Habakkuk: Whate'er My Lord Ordains Is Right

We're going to be in the book of habakkuk today. We've been going through the Minor Prophets. and I was having a conversation this past week at the Seminary about the church Gathering and the elements of our church gathering in making an argument with the students that we need to include a place for lament and for confession in our church services. Number of church services at least growing up as a child. It was really focused on the positive Without Really any space for confession or any space for lament of this broken world in in in the fall in and yet what we see in scripture just taking the songs for example There are more Psalms that deal with Lament. Crying out to God how long oh Lord crying out to God lord. I don't understand. Why is this world this way? Like we heard in Psalm 73. Why does it seem like the wicked prosper?

And the Book of habakkuk is the same. Question, it's the same issue. We have a whole prophecy devoted to this Prophet habakkuk, who is Asking God why are things the way they are? He didn't understand? now the background for habakkuk is the Assyrian Empire had conquered the northern kingdom habakkuk his ministering in the South and Judah and the Babylonian Empire had not yet risen to power to where it was going to conquer Judah but the king that was raining over Judah was a wicked King. And habakkuk is wondering God. Why are you allowing this evil to persist? Reason, I think it's so important to give space for lamentin confession in the church Gathering is that these questions? They're not just questions for ancient is real. These are the questions we wrestle with every week. We live in a fallen world and sometimes the weight of that hits Us in the week. Sometimes we'd feel like we can't even come to church that we've sinned so badly we got to clean ourselves up before we come or perhaps we're so frustrated with this Fallen world that we need a space where we can cry out Lord. How long until you bring righteousness.

So we've desired here at Trinity from the very beginning that we would have this portion of the service at the beginning after the call to worship. That would be a space for confession in lament very often. It's taken up by our singing Lord from Sorrows deep. I call hear my desperation p*** and ruined by the Fall. This is where I'm at today. I'm coming and I'm not in a good place. I'm not in great shape. It was all I could do to get here to church today to gather with the people of God, and I needed you to hear my desperation and answer my prayers. or perhaps we send and we think that maybe we bouts in the grace of God. And so we need to hear a prayer like Marcos prayed through that scripture to say. Yeah, it seems like the wicked Prosper, but the reality is is Lord. You're near me and I'm with you and I've discerned their end. And my end is not the same as there and you've given me a hope and I need to remind myself of what's true in the gospel that oh my soul. Arise take take a glance of look at gays at the Risen Christ to know that my sins are forgiven. And when Satan accuses me and says that I've sinned and and now God's angry with me and he's going to cast me off. There's five bleeding wounds at the cross that plead my case that that says to the father forgive them all forgive them. Those are the sins for which I've died father. We need that kind of reminder that corporate rehearsal of the Gospel that says oh yeah, your sin is great. Yeah cheer up. You're worse than you think. But God has loved you in Christ more than you could possibly imagine. He's forgiven your sins in Jesus by faith. He's giving you his son. How will he not with him? Freely give you all things and Jesus is coming back to make all things new. Well, this is the book of habakkuk. This is the the message God answers habakkuk concerns by saying that he had to evil in your midst. I'm going to raise up Babylon to judge is Judah the southern Kingdom of Israel, but don't worry. I'm going to judge Babylon as well. habakkuk Cries out how long the Lord he surely was thinking of Psalms like Psalm 73 or Psalm 13 some 13. David says how long the Lord will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day, how long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider an answer me? Oh Lord. My God light up my eyes lest. I sleep the sleep of death left. My enemy say I've prevailed over him lest my foes Rejoice because I'm shaking butt is what David says to himself. I have trusted in your steadfast. Love my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because he's dealt bountifully with me. So habakkuk is going to cry the same kinds of questions. That's so many have had perhaps you have here this morning this afternoon.

God where are you in the midst of my circumstances? Where are you in the midst of my pain and suffering in the midst of evil? And I put this up here. I wanted you to see this problem of evil. This question of evil arises because we believe First the God is completely good. He's in all good God. Can you do the next slide arcade second? He is completely powerful. He's an all-powerful God. He's omnipotent. And so if God is all good and all-powerful. There's no problems there. So far the problem only arises when we add the third statement that evil exists evil happens. And so there's an apparent Paradox that's created because if God is all good and all-powerful and evil exist than surely if God was good. He would have stopped it or if he was all-powerful he would have been able to prevent it and evil exist. So therefore God must not be all good or not all-powerful. This is the very issue that habakkuk is wrestling with. Well, and it seems like there's no resolution until we add the last statement there. If God is all good and all-powerful. Is it possible and I would say it is that God has a morally sufficient reason that you and I may not know. For the evil which exists could God have a higher purpose for the evil which exists than what we understand. Well, if he's all-powerful and all good, then surely it is theoretically possible and I would argue from scripture that it is absolutely the truth. God says over and over he's not the author of sin nor does he tempted E12 send? He's The Giver of every good and perfect gift. In fact, he's the one who causes all things to work together for good to those who love him who are called according to his purpose. So God can take the evil that exists and even work into our good.

So the backwards question, why do the wicked Prosper this was evidently a challenge to his own faith as well as he's voicing the thoughts of others. Let's read here in chapter 1 verses 1 to 4 the Oracle that habakkuk the prophet saw. Oh Lord, how long shall I cry for help when you will not hear or cry do violence and you will not save. Why do you make me see iniquity? And why do you oddly look at wrong destruction and violence are before me strife and contention arrives. So the laws paralyzed Injustice never goes forth for the wicked surround the righteous. So Justice Goes Forth perverted. I love the honesty of these questions that habakkuk is asking God but notice it never turns to accusations accusations are sinful and one lesson. We're going to see and habakkuk is that asking questions of God to do according to his character according to his promises is a mark of maturity. It's a mark of the the child of God. It may feel like you forgotten me Lord. It feels like you've hidden your face, but I've trusted in your character your steadfast Covenant keeping love. So when I don't understand what he's doing in his sovereignty why he's allowing what he allows I can trust his character is what habakkuk is going to reiterate and learn. Think about this we have even more Revelation the father gave you Jesus the father forgave your sins. He saved you from the destructive path that you were on that was going to wreck your life and he gave you a new mind and a new hearts and new affections. He is good and does good. And so when you don't understand why he's allowed what he's allowed in your life today, you can trust who we is. Remember what he's done in the past? How faithful he's been to you. Hibachi Express question is how long oh Lord. How long shall I cry for help? In other words? Why do the ungodly flourish? Why are Justice and mercy divided God is Judge of all the Earth. Why does he apparently do nothing?

The king that was on the throne at the time. Jehoiakim. His Reign was characterized by evil Jeremiah. 22:17 says about him you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain for the shedding of innocent blood and practicing oppression and violence. Reminds me of what we here in Revelation 610 we talked about it Wednesday night this the cries of the suppressors of the Saints better before the throne o Sovereign Lord. Holy and true how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the Earth. Will you always responds versus 10:55 look among the Nations and see wonder and be astounded for I'm doing the work in your days that you would not believe it sold for behold. I'm raising up to call Dean's that's the Babylonians that bitter and Hasty Nation who marched through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own their dreaded and fearsome their Justice and dignity go forth from themselves. Their horses are swifter than leopards more Fierce than the evening wolves their Horsemen, press probably on their Horsemen come from afar. They Fly Like an Eagle Swift to devour. They all come for violence all their faces forward the gala captives like sand at Kings they scoff and at rulers they left they laugh at every Fortress for they piled up and take it then they sweep by like the wind and go on. Guilty men whose own might is their God you always responses. I'm going to raise up the Chaldeans the Babylonians a wicked nation that are going to be my instrument of judgment on judah's society.

Baxtrix going to have a second complaint here, which you might already be anticipating God. How could you use such an ungodly Nation to do that? But we see over and over in Scripture that God uses means to accomplish his purposes. And sometimes he allows Wicked means to accomplish good ends.

So God says I'm going to allow Babylon to conquer to bring Injustice and do their wicked Nation. They are going to come in swiftly. So the bacchic second question arises from this very issue verse 12. Are you not from Everlasting? Oh Lord my God my Holy One We Shall Not Die. Oh Lord, you have ordained on his judgments and you will rock have established them for reproof. You who are a purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong. Why do you idly look at Raiders and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he you make mankind like the fish of the sea like crawling things that have no ruler. 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 in his glad therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his Dragnet for by them. He lives in luxury and its food is rich. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercy as mercilessly killing Nations forever.

It appears that perhaps some time has passed since habakkuk first question it it seems that what habakkuk is saying is that now the Babylonians have come in they invaded the land and now habakkuk is questioning their violent. How could God use a wicked instrument? He didn't doubt the power or the character of God rather. He doesn't understand. Are they going to keep like fishermen dragging their net across Judah forever and pillaging forever?

I think that we have something instructive here in our own lives when we don't understand. It's okay to pray and ask God to help us to understand. But there's a difference between asking and accusing. It's important to distinguish even between doubt and unbelief doubt is simply not knowing not being sure it turns to unbelief when rather than seeking truth and submitting to God. We reject the answers or we assume we know all that can be known and we turn away from the truth. The implications are for us both good and bad I think of this. Good. It means that doubting is not sin so long as you're straining to see. I don't understand. I doubt God that what you're doing is for the best, but I don't understand God. Would you give me wisdom to understand? Would you give me eyes to see what you're doing so that I can Praise You In the midst of this storm? And we can be free from guilt for our doubt. As long as our hearts are yearning for God's truth. Have you ever felt like just doubting is sin? Grabs, you felt like you're a terrible Christian because you've had doubts. Well, that's a lie from Satan weed out because we are not omniscient. We don't know it all and from our perspective. It's hard to understand why things happen and so we have doubts and they're very real and sometimes we feel like to express them as Sin but it's not as long as we're straining to see the sovereignty of God as long as work hoping to understand what God is doing and it's it's not unbelief, but unbelief is rebellion against God. They can disguise itself as belief but it's cloaked in truisms and right answers and hardening of hearts even all the wild where we may be acting like we have great assurance. I think I'm back at teaches us. It's okay to to have doubts as long as we're straining to see Desiring to understand. And habakkuk waits on you always responds 2:1-4. I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower and look out to see what he will say to me and what I will answer concerning my complaints and the Lord answered me write the vision make it plain on tablets. So he may run who reads it for steel division awaits. Its appointed time. It hastens to the end. It will not lie. If it seems slow wait for it. It will surely come it will not delay behold. His soul is puffed up. It is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his face this these four versus I think we're at the heart of habakkuk message. You see this is waiting on you always response waiting on the Lord.

That the The Waiting of faith is the waiting to see what God will do trusting that he is good and does good. Even if we don't understand how he's going to accomplish it. And God tells habakkuk if it seems slow wait for it. It will surely come it will not delay. Doesn't it seem like God's answers to prayer sometimes seems slow. Seems like they'll never come. God says don't don't worry if it seems slow wait for it. It will surely come it reminds me of Isaiah 40 turned over to Isaiah 40 for a moment, you know this passage you might even beat on your wall. Isaiah 40 verses 28 to 31

Have you not known? Have you not heard the Lord is the Everlasting God the creator of the ends of the Earth. He does not faint or grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength, even youth shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted, but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall Mount up with wings like eagles they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. This is God's word to us in the waiting. This is God's word to habakkuk in his own waiting. If it seems slow wait for it. It will surely come in. He says in verse for the righteous the just shall live by his face. I think there's two keys to waiting patiently. There's two keys to waiting patiently that I've learned over the years. The first is humility. If we're to wait patiently we have to be humble. We have to say I don't know all the answers. I don't know what to even best for my own life. Only God does I think I know what's best but very often. I don't know.

Psalm 37 says this very thing in verse 9 those who Waits on you are the meek are the humble. And also we wait in Hope. the second key is Hope hope in Earnest expectation that God will answer. He won't disappoint us some 39:7 says for what do I wait? My hope is in you and this is what you always saying in verse 3 back in habakkuk 2 when it comes it will give you always full and satisfying answer in his perfect time. And our lord Jesus himself gave the same advice the same Council in Luke 18 verse 7 will not God give Justice to his elect who cry to him day and night will he delay long over them? I tell you he will give Justice to them speedily nevertheless when the son of man comes will he find faith on the Earth? so Jesus said don't worry. God is Not delaying. It may seem slow, but he is going to answer. And God tells habakkuk the just the righteous will live by his faith and these words in habakkuk or quoted three times in the New Testament in Romans, 1:17 in Galatians 3 11 and in Hebrews, 10:38. And we don't have time to look through all of the passages but in Hebrews 10:38, the words are applied to those who are looking for the second coming of Jesus the just will live by their faith. So what the author of Hebrews does he says just as God told habakkuk that the righteous the just will live by their faith and have faith that God will answer and in the waiting just be patient. It's going to come. Galatians 3:1 in in Romans, 1:17. It's a defense of justification by faith alone even giving Abraham as an example. So in our faith it that we are not justified by our works, but rather our faith in the faith. It's reckoned is righteousness is the faith in Jesus Christ because he's the one in whom God has brought his Saving Grace near the So we have this this hope embedded in the gospel. The God's promises are yes, and amen. This is what Paul tells the Corinthians we have this hope in our waiting that God is going to keep his promises and when we doubt what we can do is we can look to the cross. When we doubt we can look to the cross and see God's promise there at the cross. Does God plan to save and deliver? Yes he does. He sent his son Jesus at the high point of the ages to be a substitute for our sin so that we could be forgiven. And with him, he's giving us all things. So we saw Jesus by faith when we put Faith In Jesus. We saw his work on the cross was forgiveness of sins to bring us into the family of God so that we cry out Abba Father and we're part of the family and so by faith we can believe that God is going to send Jesus again to make all things right to restore righteousness on the earth and justice.

That's a hard thing to believe at times. I know it.

And when we think of the second coming of Jesus to make all things, right it may seem so far away.

Until the Temptation is to doubt.

Wonder if God is going to keep his promise.

and instead of wallowing in that Dowd. What we need to do is look to the cross and say God you did keep your promise. You kept your promise in Jesus and you sent him. And you are at work and you're working your plan and what I perceive as slowness. Maybe I don't understand. So I'm going to trust that you are good and do good.

You always second response is here from verse 52 verse 20 the longest section of habakkuk. Moreover wine is a traitor an arrogant man who is never addressed his greed is as wide as she'll like death. He never has enough he gathers for himself All Nations and collects has his own All Peoples shall not all these take up their talent against him with scoffing and riddles for him and say woe to him who he picks up what is not his own for how long and loads himself with pledges will not you're dead or suddenly arise and those the Wake who will make you tremble then you will be spoiled for them because you have plundered many nations. He speaking to Babylon hear all the remnants of the people shall plunder you for the blood of a man and violence to the Earth two cities and all who dwell in them. Go to him who gets evil gain for his house to set his nest on I to be safe from the reach of harm you have device Shame for your house by cutting off many people's you have forfeited your life for the stone will cry out from the wall in the beam from the woodwork respond to him who built the town with blood and found the city on iniquity the old is it not from The Lord of hosts the people labor merely for fire and Nations weary themselves for nothing. Here's the promise. For the Earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord is the waters cover the sea motive him who makes his neighbor's drink you pour out your ass and make them drunk in order to gaze at their nakedness. You will have your fill of shame instead of Glory drink yourself and show your uncircumcision the cup in the Lord's right hand will come around to you and utter shame will come upon your glory the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you as well the destruction of the beasts that terrified them for the blood of man in violence to the Earth two cities and all who dwell in them. What profit is an idle when it's make her his shaped it a mental image and teacher of Lies for its make her trust in his own creation when you make speechless Idols woe to him who says to a wooden thing awake to silence don't arise can this teach behold. It is overlaid with gold and silver. There's no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the Earth keep silence. before him so there's five woes against the suppressor Babylon those to plunder the wealth of others versus 628 those who seek security for themselves versus 9 to 11 while denying it to others Those who commit Bloodshed and brutality and slavery verses 12 to 14 those who degrade and humiliate others in order to destroy their will to resist verses 15 to 17 and those who worship idols verses 18 and 19, but I want you to focus on verse 14 and verse 20 in contrast. Yahweh's Kingdom will have no end. Verse 14 the Earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea verse 20. The Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the Earth keep silence before him.

This Glory the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh that will cover the Earth. Do you know that you and I know this Glory? We've seen this Glory. We have a knowledge of this Glory already. Where is that Glory? It's in the face of Christ Jesus John John 1:14, the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory is that the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth This is Paul and 2nd Corinthians. 4:6 God who said let light shine out of Darkness has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. God here says my glory will cover the Earth. My glory will be known around the earth righteousness and Justice in my kingdom is coming. And he says the proper response is worship verse 20. The Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the Earth keep silence before him and what her back is going to do in chapter 3 is his whole tone changes. He gets a glimpse of the bigger picture that the God is answering prayer that his glory is feeling the Earth and what he's going to do then is praised in chapter 3, he's going to worship.

Habakkuk song in chapter 3 this song describes in a vivid picture of a of a theophany that is a a manifestation of God's glory how Yahweh comes to the aid of his people destroying their enemies and answering all of the prophets questions and prayer 3:1 a prayer of habakkuk the Prophet according to Chagall NF. Oh Lord. I have heard the report of you and your work O Lord, do I fear? In the midst of the years revive it in the midst of the years make it known in Wrath remember Mercy. God came from came on in the Holy One from Mount Paran his Splendor covered the heavens and the Earth was full of his praise His brightness was like the light rays flashed from his hand and there he failed his power before him went pestilence and plague followed at his heels. He stood and measured the Earth. He looked and shook the nation. Then the Eternal mountains were scattered the Everlasting Hills St. Lo his were Everlasting ways. I saw the tents of kushan in Affliction the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. Was your wrath against the river's oh Lord was your anger against the rivers or your indignation against the sea when you rode on your horses on The Chariot of salvation? You strip the sheets from your boat calling from many arrows. You split the Earth with rivers the mountains. Saw you and Rhys the Raging Waters swept on the Deep gave for the voice and looked at his hands on high this sun and moon Stood Still in their place at the light of your arrows as they sped at the flash of your glittering spear. You marched through the Earth in Fury you thrashed the nations in Anger. You went out for the Salvation of your people for the Salvation of your anointed you crushed the head of the House of the wicked laying him bear from thigh to neck. Wow, you pierced with his own arrows the heads of his Warriors who came like a whirlwind to scatter me rejoicing as if to Devour the poor in secret. You trampled to see with your horses the surging of Mighty Waters. I hear in my body trembles my lips quiver at the sound rottenness enters into my bones my legs trembled beneath me yet. I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. What an incredible song we're not going to be singing that one in church anytime soon. I'm sure habakkuk is is talking about this judgment is going to come on Babylon and when it comes it's going to be a thorough end. So habakkuk is filled with both Paul and fear and hope and he sees God approaching from the desert to the south manifested in glory and judgment from versus 3 to 7, and he wages War versus 8 to 12. It reminds us of what we heard last week that y'all way. The Lord is a warrior. And he's in his Chariot writing against his enemy and all the nations will acknowledge his supreme power and he has Victory and I find it fascinating that the way he describes the victory is that you will crush the head of the House of the wicked in verse 13. What does that sound like Genesis 3 15 The child who is the descendant of Eve will crush the head of the serpent. And we know that this is exactly what God has done in Christ. He destroyed him who had the power of death. That is the devil and release those who through fear of death work all their lifetime subject to bondage. We know in Revelation that he's going to put it into his enemies and The Last Enemy to be destroyed will be death and death will be no more. And he's going to wipe every tear from their eyes and he's going to bring peace. So, how does habakkuk respond to this the last few verses for 17 do the Fig Tree should not blossom. North Fruit beyond the vines the produce of the olive fail in 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 deers. He makes me tread on high places. The choirmaster was stringed instruments habakkuk wanted this sung in church in the corporate gathering at church, but in the temple and the corporate Gathering be invited. Hey, this is to the choirmaster. Let's sing it. He was now content to wait patiently for Yahweh. He received what was asked for Yahweh was going to vindicate his righteousness by judging Babylon. And I have to confess this is something Supernatural isn't it verses 17 and 18 it is easy to praise God when life and health and prosperity or in abundance, but when they're lacking to rejoice in God for his own sake is evidence of the spirits work. Habakkuk says the fig tree doesn't Blossom. There's no fruit on the vines the the olive fails that the fields don't have any food. The the flocks are cut off and there's no hurt in the Stalls yet. I will still rejoice in the Lord. That's Supernatural. True Faith the just who live by their faith is built on a firm foundation that we're believing that what God says is true that he is good and he does good.

And it's interesting to me and I think this is the last lesson we learned from habakkuk here is that he has great contentment by the end of the book at the beginning of the book. He's got a lot of questions, which you may have the same questions this morning and at the end of the book he has this great contentment. What what is the the difference what had he done? Well in chapter 3, he's considering who God is and then he's praying to God and then he's meditating on God and then he's observing how God has revealed himself.

And so what habakkuk is doing is he's not letting his heart speak alone. He's speaking to his heart. He's saying to his heart. I'm not going to believe nearly what I see. I'm going to believe what God reveals about himself because when I look at what I see my circumstances their overwhelming, sometimes the darkness doesn't even lift. But I need to look beyond my circumstances. I need to buy Faith have eyes to see what is true reality. What's really going on God is in his throne. He's on his throne. He's in his Temple. He is accomplishing his purposes. He's going to make all things new he's going to bring Justice and in our waiting. We just need to trust him the just will live by their faith. God is good. And he does good.

There's a him that we don't sing in church here. What are my God ordains is right. It was written by a German hymn writer and we don't know the circumstances. I would love to know but these words I've got him here on the screen. I just want to read to you through this him. Whatever my God ordains Is Right his holy will abideth. I will be still what are he does and follow where he died is he is my God though dark my road. He holds me that I shall not fall and so to him I leave it all whatever my God ordains is right. He never will deceive me. He leads me by the proper path. I know he will not leave me I take content what he has sent his hand can turn my griefs away and patiently I wait his day. What are my God ordains is right though. Now this cup and drinking made bitter seem to my faint heart. I take it all on drinking. My God is true each morn a new sweet Comfort yet. She'll fill my heart and pain and sorrow shall depart one last verse. What are my God ordains Is Right Here shall my stand be taken those sorrow need or death be mine yet. I am not forsaken. My father's care is around me there. He holds me that I shall not fall and so to him I leave it all. This is a hymn writer whose speaking to his own heart was true, even though the circumstances around him. They must have been deep sorrows.

I'm reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul and 2nd Corinthians 4:17 and 18 in Paul's in the context talking about his persecution him being beaten and Shipwrecked and all of that says this light momentary Affliction Paul that is that is not the way I would perceive those kinds of circumstances. This light momentary Affliction is preparing for us and eternal weight of Glory beyond all comprehension comparison as we look not to the things that are seen But to the things that are unseen for the things that are seen or transient. That means they're they're they're coming and going so fast, but the things that are unseen are eternal this is why Jesus in Matthew 11 said come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. This is our savior is our God. He understands. He was a Man of Sorrows acquainted with grief. He understands what life is like in this Fallen World. He understands that you're weary and heavy-laden you understand. And he says come to him. And learn from him and take his yoke upon you that we don't have farm animals here. I mean, sometimes we have goats on the Hills doing the lawn mowing. But you know, we don't understand that picture of a yoke always did that the these two oxen that are in that yoke while one of them Bears a heavier weight if there is a stronger Ox with the bigger shoulders that yoke is born by the bigger rocks in Jesus says all when you come to me, I'm going to you're going to be yoked with me right alongside and I'm going to carry all the way my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Come to me. Do you know Jesus? Have you put your faith in him? Is he your savior? You can come to him right now. You don't have to clean yourself up. You come by faith believing the Jesus died for your sins and was buried and rose again, and you can have new life and be forgiven. Your Saints brothers and sisters. Way down by the cares of this Fallen World this crying out like a backache how long oh Lord until you make things right? Come to Jesus with your troubles come to him with your cares. His yoke is easy and his burden is light this light momentary Affliction is preparing it as a weight of eternal glory that cannot be compared. But we have to look to the things that are unseen not to the things that are seen. It's so tempting to just look at the things that are seen. But they're transient their passing away. Things that are unseen are Eternal God is coming back. He is going to establish righteousness and peace on the earth. He's going to bring in his kingdom. Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you that where I am. You may be also And he said I wouldn't have told you if it was not so. Cuz he never lies to us. He always tells us the truth. So come to him come to him with all your sorrows and all your grief and all your weight. And let him take it from you. Free from the burden of it father. Thank you for this time in this word. This is so often The Cry of our heart. We know how habakkuk feels.

Yet we learned so much from this prophet. He didn't let his doubting turn to unbelief. He didn't let his doubting turn to send he didn't understand and yet he trusted you. He's waiting upon you he's living by his face.

believing your promises and believing Who You Are

remembering that you're a God who's full of steadfast love and compassion. And you promise to deliver your people all father we believe but like Peter our faith is so small help our unbelief.

the cares of our life fill our gaze and and it weighs us down and We're tempted to think. Where are you? God have you abandon us? Have you forsaken us? Have you forgotten about us? So give us eyes to see the cross again. Give us eyes to see our savior. Because at the cross is a reminder that you will never leave us and you will never forsake us. You've given us your best when we were at our worst. How will you not along with him? Freely give us all things. Nothing can separate us from your love not height nor depth Not Angels not principalities not things present not things to come. Nothing will be able to separate us from your love in Christ. Jesus our lord by your spirit. Would you remind your children of that? And would you bring those who don't know you would they taste and see that the Lord is good that you are good and you do good. And that you offer them life eternal. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.