Challenged by Dismay

Habakkuk 1:1 CSB

The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

INTRO—

The Minor Prophets…their message(s) are of major profit to us today! They remind us...

God, in His Love, Never Let’s Go of Us! [Hosea]

His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on us! (Jesus Culture - One Thing Remains)

…and as we look now to Habakkuk—Faith is the Victory!

1 John 5:4 CSB

because everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

Romans 1:16–17 CSB

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

A life of faith/faithfulness will not be absent of challenges (as James says in the NT…the testing of our faith). Today and next Sunday we will see Habakkuk, and God’s people, face a couple major challenges…and God’s response amid those challenges.

[HABAKKUK 1.1-4] PROPHET: Dismay! (disturbed, incredulous)

“How long??”

Lament & Complaint.

…is all ok. (perspective warranted!)

…unanswered prayer.

(world peace—war; God’s good—human evil; healing—death; spouse, love—hatred & anger; anxious, serenity—further disturbance, agitation)

…especially in Habakkuk’s circumstance = the corporate sin of injustice among God’s people.

Lament (& complaint) regarding personal and corporate sin is in line with the heart of God.

[HABAKKUK 1.5-11] GOD: Doing, Already.

“I am doing something in your days” (you’ll be utterly astounded; will not believe)

Pre-exilic context… (607 BC)

Babylonians (Chaldeans)…Nebopolassar…Nebuchadnezzar II.

This was God’s man for God’s purpose for God’s time for God’s people…but not someone to be admired or desired.

God was already at work.

Look…observe…hear…

It could be seen by those focused to see it…but…

When God sets it forth, it must be his plan.

God’s plan is sure…God’s response to Habakkuk’s—and our—situation is right and just.

CONCL—

But what happens when God’s answer to the challenge to our faith/faithfulness opens the door to another (more) challenge(s)?

…from Dismay to Disbelief (Habakkuk 1.12-2.5)

Habakkuk 1:11 CSB

Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their strength is their god.