Habakkuk: The Call for Justice

Introduction

When the wicked are in charge injustice reigns.

God grants repentance as we have seen with Edom and Ninivah.

Those of faith will receive grace and that is though Jesus.

The people of Ninivah could only say, perhaps the Lord will be merciful.

What is amazing is that its not a perhaps, he has proven his mercy to the repentant in Christ.

We have ground for confidence in Christ unmatched.

And we know to rely on God for that repentance.

If he holds us we will never fall, if he does not we cannot stand.

I like what Dr MacArthur said, If keep our salvation was up to use, we would most certainly lose it.

Often we look at the evil around us and we ask God why, why are you allowing this, and we must temper this feeling with the reality that we have be graced,

God owes no-one anything.

No one.

Salvation is a grace so when we cry to God for salvation for our selves, or anyone, we are asking for a grace.

And we are only able to cry out for grace and justice because he has withheld the evil that we would have naturally done.

This is the context we need to have when reading Habakkuk

Please Stand if you are able for the reading of God’s word

Habakkuk 1:1–17 ESV

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? 3 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. 4 So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. 5 “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. 6 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. 7 They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. 9 They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. 10 At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. 11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!” 12 Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. 13 You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? 14 You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. 15 He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad. 16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. 17 Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever?

May God Bless the readying of His Holy, Infallible, and Sufficient Word

Lets Pray

Transition

As we just read Habakkuk start with a prayer and its a prayer that we might pray today. Look at the first 4 verses.

Body

The Law is Paralyzed

Habakkuk 1:1–4 ESV

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? 3 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. 4 So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.

The Oracle, Usually means a vision of judgement.

Context of the book

Violence, iniquity, destruction, and violence.

We might pray this prayer

“So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.”

Transition

We can feel that hopelessness, but God is not. Look at verse 11.

A Wonder of Justice

Habakkuk 1:5–11 ESV

5 “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. 6 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. 7 They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. 9 They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. 10 At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. 11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

Habakkuk said God, why aren’t you acting,

God said, I am an when I do you will be astounded.

Paul quotes this in Acts 13:36–41

Acts 13:36–41 ESV

36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, 37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”

The quote applies to those hearing Paul because the destruction the change over their heads is standing.

Think about it, hell is astounding.

The judge will judge the judges.

“They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.”

Transition

Habakkuk is a bit incredulous at God’s response in verse 12-17

Are not the Wicked more Wicked?

Habakkuk 1:12–17 ESV

12 Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. 13 You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? 14 You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. 15 He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad. 16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. 17 Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever?

He acknowledges they are God’s reproof, verse 12

“Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.”

The center of Habakkuk’s is in verse 13.

“You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?”

Conclusion

Everything ultimately points to Christ,

The Apostle Paul toiled those Jews at Antioch,

Look that astounding judgement that the prophet talk about, its coming for you unless you are in Christ.

“Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about”

Benediction

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.