Habakkuk 1:5-11

God's Answer to Prayer is His Providence

Habakkuk 1:5–11

Summary: In Habakkuk 1:5-11, the prophet is questioning God's ways, particularly His use of the wicked to judge the righteous.

Application: This passage reminds us that even when we do not understand God's ways, we can trust in His sovereignty and righteousness. It encourages us to bring our questions and concerns to God in prayer, knowing that He hears and answers according to His perfect will.

Teaching: This sermon teaches us that while we may struggle to comprehend God's methods, we can have faith that His ways are always just and purposeful. It emphasizes the importance of humility in seeking God's understanding rather than relying on our limited perspective.

How this passage could point to Christ: In this passage, we see a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice, where the ultimate judgment fell on Him to bring redemption to the world. Jesus took upon Himself the judgment we deserved, showing God's mercy and justice in perfect harmony.

Big Idea: Trusting in God's wisdom and righteousness through prayer can provide understanding and comfort even in the midst of challenging circumstances, ultimately pointing us to the redemptive work of Christ.

Recommended Study: For further study, delve into the historical and cultural context of Habakkuk's time to understand the significance of God's response to the prophet's questions. Use Logos resources to explore the themes of divine judgment and redemption throughout the Bible, connecting Habakkuk's struggles with the broader narrative of God's plan for His people.

Plural Noun Proposition: In Hab 1:5-11, God reveals to you three humble approaches to have in your mind, that will help you understand God’s answers to your prayers

1. Witness God's Providence

Habakkuk 1:5–7 ““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. 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. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.”

You could start by exploring God's surprising revelation to Habakkuk that He is doing a work that would be unbelievable if told. This highlights the sovereign and mysterious ways of God that transcend human understanding. It's a call to recognize our limited perception and trust in God's overarching plan, even when it involves using the wicked for His purposes. This can lead to understanding His judgment through the lens of Christ, who embodies God's righteousness and mercy.

2. Wonder at God’s Purposes

Habakkuk 1:8–10 “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. They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it.”

Perhaps focus on the description of the Chaldeans' terrifying might and God's purpose in raising them up as agents of judgment. This segment can emphasize the seriousness with which God addresses sin and the lengths He will go to in order to uphold His justice. It underscores the necessity of viewing our trials and the world's wickedness through the hope and redemption found in Christ's sacrifice, reiterating our trust in God's perfect judgment.

3. Wait for God’s Promises

Habakkuk 1:11 “Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!””

Maybe conclude with God's acknowledgment of the Chaldeans' guilt and the transient nature of their triumph. This point could offer comfort in the knowledge that while God may use the wicked for His purposes temporarily, His ultimate judgment is righteous and just. It reinforces the sermon's theme by pointing to Christ, the ultimate Judge, whose grace and truth provide salvation and understanding in the face of divine judgment.