A Revived Perspective

Introduction

Did you ever watch Bob Ross on Public TV. I remember watching him as a kid and wondering at the beginning of his painting, “WHAT IS HE DOING? THIS LOOKS HORRIBLE.” Only to hold on and wait until the end of the show and see him make a masterpiece out of what I thought was a MESS.

You may ask what this has to do with revival. This weekend our theme verse is found in a little, 3 chapter book named Habakkuk. As we turn to this book it’s as if Habakkuk is looking at the beginning of a Bob Ross painting. Nothing seems to make sense...

Scripture Introduction

As we explore the tiny book of Habakkuk it is important that we understand the world in which Habakkuk finds himself.

Habakkuk lived and ministered around the end of the 6th Century BC or the beginning of the 7th Century BC. Babylon was surging and the Assyrian control of Palestine was coming to an end.

When Habakkuk look at his people what he saw was corruption, rebellion, and violence. It didn’t seem as if God was anywhere to be found. It didn’t seem to make sense. It did not appear that the Master was painting a masterpiece.

As a result Habakkuk COMPLAINS to God. Usually when we read something from an OT prophet, it is God delivering a message to the prophet for the people. However, this book is Habakkuk having a conversation with God and God responding to his questions.

You and I have the opportunity to be a fly on the wall and eavesdrop on this conversation.

Notice how the book opens in Habakkuk 1:1-4

Habakkuk 1:1–4 KJV

The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

In this cry to God we see Habakkuk has...

A Skewed Perspective (Habakkuk 1:1-4)

Habakkuk open’s this book with a question: “HOW LONG” (v. 2)? Have you ever asked God a question like that? I have.

Lord, HOW LONG?

Lord, WHEN?

Lord, I don’t understand.

In the midst of everything Habakkuk was seeing happen in his land and to his people, he felt like God was not HEARING his prayer. I have been there too, and maybe you have.

Lord, YOU told me to ask, seek, and knock, which I’ve done and it doesn’t feel like YOU are answering, it doesn’t feel like YOU are showing me what I need to see, it doesn’t seem like YOU are opening any doors for me.

Then Habakkuk says that it appears God is revealing all of this iniquity and grievance (trouble), spoiling (strife), and violence, but isn’t giving Habakkuk any answers about to solve the problems (v. 3). It’s one thing to be aware of problems, when you know how to solve them, but Habakkuk complains that God is showing him all these problems, but doesn’t seem to be offering any solutions.

HABAKKUK IS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE GOD DOES NOT SEEM TO BE DOING ANYTHING.

In verse 4 he claims that the “law is slacked”...in other words he says that it seems the “law is powerless.” It doesn’t seem like JUSTICE is prevailing.

Rather it seems like WICKEDNESS is prevailing...the wicked seem to be PROSPERING and PERVERTED judgment is prevailing.

But the truth is Habakkuk DID NOT KNOW WHAT GOD KNEW.

And neither do WE! We ALL interpret our circumstances based on partial information. We are drawing conclusions based on ONE CHAPTER, but God KNOWS and is WRITING the WHOLE BOOK!

He did not SEE WHAT GOD SAW. He wasn’t aware of God’s plan.

One commentator put it this way:

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary A. Habakkuk’s First Question (1:1–4)

Have you ever felt alone in standing for justice in the world, while God seemed to be indifferent? This happens when we forget that God alone can see the whole picture, and he is working out his sovereign plan in the midst of the chaos. The Lord decides when to answer our prayers and how best to answer them. When you realize that he is omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful), and holy (perfectly righteous in all he does), then you’ll realize he knows how to run things better than we do.

HE KNOWS HOW TO RUN THINGS BETTER THAN WE DO!

At times we get shaken by the events of our world

We complain about the events of our day

We can easily get overwhelmed by all that is going on

But praise God’s name, we can rest in the fact that God knows how to run things better than we do!

When you look at God’s answer to Habakkuk in verses 5-11, you find out that God has a plan and He is already working His plan.

The truth of the matter is, although Habakkuk FELT like God wasn’t near, and he FELT like God wasn’t listening, and he FELT like God wasn’t interested, and he FELT like God had forgotten him, and he FELT like all was hopeless, and he FELT this and he FELT that, the truth was GOD DID HAVE A PLAN, God did SEE and God did KNOW, and God WAS IN CONTROL.

The same is true for us. Our feelings and circumstances can lead us astray and cause us to forget that God is God alone, that God is still on the throne and that God is GOING TO WORK EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

Habakkuk continues his conversation with God in verses 12-17. While we do not have enough time to look at these questions in great detail, he continues to confess his misunderstandings about what God is allowing. Notice his question in Habakkuk 1:13

Habakkuk 1:13 KJV

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

God revealed to Habakkuk that He was going to use the wicked Babylonians as judgment against God’s people.

Habakkuk was frustrated because it seemed God was doing nothing, now He is frustrated because BECAUSE GOD IS DOING SOMETHING IN A WAY THAT HABAKKUK DIDN’T WANT HIM TO DO IT.

Habakkuk couldn’t understand how God could allow Judah to suffer at the hands of wicked pagans.

Some of us can relate to the frustration of not understanding what God is up to and what He is doing. To our finite minds and understanding it just doesn’t seem to make sense.

The wonderful news is, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO MAKE SENSE!

It doesn’t have to make sense to us...we are called to TRUST THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEART, not UNDERSTAND the Lord with all our heart.

Even though Habakkuk doesn’t understand and cannot comprehend what God is up to notice what he says in

Habakkuk 2:1 KJV

I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

Habakkuk goes from a skewed perspective to...

A Listening Ear (Habakkuk 2:1)

Habakkuk decides to quit talking for a moment and prepares himself to listen to what God is going to say. He says that he is going to “stand upon my watch.”

This would be similar to a watchman on a wall who would look for approaching dangers or messengers. He is awaiting a message from the Lord.

He has sought the Lord, now he isolates himself from distractions so he can hear from the Lord, and he also postures himself with an expectation. He expects to hear from the Lord and see what He will say to him.

We too have been called to “wait on the Lord.” While we live in a culture of “INSTANT” but God repeatedly calls on us to WAIT. I am much better at talking and doing than I am WAITING. But waiting on the Lord requires faith and trust in WHO HE IS and WHAT HE will provide.

The good news is TIME WAITING is not TIME WASTED. God is not only preparing things behind the scenes, BUT HE’S ALSO PREPARING US!

We must HEAR and HEED what God said to Habakkuk in Hab 2:20

Habakkuk 2:20 KJV

But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

So as Habakkuk silently waits, God answers, in Chapter 2, and instructs Habakkuk to write down what He is about to reveal to him. This message focuses on two specific things:

The righteous will live by faith. God will bless and protect the righteous as they live by their faith.

Note Hab 2:4

Habakkuk 2:4 KJV

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

He reminds Habakkuk that HE CANNOT WALK BY SIGHT, BUT HE MUST LEARN TO WALK BY FAITH!

Secondly, God reminds Habakkuk that He is aware of the Babylonian wickedness and eventual judgment will be poured out on them.

That encouraging and challenging message leads Habakkuk to...

A Prayer of Hope (Habakkuk 3:1-2)

Habakkuk 3:1–2 KJV

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

What he hears from God leaves him afraid and awestruck, but it also leads him to intercede for REVIVAL!

The word “revive” conveys the idea of letting something live or bringing something back to life!

Habakkuk knew they needed God’s intervention AGAIN just as they have experienced it in the past!

The real problem wasn’t Babylon and what Babylon was doing, the real problem was that God’s people had grown COLD.

This lets us know that even though the prophet is afraid, he still has HOPE! This hope may be inspired by what God had told him in Habakkuk 2:14

Habakkuk 2:14 KJV

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Even though God is going to use Babylon to discipline His people, Habakkuk holds on to the glimmer of hope that this discipline will lead to REVIVAL.

Habakkuk contemplates what God has done in the past, he contemplates God’s message of judgment, but his focus is now drawn to what GOD CAN DO RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT GOD CAN DO IN THE FUTURE. He’s interceding for God to REVIVE the work and be MERCIFUL to His people, although they do not deserve mercy.

He has hope that God will remember MERCY in the midst of WRATH.

We too need to pray for GOD TO REVIVE HIS WORK and to remember MERCY where we deserve wrath. We too need to pray and be available to God to FILL THE EARTH WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD!

Just like THEY needed REVIVAL we need REVIVAL! We can function without fire, we can serve without passion, we can talk the talk without walking the walk.

GOD REVIVE US AGAIN!

When we prepare to hear from God, and we pray for God to intervene and send revival, and when we align ourselves with truth it will lead to...

A Renewed Perspective (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Notice Habakkuk’s conclusion:

Habakkuk 3:17–19 NKJV

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

I believe this renewed perspective is not only made possible because of what God revealed to Habakkuk in Chapter 2, but also because of Habakkuk’s meditation upon what he knew about the Lord, which is recorded for us in Habakkuk 3. Notice two of these observations (there are many more):

Habakkuk 3:3 KJV

God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

Habakkuk 3:10 KJV

The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.

With a God like that, Habakkuk’s perspective goes from being “skewed” to one of JOYFUL CONFIDENCE, that no matter what happens from here on out Habakkuk is going to praise and serve God because of WHO HE IS, not because of what He can do for us!

As we close this evening we all need to ask ourselves:

Why Do we Have a Skewed Perspective?

News traveled very slowly during Habakkuk’s day, but now we can see the news in real time 24/7.

Too often I am afraid our perspective gets SKEWED because we are spending TOO MUCH TIME ON OUR SCREENS RATHER THAN IN THE SCRIPTURES. Habakkuk didn’t have the full picture and guess what...NEITHER DO WE. God is doing a MILLION things behind the scenes that we aren’t aware of. However, we can trust in and depend on God each and every day to get us through and hold to His unchanging hand no matter what our perspective may tell us!

As One preacher said, “We have to stop looking at what the world is selling.” We cannot have the right perspective if we are continually focused on the world and it’s problems.

It’s like a person who is viewing a tapestry from underneath. There it looks like a jumbled mess of threads. But when we are able to view it from above, from God’s perspective we see it truly is His masterpiece. We can trust Him even when what we see from our perspective makes no sense.

Let’s Take Some Time to Get Alone This Weekend

Would you make the decision right now that sometime tonight or tomorrow you are going to get alone with God as Habakkuk did and trust that He is going to speak to YOU? Will you get alone with Him and ask Him to speak, and work, and challenge YOU through this time of revival?

No phone, no distractions, just YOU, YOUR BIBLE, and a heart that says: “LORD, REVIVE ME, REVIVE YOUR WORK IN ME!”

Remember the words of Jesus who said this in Matthew 7:9-11

Matthew 7:9–11 KJV

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

God wants to give us some GOOD THINGS! Will you be ready to receive them? Are YOU prepared to receive them. Get alone with God and watch Him move!

Expect God to Move and Answer

Habakkuk began his book by complaining and ended his book by praising.

He was able to come to the place to say, EVEN IF. God EVEN IF bad things happen I am still going to praise YOU. EVEN IF things don’t turn out the way I want them to I am still going to serve YOU. EVEN IF the request I make is met with a “NO” or “NOT RIGHT NOW” I am still going to LIVE FOR YOU!

Even if my loved one dies

Even if the cancer returns

Even if they talk about me behind my back

Even if, even if, even if...

The song writer said,

I know the sorrow I know the hurt Would all go away If You'd just say the word But even if You don't My hope is You alone

I know I can COUNT ON YOU to work things together for MY GOOD and YOUR GLORY!

Habakkuk’s CIRCUMSTANCES hadn’t changed much from Chapter 1 to Chapter 3, BUT HIS PERSPECTIVES ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES had changed immensely.

He had confidence that God was painting a masterpiece although he couldn’t quite see it yet. He had decided that he was going to quit complaining and start rejoicing because he had FAITH in God and what God was going to do.

I don’t know what kind of perspective you came in here with tonight. May you are discouraged. Maybe you have been beaten down. Maybe you are distraught. Maybe you have a prodigal. Maybe you’ve gotten bad news. Maybe you are just tired of the hate. Maybe you are just tired.

You may have come in pouting, but I hope you will go home PRAISING!

Salvation

Rededication

Baptism