Sermon Tone Analysis

Show us Mercy

A. “Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear.”

1.

When Abram led his trained men (318) to get back his nephew and their goods from the 4 kings who invaded Sodom he was blessed by Melchizedek saying “blessed be God Most high Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.

(Gen 14)

2. 2 Kings 19 Hezekiah king of Judah is being threatened by Assyria.

God said Assyria will not come to this city or shot an arrow . . .

“For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”

That night the angel of the Lord struck 185K Assyrians in their camp.

NOTE: Habakkuk will get through this difficult time in his nations history by remembering who God is.

It’s stories of those we know and trust that when told can ignite a faith in us like no other.

NOTE: I’ve always had a vivid and active imagination and I can see the fox hole my dad was in, the chaplin and his driver crawling from the fox hole and into their jeep and the explosion while my dad and his platoon watched helplessly.

That story is etched in my mind and I was never there but I know it happened.

Yesterday at the mens group 10 men sat around a table eating breakfast and we heard stories of faith and not so much faith that I’l bet encouraged and inspired everyone there.

Habakkuk is recalling the SALVATION of the Lord!

How the power of God would save His people over and over again.

4. “and I fear” the Hebrew is to “fear to do a thing” v.2a

ILLUST: Habakkuk knew that when God’s judgment came through this nation it would cause men’s hearts to melt.

It would change life as they knew it.

It was terrifying to watch the evening news or read the local paper because what was coming would bring suffering beyond comprehension.

B. “ O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.”

v.2b

NOTE: Habakkuk 1:5 God said to Habakkuk “I am doing something in your days . .

.”

Habakkuk is calling for a riving of God’s work in the days of suffering and invasion.

ILLUST: “O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us The work that You did in their days, In the days of old.

You with Your own hand drove out the nations; Then You planted them; You afflicted the peoples, Then You spread them abroad.

For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them.”

Psalm 44:1-3

NOTE: Verses 3-13 paint a picture of God remembering mercy that saves God’s people.

V.3 “Teman” South of Jerusalem thought to be an important city in the southern most part of Edom.

Could contrast the wicked forces that will come out of the North (Gog and Magog) in the end times?

NOTE: “His splendor covering the heavens . . .

and His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hands. .

.” v.3b-4 References the power of His rule over the earth and the Spiritual realm.

NOTE: Verses 5-13 remembers the ways in which God destroyed Israel’s enemies.

Pestelence, “He startled the nations”, v.8-10 may very well be referring to Pharoh’s army being drowned in the red sea, V.11-12 could be any battle where God marched against Israel’s enemy.

CLOSE: This language recalls a God who brings judgment for sin to both His people as well as those who are not His people.

We are reminded that sin is no stranger to any of us and we deserve judgment as much as the next person.

Judgment is horrific, it comes with much suffering but He is a God of MERCY.

He longs to show MERCY to those who will turn to Him.

It is in judgment that often times we “fear” the separation from God that sin brings and we pray “Remember MERCY”.

Generation after generation God has shown MERCY to those who call on His name.

V.13 “You go forth for the salvation of Your people, For the salvation of your anointed.”

We endure judgment like all the saints of old did.

We quietly wait (Hab.

3:16) even when life looks like (Hab.

3:17) when everything is falling apart, We exult in the Lord, We recognize that He is our strength (Hab.

3:18-19) and we look forward to the day when we will reign with Him when He defeats the enemy once and for all.

(Hab.3:19b)