Habakkuk i1 thru i11 Message

I.                   Introduction

A.                Evil in the world today

1.                  Does the existence of evil in the world today bother you?

a.                   My wife must shudder when World Magazine comes

b.                  I get infuriated at the wickedness and injustice

i)                    Violence against Christians – Muslims, Hindus, secularists

ii)                  Strife and contention – politics anyone?

Ø                  An apt name: poly = many; tics = blood sucking creatures

iii)                Injustice

Ø                  One party: abortion & gay marriage

Ø                  Another party: greed (predatory lending & exploitation for profit)

2.                  Do you ever ask God why He tolerates it?

a.                   You would not be alone because I do

b.                  One OT prophet in particular also asked this very question to God

B.                 Habakkuk

1.                  Location

a.                   If you are using LXX, it is after naoum and just before siphonias

b.                  If you are using LXX, you are expecting more than I am

2.                  Background

a.                   Would have seen the spiritual reforms under good king Josiah (640-609 BC)

b.                  Would have seen the massive backsliding under king Jehoiakim

i)                    Jehoahaz only reigned three months

ii)                  Both he and his brother were wicked

c.                    Would have had this dialogue with God around 606-605 BC

i)                    After defeat of Nineveh (612 BC), but before Carchemish

ii)                  Jeremiah also ministered during this time

d.                   If a priest involved with temple worship also, then especially bad

II.                Exegesis (Habakkuk 1:1-11)

A.                Habakkuk’s question to God (1:1-4)

1.                  Verse 1

Ø                  Burden = weighty prophecy; bears a threat of judgment

2.                  Verse 2

a.                   “How long” implies it has been a while

b.                  Violence (probably a quote) – a plethora of evil against one’s neighbor

3.                  Verse 3

a.                   You make me see – interesting; like “why show me if You will not act”

b.                  Spoiling = robbery

c.                   Are before me – in a continuous sense

d.                  Strife and contentions – abuses by those in power

4.                  Verse 4

a.                   The law = Mosaic Law

b.                  Slacked = ignored; no longer in effect or having any affect

c.                   Judgment not going forth – the king was ultimately responsible for justice

Ø                  Not surprising in view of Jeremiah’s description of Jehoiakim (22:17)

d.                  Wicked surround – this is in a hostile way

e.                   Justice perverted – sound familiar?

B.                 God’s answer to Habakkuk (1:5-11)

1.                  Verse 5

a.                   In your days – here it comes; would happen soon

b.                  Will not believe

i)                    Might mean the punisher and the punishment

ii)                  Lean towards punishment only – Jerusalem and temple destroyed

Ø                  God had already used a wicked nation (Assyria) as a tool of punishment against the northern tribes

Ø                  Destruction of the temple would really be unthinkable to Jews

2.                  Verse 6

a.                   Chaldeans = Babylonians: had not yet threatened Judah

b.                  Seized dwellings – forced appropriation of property is not a good sign

3.                  Verse 7

a.                   They – singular in the Hebrew: indicates character of the nation

b.                  Themselves – have no fear (law unto themselves)

4.                  Verse 8

a.                   Horses like leopards – cf. Jeremiah 4:13

b.                  Horseman – cf. Deuteronomy 28:49

c.                   Swooping like eagles – cf. Deuteronomy 28:49-52

5.                  Verse 9

a.                   East wind not good

b.                  Genesis 41:6 – Pharaoh and the vision of poor corn/wheat withered by east wind

6.                  Verse 10

a.                   Mock kings – Jehoiachin taken away in fetters (2 Chron)

b.                  Heap rubble – siege ramps

7.                  Verse 11

a.                   Pass on

i)                    Either continue on like the wind – thus continuing the wind metaphor

ii)                  Or means furthering their arrogance – possible in light of “strength is their god” commentary

b.                  Offend – God recognizes their guilt: they will not go unpunished

c.                   Strength is their god – pride and arrogance in their military accomplishments when it was the one true God behind their success

III.             Application

A.                It is okay to bring legitimate questions to God

1.                  God does not reprimand Habakkuk for his continued call for help

2.                  The Psalmists also cry out to God with questions of evil

3.                  However, both Habakkuk and the psalmists move to praising God before they are through

B.                 Do not be discouraged by all of the evil

1.                  God has a plan – even if He seems silent at the moment

2.                  Remember that Habakkuk cried out for an extended period of time

C.                 Be prepared of any answer at any time

1.                  Do not be surprised by whom God chooses to use to deal with a particular circumstance

2.                  Do not be surprised at how sudden God acts at His appointed time