Habakkuk 1

Grace Bible Chapel

Sunday School

October 26, 2008

Lesson 2 on Habakkuk

Chapter 1

       I.     Habakkuk’s first set of questions (Habakkuk 1:1-4)

              A.   God’s silence (1:1-2)

                      1.    Background

                             a.    Manasseh (686-642 B.C.)

                             b.    Amon (642-640 B.C.)

                             c.    Josiah (640-609 B.C.)

                             d.    Jehoiakim (609-597 B.C.)

                      2.    Psalm 13:1-4

              B.    God’s indifference

                      1.    To sin

                      2.    To Habakkuk

      II.     God’s answer to the first questions (Habakkuk 1:5-11)

              A.   God is not inactive nor indifferent (1:5)

              B.    God’s instrument (1:6-11)

                      1.    Background of Babylon

                             a.    Nabopolassar (626-605 B.C.)

                             b.    Defeat of Assyria (612 B.C.)

                             c.    Nebuchadnezzar (605 B.C., 597 B.C., 586 B.C.)

                      2.    A description of Babylon

                             a.    Their nature and actions (1:6)

                             b.    Their fear (1:7)

                             c.    Their comparison (1:8)

                             d.    Their purpose and accomplishment (1:9)

                             e.    Their pride and strength (1:10)

                             f.     Their guilt (1:11)

     III.     Habakkuk’s second questions (1:12-17)

              A.   Babylon’s greater wickedness (1:12-13)

              B.    Babylon’s cruel injustice (1:14-15)

              C.    Babylon’s prideful idolatry (1:16-17)

     IV.     Conclusion and application

              A.   God’s sovereignty in timing and manner

              B.    Explanations and illustrations by way of questions

                     1.    Genesis 6:3, 5-13 – When will God act and how?

                     2.    Isaiah 40:12-17 – Who gives God counsel?

                     3.    Psalm 2:1-6 – Who will have the last laugh?