HABAKKUK
The Just Shall Live By Faith
Part 1
Habakkuk = "Embrace" Luther said, "His name speaks as one who took his nation to his heart, comforted it and held it up, as one embraces and presses to his bosom a poor weeping child, calming and consoling it with good hope - if God so will."
Habakkuk was among the last of the prophets prior to Judah's captivity.
Other prophets around this time were Jeremiah, Zephaniah & Nahum.
Habakkuk's activity dated around 612-606 BC
Between the fall of Nineveh and the carrying away of the first captives to Babylon.
HISTORY
633 BC (?) After Assurbanipal's death, Assyria began to disintegrate
625 BC Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, declared independence from Assyria
614 BC The Medes captured the city of Ashur, a chief city of Assyria
612 BC Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabopolassar & general of his army, (with the help of the Medes) completely destroyed Nineveh
This was in fulfillment of Nahum's prophecy
Nahum 1:1-3a, 14; 2:8-9; 3:1-7 Nineveh's complete destruction was certain
After this, Assyria's army fled to Haran (just East of Carchemish)
609 BC Nebuchadnezzar reorganized his troops and went to Haran to finish off the remaining Assyrian army (which he accomplished)
Nahum 3:18-19 Assyria was removed from God's sight - for their wickedness
609 BC In the mean time - Pharoah-Necho, king of Egypt, came up to help Assyria (at Haran / Carchemish).
But Josiah, king of Judah, tried to prevent them by placing his troops as a blockade in their path at Megiddo:
2 Sam. 35:20-24 Josiah dies in battle
For almost 4 years, Egypt dominated Judah
After 3 months as king, Pharoah-Necho removed Jehoahaz as king and put his brother, Eliakim on the throne & changed his name to Jehoiakim (2 Kgs. 23:31-ff)
606 BC Nebuchadnezzar would carry away first captives to Babylon
605 BC Nebuchadnezzar would defeat Pharaoh-Necho at Carchemish
This was the time of turmoil and unrest that Habakkuk found himself in.
Habakkuk prophesied on the heels of Nahum about 15-20 years after Zephaniah
Zeph. 1:4-9 In the days of Josiah - Judah's wickedness was ripe with idolatry, abandoning God, taking up the practices of their ungodly neighbors, and exercising violence & deceit - Their doom was at hand.
Isa. 1:1-6 In the days of Azariah (Uzziah) thru Hezekiah - Judah's sinful nature was leading them to their doom.
Jer. 1:14-16 In the days of Josiah - Calamity would come out of the north because of Judah's unfaithfulness.
Habakkuk questions God - Habakkuk had been praying to God about this, but it appeared that He was not listening.
Hab. 1:1-4 God works thru His Law to influence man's will to obey Him. If His law is rejected - God's word is made ineffective.
Isa. 55:10-11 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, (11) So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Since God does not interfere with man's will to choose,
He may influence man's will by bringing judgment on man.
Why had God not heard Habakkuk's prayers & responded with
judgment ?
First we must understand who God is - that He can exercise such wisdom:
Isa. 40:12-ff God is in control of all of His creation - the nations & rulers
GOD'S REPLY:
Hab. 1:5-6 God would work a work "in your days " = imminent A work that man would never have thought of on his own.
Isa. 55:8-9 " 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Hab. 1:7-10 God would use a wicked nation in judgment against Judah Daniel's reply to God when God revealed Pharoah's dream to him:
Dan. 2:20-23 "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. (21) And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (22) He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. (23) I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might and have not made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's demand."
Hab. 1:11 The wicked people God would use to take Judah away would do so by the will of God, but they would not attribute their
victory to Him, but to their own god.
INVITATION
2 Pet. 3:1-4, 10-15 God has warned us of sudden destruction
We should be diligent, prepared -
His longsuffering is salvation
HABAKKUK
The Just Shall Live By Faith
Part 2
Habakkuk's first question to God was, "O Lord, how long shall I cry and you will not hear." God's reply was, "Be utterly astonished! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you." Then He said, "For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans." (Hab. 1:5-11)
Habakkuk questions God again:
Hab. 1:12-13 How could the infinite and holy God use such a wicked nation as an instrument of punishment against His own people?
God had already used Assyria to remove Israel from God's sight During the period of the judges, God used the surrounding wicked nations to oppress His people in an effort to cause them to repent:
Oppressor Years Judges
Mesopotamians 8 years Othniel
Moabites
Ammorites } 18 years Ehud
Amalekites
Philistines Shamgar
Canaanites 20 years Deborah, Barak
Midianites
Amalekites } 7 years Gideon
Ammonites 18 years Jephthah
Philistines________ 40 years Samson
Total years 111 years during about a 400 years period
Hab. 1:13 "...Why do You look on those who deal treacherously?..."
How could he harmonize God's holiness while using an evil nation against His own people?
Hab. 1:12 Habakkuk answered his own question: Because You are God!
calling Him - "O Rock"
"...O Lord [Yahweh ] my God [Elohiym ] , my Holy One?"
[Yehovah ] English rendering of [YHWH, Yahweh ] or [adoni ] as
pronounced by Jews = erroniously translated "Lord" = "Self-existentOne"
Psm. 90:1-2 "Lord [Adoni ],You have been our dwelling place[refuge] in all generations. (2) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God."
[El ] (Heb.) = "To be strong" - or - "in front of"
Gen. 17:1 "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.' " [El Shaddai ] (Heb.) = "God Almighty"
Gen. 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. [Elohiym ] (Heb.) = plural God. Though plural in form, when referring to the supreme God, it is used in the singular.
Isa. 46:9-10 "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, (10) Declaring the end from he beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.' "
Isa. 55:8-9 " 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Paul called upon those in Rome to consider such things:
Rom. 11:22 "...consider the goodness and severity of God"
Paul reveals the "BIG PICTURE" that Habakkuk could not see:
Rom. 11:1, 11-14 What appeared hopeless for Israel resulted in salvation to all - both Jew & Gentile.
Rom. 11:28-ff The Jew's rejection of God became a blessing to the Gentiles - conversely - The acceptance of God by the Gentiles would become a blessing to the Jews who would, as a result, obey God also. Who but God could design such a plan?
INVITATION
Another lesson for us to learn - Who we are & Why we are:
Hab. 1:13 "...when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?" (Is he speaking of all of Judah or righteous remnant?)
Habakkuk's words contrast his own judgment fromGod's Righteousness is not determined on a sliding scale.
What about when we say of religious error:
"There's not a whole lot of difference between us."
When we use ourselves as a standard for others to follow -beware!
2 Cor. 10:12 "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they,measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not
wise."
Serving God is not a game of HORSESHOES !!!
Mt. 11:20-24 More tolerable in the day of judgment for some than others. Those with greater opportunity to hear & believe have a
greater responsibility to obey.
God's word will be the standard of judgment:
Jn. 12:47-48 (Jesus) "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (48) He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day."
HABAKKUK
The Just Shall Live by Faith
Part 3
A Review
Hab. 1:1-4 How long will He allow Judah's wickedness to go unpunished?
Hab. 1:5-11 God's reply: He is raising up the Chaldeans as a rod of judgment
Hab. 1:12 - 2:1 How can the righteous God punish His people with a nation more wicked than them?
We considered who God is:
1. By looking at how He had done so in the past - during Judges
2. By His power & authority as God (Yahweh - Adoni - El Shaddai)
3. By considering the goodness & severity of God (Rom. 11:22)
His mercy, love & justice all point toward man's ultimate good.
Hab. 2:1 Habakkuk waits for: 1. God's reply 2. How he will answer.
Hab. 2:2 Write the vision: As on a billboard that fast-moving traffic will see.
(Conspicuous)
Hab. 2:3 The prophecy will come to pass - but not right awayEXPECT it !!!
2 Pet. 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
Hab. 2:4 Compare the proud: They are not honest & upright, but arrogant (Babylon) the just: They live by faith - in submission to Him who promises. (Judah)
"Just" - dikaios = "Was first used of persons observant of dike, custom, rule, right, especially in the fulfillment of duties towards gods and men, and of things that were in accordance with right. The Eng. word "righteous" was formerly spelt 'rightwise', i.e., (in a) straight way. In the N.T. it denotes righteous, a state of being right, or right conduct." Often translated 'RIGHTEOUS'
"The righteous shall live by faith"
2 Cor. 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight." Seeing is believing? No!
How we walk: Looking beyond the visible - not by what we can see
Heb. 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Heb. 11:6-14 Noah & Abraham: walked by faith, looking beyondtoday
Rom. 1:16-17 quotes this verse: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (17) For in it [the gospel ] the righteousness [dikaiosune] of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written,'The just shall live by faith.' "
"from faith to faith" = God is the divine source of faith that leads to faith.
Rom. 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."
For Habakkuk - he & his people must live through a trying time without
being shaken in their faith. They must look beyond the present.
Hab. 2:5-8 Babylon is rebuked for her wickedness.
Hab. 2:9-19 4 "woes" pronounced on Babylon
vs. 9 They covet evil.
vs. 12 They build towns with bloodshed.
vs. 15-16 They make their victims drunk in order to take advantage of them - but it would be turned around on them.
vs. 18-19 They trust in their idols - but this would prove futile
Their gods v/s our God
Psm. 115:2-8 "Why should the Gentiles say, 'So where is theirGod?' (3) But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (4) Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. (5)They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes hey have, but they do not see; (6) They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; (7) They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. (8) Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them."
Isa. 40:18-26 The foolishness of idolatry - & its hopelessness
Hab. 2:20 The Lord is in His holy temple - keep silent before Him. (Awe)
Our faith is grounded in the knowledge that He is Lord [Adoni]& He is in His holy temple beyond the power & reach of any enemy.
Rev. 4:1- 5:ff The heavenly vision - Worthy is the Lamb to open the scroll.
INVITATION
Mt. 28:18-19 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' "
HABAKKUK
The Just Shall Live by Faith
Part 4
Lesson on how Trust in God can overcome in time of distress. How we can find reason for rejoicing in the midst of sorrow.
Hab. 1:2-4 Habakkuk questioned why God had not done anything about the sins of His people.
Hab. 1:5-8 God responds by foretelling His plan to raise up the Chaldeans against His people.
This prompts Habakkuk's next question:
Hab. 1:12-13 How could a Holy God, overlook a wicked nation & allow it to devour a people more righteous than they?
Hab. 2:1 Habakkuk waited for the Lord's answer.
Before giving him the details of the vision:
Hab. 2:4 God assures Habakkuk that the proud (Babylon) are not upright, "But the just shall live by his faith." (remnant of Judah)
Chapter 2 foretells the punishment that awaits Babylon for their sinfulness
God concludes the vision with this assurance to Habakkuk:
Hab. 2:20 "But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him."
Chapter 3 is a prayer by Habakkuk set to music, in response to God's word
Hab. 3:2 Habakkuk had been afraid, but now asks God to proceed with His plan - only asking for mercy in the face of Hiswrath.
Notice - The verb tenses: I have heard (present), & was afraid(past)
Habakkuk's dread of coming events is now overcome by trustto face them.
In vss. 3-15 Habakkuk paints a collage of Israel's history that demonstrate God's omnipotent power & unquestioned justiceas seen in past events
vss. 3-5 God came (out of Teman) out of the region of Mt Seir(Edom) to Mt. Sinai in great glory - Moses spoke of this:
Deut. 33:1-2 "Now this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. (2) And he said: 'The Lord came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand came a fiery law for them.'"
There is power in the midst of His glory.
His power was demonstrated in the pestilence brought upon Egypt.
vs. 6 God's authority is seen in His "measuring" the land of Canaan - assigning the allotments of the land to His people. ALSO elsewhere, it refers to His creative design:
Isa. 40:12 "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?"
His power is described over all the earth as all nature bows to Him:
Nahum 1:3-6 "...The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. (4) He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. (5) The mountains quake before Him, the hills melt, and the earth heaves at His presence, yes, the world and all who dwell in it. (6) Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him."
Perhaps "mountains" & "hills" refer to kings of the land He overthrew to make way for the entry of His people in Canaan
God's ways are "everlasting" - Unchanging
Psm. 102:25-27 "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. (26) They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. (27) But You are he same, and Your years will have no end."
The same can be said of Christ:
Heb. 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
vs.7 Surrounding nations not of those displaced feared before Him as His people took possession of the land of Canaan.
The nations tremble before Him:
Isa. 40:15-17 "Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. (16) And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. (17) All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless."
vss. 8-9 God's anger was not against the waters, but they were instruments in His hand, used against His enemies.
Reminiscent of the parting of the Red Sea against Pharoah's army. None can escape the wrath of God in His omnipotent power as He
controls all nature and the rising & falling of nations:
Deut. 32:39-42 "Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I would and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. (40) For I raise My hand to heaven, and say, 'As I live forever, (41) If I whet My glittering sword, and My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, and repay those who hate Me. (42) I will make My arrows drunk with blood, and My sword shall devour flesh, with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the heads of the leaders of the enemy.' "
vs. 10 Reminiscent of the great flood & God's wrath on the wicked while delivering the faithful in the ark upon the waters.
vs. 11 Reminiscent of the day Joshua defended Gibeon in battle against the king of Jerusalem and 9 other kings including the Amorites. Joshua prayed and the sun stood still at the command of God.
(Josh. 10:12-15)
vss. 12-13 Reminiscent of Israel's entry & march through Canaan as kings fell before Him
"He went forth for salvation" - God's purpose behind His actions always looks to the salvation of a remnant who remain faithful.
Note - JUDGMENT against one (wicked), is SALVATION for another
vss. 14-15 "Thrust through with his own arrows" Manyexamples, but:
Reminiscent of Gideon's army surrounding the Midianites, breaking their pitchers and yelling. The Midianites killed each other. (Judg. 7:20-22)
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Now that Habakkuk remembers how God in the past had come to the defense of His people, his trust in God buoys his faith much as in:
Psm. 77:1-3, 10-ff A remembrance of God's deliverance at the Red Sea.
Listen to the assurance God gave through Isaiah regarding the final outcome of Babylon
Isa. 41:8-13 "Fear not, I will help you."
vs. 16 Notice the past tense in this verse. Before, he had dread----
Yet, if there is still any dread of what must come, he accepts it.
Such dread is like: A family huddled in a cellar before the storm 11. A soldier before the order to "charge". vs. 17 If every means of physical sustenance is removed:
Mt. 6:25-34 Trust in God relieves anxiety for our daily needs.
vs. 18 "Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord"
Isa. 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Our reason for joy in the face of trials - The maturing of our faith
Jas. 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Pet. 1:3-12 In the midst of trials, Jesus Christ is our "living hope" - The end of our faith is the salvation of our souls
vs. 19 Swift as a deer who can run quickly for refuge.
"Walk on my high hills" = A symbol of victory & triumph.
From the peaks of victory - fear of our enemy below is dispelled
Rom. 8:31-ff "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through
Him who loved us."
INVITATION
Habakkuk calls Him - "The God of my salvation"
Our Rock is Jesus Christ - He is our good confession
Mt. 16:13-18 "Upon this rock I will build My church"
The Ethiopian eunuch made this same good confession:
Acts 8:36-38 "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' (37) Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' (38) So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him."
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