Learning to Wait

Introduction

The book of Habakkuk is one that has a simple but profoundly applicable.

It is arranged in a chiasm with the central text being the one we perhaps know best.

We’re going to give attention to the progression of thought as well as how New Testament writers use this book and it’s themes.

Wait

The book starts out with the question of waiting (Hab. 1:2).

When it comes to God, this is a question asked with great frequency (Rev. 6:10).

Are we like little children asking that incessant question of our parents?

We are obviously talking about more serious struggles than merely a long car ride…right (Rom. 8:18)?

Judgment is then described (Hab. 1:5-11).

One of the difficulties of asking for justice is that God almost always brings it in unexpected ways.

Again, we are like children involved in a terrible scuffle and then one goes to dad for “justice” (Lk. 12:13).

We are no better than the Chaldeans when we cry out for partial justice (Hab. 1:7).

It is difficult to see the hand of God in a wicked world (Hab. 1:13).

We often suppose His activity in the “blessings” of life.

But we rarely see His hand when the wicked prevail.

Nevertheless, wait faithfully (Hab. 2:3-4).

Our faithfulness is a response to, and therefore a proclamation of, His faithfulness.

It is based on past faithfulness but is a proclamation of continued faithfulness.

This was the nature of Abraham’s faith (Heb. 11:17-19).

Consider Paul’s usage of the phrase (Rom. 1:17).

Be Silent

God is not mocked, but Babylon is (Hab. 2:6-8).

This is the answer to the objection.

God means for us to be confident in His justice (Rom. 12:19).

People will hear about what God is doing (Hab. 2:14).

These words are an echo from Isaiah 11:9-10.

And so we begin to see Messianic connections through this message (Acts 13:41; Heb. 10:37-38).

Idols do not speak, but God does (Hab. 2:19-20).

When men stand before idols, they stand as ventriloquists.

Too many try to stand before God in such a fashion.

But we serve a God who speaks and we need to listen to what He is saying.

We are still children, prattling on and not paying attention to what we are being told.

Rejoice

God is depicted as a grand cosmic general (Hab. 3:3-15).

We are not an imaginative people.

But we need to be more so, or at least let our imaginations follow along.

To see picture the hand of God at work in (especially) Israel’s history.

This leads to fear and trembling (Hab. 3:16).

Which leads to to joy and confidence for those who live by faith (Hab. 3:17-19).

Conclusion

Are you impatient of God’s faithfulness? Consider His track record.

Come and hear, truly listen to the God who speaks.

Then, rejoice in His sure salvation!