The Burden of Habakkuk
Notes
Transcript
Intro: If you were to look at the earth from outer space [from the moon], you would see one of the most beautiful, majestic sights in your life [show picture].
[Earth as seen from the moon]
If you were to take a little closer view from space [satellite orbiting the earth], you would begin to see clouds and storms upon the earth. [show photos]
[cloud cover from satellite shot]
[Thunderstorm taken from International Space Station]
And if we were to look at earth from ground level, it may look something like this [show photos]
Planet Earth may look marvelous from a satellite, but for those who live on this little planet, things tend to look depressing and chaotic. Increased turmoil, rising terrorism, unprecedented ignorance, wars and trauma. The world looks more and more like a time bomb getting ready to explode instead of the beautiful creation God made it to be.
It is little wonder thinking people begin to ask questions. Why is there so much oppression? Why all the injustice? Why do evil men prosper? Why do the righteous suffer? Why doesn’t God do something? Why doesn’t God clean up this mess? Why? Why? Why?
I want you to know that we’re not the first to ask these questions. Three thousand years ago there was a little known prophet of Judah that asked the same things as he looked at what was going on around him.
This morning we are going to start a study through the Book of Habakkuk.
Text; Habakkuk 1:1-4
1 The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.
3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.
4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
Background History Habakkuk probably spent his childhood in Judah during the reign of the boy king Josiah. He had been crowned at the age of eight (in 639 b.c.), and when he was sixteen he began a religious reform that changed the nation’s life.
3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images.
4 They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars which were above them he cut down; and the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images he broke in pieces, and made dust of them and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
5 He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
6 And so he did in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali and all around, with axes.
7 When he had broken down the altars and the wooden images, had beaten the carved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
King Josiah also repaired the temple, and during the process Hilkiah the priest found the book of the Law of the Lord and had it brought to Josiah. When it was read, Josiah and those with him were convicted of their sin. A national revival followed, and the observance of the Passover was revived.
After Josiah’s death, his son Jehoiakim began to rule and he turned out to be a godless king who led the nation down the path of destruction.
I tell you this to make a comparison to what has happened here in America. Our country was founded under biblical principles by godly men, but through the years godless leaders have led this nation down the path of destruction. And unfortunately, the church has stood idly by and watched it happen.
1. Habakkuk’s Burden; 1-2a
1. Habakkuk’s Burden; 1-2a
Burden- [ma ssa] pronouncement, oracle/speech lifted up
Habakkuk is lifting up the burden of his soul to the Lord, praying and seeking answers about what he was seeing take place in God’s society, with God’s people!
Habakkuk is not talking about pagan people, but God’s people living like pagans! The people of Judah apparently felt that since they were God’s chosen people that He would not punish them for their sins. Probably the first time they did something evil they were cautious, wondering if God would punish them. When He did nothing, they assumed that He hadn’t noticed or didn’t care so their sin increased.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,
21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
[2] Habakkuk asks why God has not answered his prayer? Habakkuk has been crying out to God for some period of time. This isn’t his first prayer concerning the situations going on in Judah.
Cry- The first instance of “cry” is the Hebrew word shāwa‘. It simply means to cry for help. This word is used frequently in Psalms and Job.
Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
The second “cry out” is the Hebrew word zā‘aq and means to shriek and to cry out in great distress. It is an urgent cry due to anguish or danger.
Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
“You do not hear”- Habakkuk complains that God is not listening because the world is still going crazy and evil seems to be winning!
1 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
1 O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
How often do we pray the same way, as if God is not listening or doesn’t care?
How often do we pray as if God has to answer us right now, instead of at His timing?
2. Habakkuk’s Bluntness; 2b-4
2. Habakkuk’s Bluntness; 2b-4
Blunt- to the point, holding nothing back
Habakkuk gets straight to the point with God about what’s going on and why God isn’t doing anything about it!
[2b] Violence- [ḥāmās] “malicious conduct intended to injure another”; it refers to the violence of sin and extreme wickedness; the total corruption and transgression of God’s law.
Habakkuk was essentially asking the Lord why He allowed such extreme wickedness and corruption among His people. Why was God allowing the wicked to prosper and the righteous to suffer? Why haven’t You saved us from such evil?
I’m asking the same question today in my prayers! How could the atrocities of 10/7/24 happen?
How can a nation like America condone the actions of terrorists, and support them from our government?
How can we call what Israel is doing in self-defense of their country, “genocide”, and what Hamas did call it “justifiable aggression” against Israeli occupation of Palestine?
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
[3] Instead of seeing relief from God, Habakkuk complains that he sees things getting worse!
Iniquity- sin is getting worse, immorality is on the rise
Trouble- anxiety, worry increases because of efforts to do wrong is on the rise
Plundering- stealing from others during civil unrest
Violence- physical harm, harsh treatment [hostages]
Strife- attacks, brawls, conflict due to anger and disagreements
Contention- heated arguments, quarrels, to scold
He is witnessing a society [God fearing society] falling apart at the seams right before his very eyes. And so are we!
America has plunged itself into moral madness! Every one of these terms characterizes not only Habakkuk’s time but also our present culture.
Since the turn of the 21st century every form of evil has escalated. Global jihad and terrorism, mass murder, human trafficking, racial unrest, economic chaos, political unrest and upheaval, spiritual deception, moral insanity, and social disintegration describe just some of the major chaos of our times. In many ways it seems as though the world is spinning out of control.
[4] And this has not just affected the common folks, it has polluted the government and rendered our laws worthless.
Law is powerless- politics has paralyzed the law of the land. Those who are called to serve and protect have been handcuffed from doing their jobs. And when they do, they become the criminals!
Justice is not served- our court system is perverted, it’s like a three ring circus. Criminals are booked and released the same day to return to the streets to steal, kill and destroy.
Wicked overrun the righteous- the law is ignored or twisted in the favor of the wicked and no one seems to care.
Perverse justice- bribery is what buys verdicts today, not facts. Just look at some of the high profile court cases that are politically motivated. [Trump, any case that deals with Queer vs. Normal, Christian vs. Muslim]
All these things could become sources of doubt in a believers heart, and Satan will use them to his advantage to get us to question God and His Word.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
But there is another way to look at what Habakkuk is saying:
Do the things that break God’s heart break our hearts?
Do the wicked deeds, the corruption, the injustice, and all the inhumane acts we witness and hear about every day disturb and distress us? Or, have we become calloused, cold-hearted, and insensitive to the evil around us?
Are we ignoring the cries of those who suffer or who are in despair? Or do we “cry out, shriek in desperation as Habakkuk did, and plead for the Lord’s justice and mercy, looking and waiting for His answer?
Close in Prayer
