What Is Our Legacy?

Introduction:

The last two weeks, we have journeyed with the the prophet Habakkuk, a young contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah, through the logic of human thinking in the midst of adversity; an adversity that he introduces with the question in Habakkuk 1:2, “Oh Lord, How Long?”. He goes on to accuse God, in chapter 1, of not being present or apathetic to His own people’s sin and debauchery, in other words, “Where are you God?”. To which God responded that He is not only aware, but working by doing something unbelievable in sending the evil Chaldeans to punish His people severely by ravishing their land and deporting them to Babylon. Habakkuk quickly responds reminding God that this is not in His character to use evil, especially against a nation (Israelites) more righteous then they (Chaldeans), and that by so doing, He is committing covenantal treason against His people.

In chapter 2, the question, “Oh Lord, How Long?”, takes on a different twist, as God’s purpose for the judgment of His people through the evil Chaldeans also reveals that God will judge the Chaldeans for their sin. God speaks and has Habakkuk write the vision of 5 woes, or funeral laments on a condemned people, all the while answering for Habakkuk, “How shall we then live?”, in the midst of God’s decreed judgments. God declares that His righteous people are to live by their faith. To which Habakkuk realizes that God has not forgotten and that He is seated on His throne, doing exactly what He’s supposed to be doing, therefore all the earth must worship before Him in silence.

When we come to chapter 3, Habakkuk prays a prayer to God that shows he has come to know God in a way in which was not possible before. The “Oh Lord, How Long?” question does’t seem that important anymore. His view of God supersedes all the coming judgments, and provides for him a platform in which to answer the question, “What is our legacy?”. What is it that I want my children’s children to know about God and His people in the midst of adversity.

Text: Habakkuk 3:1-19

Main Idea: Because God is the all sufficient one, we as His people live to make His glory known from generation to generation even in the midst of adversity.

Making His glory known will in essence be our legacy!

Note: the only way that we or the generations that follow will ever be able to navigate through adversity, is to have a proper understanding of who God is. His bigness; His sufficiency; His absolute control over all things.

Note also that Habakkuk opens and closes this section (vv. 2, 16) with an autobiographical response to God’s work in history…the effect is very evident.

One final note is that this passage seems to have been a Psalm or Hymn sung in worship. The word Shigionoth (v. 1), is most likely a musical term, and the address To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. (v. 19) seem to support this.

1. God’s people make His glory known by accurately reporting His attributes (v. 2)

There seems to be an appeal to God by Habakkuk, that God would revive His work in Habakkuk’s day, as in the day of Moses.

a) Accurate reporting breeds the fear of the Lord (v. 2a)

There are more 280 verses in the scriptures mention the fear the Lord

To fear God is to know the bigness and awesome power of God. His ability to create and destroy with a word. In fact we are told not to fear man but God.

We have it all backwards, we fear man, and not God. Jesus tells why we should fear God:

Matthew 10:28 ESV

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

b) Accurate reporting provides a balanced understanding of how God works (v. 2b)

In wrath remember mercy (2b), becomes the theme in verses 3:2-16.

It’s worth noting that in every case through history, God’s wrath and judgment have always but accompanied by His mercy and grace. It’s almost as if we could say that God’s wrath and judgment are the means to His mercy and grace.

The Fall, flood, Sodom and Gomorra, Judges, and of course the cross.

2. God’s people make His glory known by rehearsing the exclusivity of His works (vv. 3-16)

Works that only God can do.

God’s imminent intervention in history on behalf of His people as is evident here.

a) God’s Works of judgment (vv. 3-12)

Teman (v. 3), the land of Edom

Mount Paran (v. 3), it suggests the time following Israel’s exodus from Egypt, in particular at Kadesh Barnea when the Israelites rebelled against God and He made them wander for 40 years.

Rays flashed from his hand (v. 4), God’s presence at Mt Sinai, like a great thunderstorm

Pestilence and Plague (v. 5), often used in scripture as pictures of divine judgment

Deuteronomy 28:21–22 ESV

21 The Lord will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 22 The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish.

Eternal Mountains (v. 6), mountains were considered part of the earth’s foundation, thus there quaking was considered a sign of divine judgment

Tents of Cushan & Curtains of Midian (v. 7), Arab tribes living near Edom saw God’s power and were fearful.

Joshua 2:9–10 ESV

9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.

Verses 8-11, the prophets directly addresses God as the inviceable, divine warrior, fighting for His people.

Wrath against rivers & sea (v. 8), God turned the Nile to blood, the Red Sea he parted and destroyed the Egyptians, and the Jordan He dried so Israel could conquer Canaan. Each was a judgment against God’s enemies, and a salvation for His people.

(vv. 9-10) May refer to creation, or the flood of Noah’s time.

Sun and moon stood still (v. 11), could refer to Joshua’s victory at Gibeah (Josh 10:12-13), God is picture as the great warrior with bow and spear.

Threshed the nations (v. 12), idea of threshing wheat by vigorously beating it to expose the wheat and separate it from the useless chaff.

b) God’s works of salvation (vv. 13-16)

God’s salvation is seen in crushing the head of the enemy (sounds similar to Gen 3:15)

An autobiographical response to the awesome breadth of God’s salvation causes Habakkuk to tremble and quiver as the full view of who God is being displayed before him.

To the extent that we understand the greatness of God, is the extent that we will understand the immense mercy and grace of God.

(v. 16) Habakkuk waits now for the fulfillment of both judgment and salvation. It’s as if he transitions into the next section with the sound of galloping hooves and clouds of dust with the onslaught of the Chaldean invasion.

Notice that the invasion itself brings quiet waiting while the view of God brought trembling.

3. God’s people make His glory known by yielding to God ordained change in their lives (vv. 17-19)

(v. 17) Here Habakkuk is describing a complete economic collapse in an agrarian society

How would we react if all that we hold dear was suddenly and permanently taken away?

This is the reality that Habakkuk was facing. The Israelites never again would have a monarchy, but would live under the rule of godless governments. For 70 years, they would live without a temple, priests, or sacrifices.

a) By rejoicing in the sufficiency of God’s salvation (v. 18)

Rejoicing in the sufficiency of God’s salvation requires a person to actually have salvation. An external veneer of religion will not stand up in extreme trial, but only those who truly experience the sufficiency of God’s salvation will persevere. God’s salvation is comprehensive, all encompassing, and transforming; thus nothing in this transient world will ever be able to take its place!

Jesus tells us this in the parable of the sower. As a sower plants seed on the pathway, rocky soil, weedy soil, and good soil. He explains the meaning of the parable:

Luke 8:11–15 ESV

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Maybe you are here this afternoon and are struggling with fear of death, fear of change, especially permanent change and are at an impasse of what to do. I implore you to repent of your sins, and place you trust in Jesus’ finish work on the cross for your sins, and bow before Him as you Lord. Remember:

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:13 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

b) By relying on the strength of God’s presence (v. 19)

Habakkuk associates the strength to endure with the strength available from God, not himself.

There is no way that we can cope humanly with permanent change in our lives without God’s presence to enable us.

So what was the legacy of God’s people during this 70 years in Babylon?

Daniel became a prime minister and prayed three times a day, and would not violate God’s law with regard to eating restrictions

Daniel and his friends would not bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image

Nebuchadnezzer proclaimed God’s sovereignty

Darius proclaimed that Jehovah was the one true God after Daniel was saved from the lion’s den

God took care of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Habakkuk, allowing them to minister to the exiles

Nehemiah was the cupbearer the King Artaxerxes, and had a godly witness before him, and allowed to return to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem

Ezra was a scribe and teacher of God’s law and was commanded by Cyrus to return with the exiles and teach the people

So What? will be Ebenezer’s legacy in the midst of this pandemic 100 years from now?

So What?

Will it be said that the people of Ebenezer lost much of this world’s good, yet remained strong in their faith, and continued in their calling?

Will it be said that the people of Ebenezer stood as light and salt in a world of condemned people, bringing the gospel, making God’s glory known in the midst of adversity.

Will we be faithful to teach our children the true meaning and purpose of God’s covenant people in this world. That Careers, money, and pursuing the American dream is not our goal, but declaring the glory of God in the midst of a condemned world, among condemned people is our mission.

Oh may God helps to complete the task he has left us here for, not allowing ourselves to be frightened way by death or loss of the things we hold dear.