. The biggest thing is that it alters our identity. There was someone in our body of believers who shared Sunday night that they had a realization recently that their identity was not in their occupation or role in the home or status in the community but in Christ and Christ alone. When we recognize the Lord as our salvation, we are able to remember the mercy that has been given to us because of the death of Jesus on the cross. We are able to embrace the new life that has been given to us because of the resurrection. How could we do anything but place the entirety of our lives in His hands and trust that He will build His Kingdom accordingly?!

Though You slay me

Yet I will praise You

Though You take from me

I will bless Your name

Though You ruin me

Still I will worship

Sing a song to the one who's all I need