The Lord Knows

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!”

Hab. 1:1-

PRAY

This will blow your mind.

News Headlines

Look at this!

Did you hear this?

Think about this?

Think this way.

And lets not forget that you can save 15% or more if you call a gecko.

Last sermon I asked we consider focusing our prayers and efforts on 3 specific areas that as Christians we should not ignore.

Racial reconciliation

Christian persecution

Gospel-proclamation

- All three areas of oversight in the western church. Areas of needed lament and repentance. Examples of the needs of our own community as we seek to live out our faith in genuine Christian love.

Today, we turn to see how God answers Habakkuk’s complaint.

- Habakkuk decries the evil within the covenant people of God.

- He has seen how his own people have neglected their role as the covenant people of God.

So lets see how God answers his servant.

LOOK! SEE! WONDER! BE ASTOUNDED!

Habakkuk 1:5 ESV

“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.

This will blow your mind.

I wonder if Habakkuk upon hearing this opening line was filled with excitement. Yes, God, Yes, what will you do?

Eager to hear God’s solution to the problem of injustice and violence.

God’s sovereignty on display.

Habakkuk 1:6 ESV

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.

Hab

As in verse 5 we see that God is doing something. He is not predicting world events, HE IS PRESENTLY ACTING in human history.

God has heard. vs 2

God has intently been watching. vs. 3

God is bringing justice. vs 4

God’s sovereignty is not limited as some believe. God’s sovereignty is as complete as every aspect of His nature.

Acts 17:26 ESV

26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

Acts 17:24–26 ESV

24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

It is so important that we do not underestimate the God of all creation and over state the power of human influence and will.

612BC Babylon and Media Defeated the Assyrian Empire at Nineveh

605BC Babylon and Media Defeated the Egyptian Empire at Carchemish

597BC Babylon invades Jerusalem

This is what history records, yet in verse 6 God says “I raised them up”

Habakkuk 1:6 ESV

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.

Their success and growth as an empire was at God’s decree.

So first we read of God’s omnipotent sovereignty, then we read of God’s omniscience.

He knows everything there is to know about the Babylonians.

Notice the irony! Habakkuk’s complaint was accompanied with a few details about the wickedness of the covenant people of God in Judah. Yet God shows that he not only fully knows the wickedness of His own people, but knows completely the wickedness of all people including the Babylonians.

Hab. 1:

Habakkuk 1:6–11 ESV

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!”

The Babylonians are some wickedly effective, empire-building, violent people.

AND

They are also God’s provided tool of Justice against the wickedness of His people in Judah.

3 Realities

1. God is completely aware and active in His creation.

2. God, in His holiness will not tolerate sin, especially in His covenant people.

3. God will go to great extremes to punish sin.

We can see how all three of these realities which were true in Habakkuk’s day were also true 627 years later, this time however was special. Instead of God speaking to a prophet, the Word of God was now flesh and blood. Hanging on a cross.

God is still active.

1. God again was active in creation as he took on human flesh and walk among His people

2. God still would not tolerate sin because He is holy. And so the Son of God who knew no sin, became sin for sinners.

3. And God went to the greatest extreme to punish sin, the Father forsook His Son, poured out his wrath on His Son and nailed our sin debt to His cross. Jesus took our penalty on Himself so that we could be one with Him and the Father.

Like the Babylonians who would punish the wickedness of the people of Judah, God would use the cross of the Romans to undo the works of Satan, and render death powerless to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

This is the ultimate display of what God says in verse 5!

Habakkuk 1:5 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.

To the unbeliever:

GOSPEL

To the believer:

If Jesus Christ truly is your savior. You know that he has paid the ultimate price for your sin, then again I urge you to cling tightly to his pierced side. The days are evil, the road is narrow, and the world around us is perishing into eternal darkness. The issues I have mentioned of racial reconciliation, persecution of the saints, the lack of Gospel proclamation, are just a few. Our community needs to hear, see, and know the love of Jesus. We can not afford one day where we are not eagerly building the kingdom of our God. He has placed each of you in very specific vocations and circumstances. We serve a God who sets the boundaries of nations, yet also feeds birds. You and your life are no coincidence or product of chance or karma.

God has saved you from your sin and set you free.

God has raised you up for a time such as this.

God has given you His Holy Spirit.

God has blessed you with everything you need.

God has called you son and daughter.

God has made us one with Him and one another.

God has raised you up for a time such as this.

I exhort every believer here this morning to use this week to take what you have been given and share it in your community.