Sermon Tone Analysis

The Prophets Second Question: Why Do it this way Lord?

In Week 1 we talked about the burden Habakkuk had for his country and as time went on and God remained silent that burden became heavier and heavier.

Week 2 we talked about the Lord’s reply and that God’s way are not our ways and God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.

His way is rgiht, always.

-Now we are in week 3 looking at verse 1:12-2:1

-Habakkuk wonders why God would use a nation more wicked than Judah to bring judgement on Judah.

- Turn in your Bible to , or follow along the screen

Turn in your Bible to , or follow along the screen

Habakkuk 1:12

Habakkuk has heard the Lord’s reply and now has some thinking to do.

I imagine as he ponders on God’s reply he begins to ask himself; Do I really know God? Did I hear Him correctly?

Did I misunderstand His answer?

Week 2 we talked about the Lord’s reply and that God’s way are not our ways and God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.

His way is rgiht, always.

Now we are in week 3 looking at verse 1:12-2:1

Habakkuk wonders why God would use a nation more wicked than Judah to bring judgement on Judah.

I believe this questioning lead Habakkuk to explore his God.

Let me ask you.

Do you know your God? Do you really understand Him? Do you know how He works?

Do you know His characteristics, His attributes?

I see that Habakkuk begins to explore his knowledge of God as we see inverse 12

He says that you are God!

The God I know is eternal.

Psalm 90:

Pslam

God is bigger than anything and everything.

Our fears, our problems, even bigger than us.

He is saying this because he know's that God knows what will happen when the babylonians come, what they will do.

I do not pretend to know what you are going through today, what you are thinking, if you are doubting yourself, or doubting God, whatever you do, do not lose he sense that you are God’s.

You as a believer belong to God.

Hebrews 12:

Hebrews 12:5-6

Do not be like Habakkuk during times or darkness, times that are very tough, for you must see beyond discipline, to the providence of God, that He is a God of LOVE, has a compassionate heart, pours out mercy upon His children.

Let me remind you of what is written in

Encourage yourself in God!!!

Remember that Jesus shed His blood for you, you are His!!!

I think that the question he had much like us today is WHY?

Why did that happen?

Why?

I think Habakkuk’s question was the wrong question.

You see the question is not who is more righteous, because scripture tells us that there is non righteous, not one.

Habakkuk is telling God in verses 14-17 how can you use the Babylonians an evil people to punish your people.

I know we are a sinful nation, but look at them they are even more sinful.

God’s Word says there is no one righteous, not even one.

God is interested in Repentance.

How repentant are you?

I do not have all the answers to your questions, and I cannot explain or cause you to have FAITH, all I know is this, what Scripture says,

Romans 11:33

Habakkuk is not being assertive with God, or demanding from God, but praising God.

He knew he had to be faithful.

Look at what he says next.

He is saying he will be a watchman.

What was a watchman.

Read Ezekiel chapter 3 and chapter 33.

You will see that if the watchman didn’t warn about the enemies coming the people would be slaughtered and their blood would be on his hands.

Ezekiel 3:33

A watchman was responsible, he had to be vigilant, be able to spot danger and alert the people.

Ezekiel

A watchman had to WAIT!!!

Habakkuk said he will go up and wait on the Lord.

Habakkuk didn’t quit believing in God, he didn’t become cold-hearted, he had questions, his faith was tested, but he remained on fire for God and that’s what mattered.

Do we wait on the Lord?

We don’t wait on the Lord today.

John Calvin said this: 'All who indulge themselves in their own counsels, deserve to be forsaken by God, and to be left by Him to be driven up and down and here and there by Satan.

For the only unfailing security for the faithful is to acquiesce in God's word'.

akwēˈes - accept something reluctantly but without protest.

Do we wait in the Lord?

We don’t wait until we get tired, until our knees get sore, until we grow weary, until we get hungry or thirsty, when is gets uncomfortable.

Leonard Ravenhill said: 'Men and women go into some room for one week, and eat only bread and drink only water, and read the word of God, and seek God's face and pray - and you'll either break down or you'll break through!'

J.D. Smith - 'Waiting, yes, trusting, trustfully waiting.

I know though I've waited long, that while He withholds His purpose, His waiting cannot be wrong.

Waiting, yes, waiting, still waiting - the Master will not be late.

He knoweth that I am waiting for Him to unlatch the gate'.

God is doing a work in our day that you wouldn’t believe.