Sermon Tone Analysis

*Habakkuk 2*

*{{:he יְהוָה}} **'s Answer – Sin Will be Judged!*

Last time we looked at the first four verses in Habakkuk where the prophet cries out to God concerning the intolerable evil that he saw all around him* [OHP] *– how could a righteous and just God allow such things to continue?

I said last time that hwhy hears that genuine cry.

Today we will look at {{:he יְהוָה}} 's answer.

*[OHP1] *The question was "How can  allow evil to continue?";

{{:he יְהוָה}} 's answer was: that "sin will be judged!".

God answers – {{:he יְהוָה}} speaks.

Hallelujah!

It is no vain thing to cry out to God.

He answers but His answer may not be what we expect – in fact it seldom is.

Habakkuk was perplexed with the silence and forbearance of God in permitting evil to continue and pours out his soul to God.

God answers!

He responds to the sincere cry.

He is not indifferent to evil nor ignorant of it – He was about to bring punishment upon the sinful nation.

Here is {{:he יְהוָה}} 's answer [read 1:5-11]

*{{:he יְהוָה}} **'s solution – judgement.

It is an eternal unwavering principle of **{{:he יְהוָה}} ** that evil will be judged.*

*[OHP2] * {{:he יְהוָה}} answers Habakkuk’s complaint - the Divine solution (v.5,6) is that the Chaldeans~/Babylonians would judge Judah, Habakkuk’s complaint was justified and upheld - {{:he יְהוָה}} would act against such inveterate all pervading wickedness - He would use the Babylonians as His agents to carry it out.

Although it was Habakkuk who prayed, {{:he יְהוָה}} ’s answer was to the whole nation - He addresses them as "you" in the plural - the command "to look", "be astonished" etc. is also plural.

This is a message for all the people.

God is not going to sit back anymore, His patience has run its full course.

We saw last time that {{:he יְהוָה}} is extremely patient and long-suffering – but it does not go on for ever - in response to Habakkuk’s prayer {{:he יְהוָה}} is going to act!

And act in a way that will leave people amazed, astonished, terrified!

It will be a terrible judgement, beyond what they could ever conceive.

Even if someone told them outright, they still would not believe it is possible.

You know, we are the same!

We do not believe really that {{:he יְהוָה}} will judge the earth and destroy it - despite the fact that the Scripture clearly and consistently tell us so.

The fact of coming judgement hasn’t hit home - it isn’t real and vital to us - if it were then there would be an urgency in our evangelism and a holiness in our living that patently is just not there (cf.

Art Katz’s illustration of "Night" by Eli Weissel).

The signs that what hwhy said would come to pass were evident, if only they would look among the nations - they would see the Chaldeans conquering all in their path - they would not be exempted.

What was happening in the nations was a portent of what would befall them!

{{:he יְהוָה}} was going to act!

And He was going to do so in their days!

{{:he יְהוָה}} is going to act in judgement - He is going to do something in our very own days!

But though we are warned we do not really believe it in our hearts.

hwhy  tells them specifically what He is going to do (v.6ff)

but they still will not heed.

No one lays it to heart.

Paul quotes this verse  (*Acts 13:37-41* /but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: ‘Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; For I am accomplishing a work in your days, A work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.’ ”/) - according to his Divinely inspired interpretation, this verse speaks of  the judgement upon those who reject redemptive work of Christ.

It is not just the judgement that came upon idolatrous Judah, but the judgement that will come upon all who reject Jesus – yes, it applies to our own day!

God replies that he is about to do something quite extraordinary.

He is bringing in the armies of Babylon — the strongest, cruellest and most unscrupulous force on earth.

A self-made people who worship their creator.

The Divine Solution: The Chaldeans would judge Judah.

{{:he יְהוָה}} explicitly tells His people that the Chaldeans are coming!

Not of their own enterprise but {{:he יְהוָה}} rose them up to perform His purpose - to execute His judgement.

They are a fierce and impetuous people - violent who rapidly overtake the nations in their path.

In a matter of  few short years their armies marched throughout the earth and took possession of it - dispossessing nations, taking their dwellings for themselves, exiling the inhabitants to Babylon.

None can withstand them, they inspire terror wherever they go.

And they are coming upon Judah! - upon God’s people!

hwhy has sent them!

The Chaldeans, or neo-Babylonians, ruled the ancient Near East 612-539 B.C., tyrannically administering a justice all its own and worshiping its own might.

The answer the prophet received is valid for all time.

A sovereign God has the incontestable prerogative of dealing with the wicked in His own time and way.

{{:he יְהוָה}} 's answer to the wickedness of man is judgement!

This is a universal and unerring principle.

-v.7 The Chaldeans are fear and terror inspiring - none can withstand them or appeal to international law or conventions of morality - they take no heed of the world court.

They are a law to themselves - they set their own law and authority and heed no one else.

So what can be done to resist them?

They also represent the Babylon of the last days - the empire of man’s might (humanism) - coming to a zenith under the anti-christ - who sets himself as authority above all, a law to himself.

None can resist him - he brings fear and terror, but what can be done when he respects none of the conventions, laws and authorities set up?

He places himself above all.

Babylon rules at the end, only to be destroyed by the stone cut without hands (cf.

Dan 2; Rev 18; 19:1-6).

Like the Chaldeans here, the end time Babylon is evil but is an instrument in {{:he יְהוָה}} ’s hand in fulfilling His end time plan - accomplishing His will before being judged herself.

-v.8  {{:he יְהוָה}} tells Judah that He is going to use Babylon as His instrument to execute judgement upon them because of their wickedness.

Now Habakkuk vividly describes their attack.

The invaders are likened to creatures of prey - swift and fierce.

The invasion will be swift and fierce – swift like a leopard the horses will race upon them; like a wolf they will be ferocious.

The cavalry of the Chaldeans is a notable feature of their army, their war horses prancing.

Distance is no obstacle to an army so equipped - they come from far away but like the swift and vicious eagle the army of the Chaldeans swoops down to devour - utterly consume wicked Judah – none escapes his far-seeing eye.

-v.9

There are hoards of  them in this army - when mustered together they are innumerable as grains of sand – so are the captives they sieze.

They swoop in like the east wind - fierce, hot from the desert, burning all in its path.

Every one of them come bent on violence.

They destroyer has come!

Judah will suffer violence!

The consequence of her injustice and violence will return upon her own head.

There is a God in the heavens who is just, and will execute judgement.

Man’s sins will not be forever overlooked!

A day of judgement is coming!

- v.10 Utterly arrogant and confident in their own invincibility, this invading army scorns all accepted authority - they are not impressed by kings and rulers - violence rules - their might is their authority (cf.

Mao "authority comes from the end of a gun").

They mock kings and princes, they mock and laugh in derision at people’s attempts to defend themselves.

Their fortresses are no obstacle - they laugh at them, totally assured in their might.

They build an earthwork against the city wall and capture it.

Nothing stops them.

Resistance is futile.

They overrun and capture all they set their heart upon.

When {{:he יְהוָה}} acts in judgement, do you think that your defences will be able to stand and hold off the onslaught of violence that is coming?

All efforts of defence and resistance are laughable to the might foe {{:he יְהוָה}} will send against the wicked.

They will be captured because hwhy has decreed that they be captured.

Captives will be as numerous as grains of sand.

This verse accurately portrays the military practice of the Chaldeans in throwing up earthen ramparts to take fortresses.

-v.11  Nothing holds up this army in its rapid onward advance - they pass through leaving destruction and devastation in their path.

They conquer then move on to their next objective.

The capture of Judah is barely a hiccup in their onward path.