Jun. 22, 2022

“GOD’S DEALING WITH MAN”

“HABAKKUK WATCHING AND WAITING”

 HABAKKUK 2:1-20

Psalm 73:16-17 “When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— 17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.”

Let’s join Habakkuk on the watchtower, which was his sanctuary, and listen to what the Lord said to him. When God did speak to His servant, He gave him three responsibilities to fulfill:

1.   Write God’s Vision

Habakkuk 2:1-3

The prophet saw himself as a watchman on the walls of Jerusalem, waiting for a message from God that he could share with the people. 

Ezekiel 3:17-19 

As God’s people, we know that danger is approaching, and it’s our responsibility to warn people:

Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

Acts 20:26 “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.”

When you behold the glory of God and believe the Word of God, it gives you faith to accept the will of God.

Hebrews 10:37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.”

Along with the scoffers Peter wrote about, some readers might ask:

2 Peter 3:3 “knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts.”

2.   Trust God’s Word

Habakkuk 2:4-5

*The Sinner: The Babylonians were “puffed up” with pride over their military might and their great achievements.

Daniel 4:30 “The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”

The apostle John warns us:

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

One of the chief causes of the corruption in this world is what Paul calls “lust.”

2 Peter 1:4 “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

“Lust”- simply means “evil desires, passionate longings.”

Pride also makes people restless; they’re never satisfied: vs.5 “and cannot be satisfied.”

*The Just: Now the contrast; vs 4 “But the just shall live by his faith.”

“The just shall live by faith”

Justification is the gracious act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous and gives that believing sinner a perfect standing in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:19 “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.”

Romans 4:5 “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Our Lord’s Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican makes it clear that no amount of religious effort can save a lost sinner:

Luke 18:9-14

Romans 3:19 “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

All we can do is put saving faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, because that is the only way to be saved:

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

*The Victory: We are not only saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), but we are instructed to live by faith:

1 John 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Living by faith is the major theme in the Book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

3.   Declare God’s Judgment: Habakkuk 2:6-20

To the faithful Jews in the land, God would be a refuge and strength:

Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.”

*Selfish Ambition: 

Habakkuk 2:6-8

Of itself, ambition can be a good thing, but if it motivates people to be greedy, selfish, and abusive, it’s a very bad thing.

Romans 15:20 “And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation.”

2 Corinthians 5:9 “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”

*Covetousness:

Habakkuk 2:9-11

Ephesians 4:28 “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

There are three ways to get wealth: you work for it, steal it, or receive it as a gift.

What will be the consequences of this covetousness?

Mark 8:36 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

*Exploitation of People:

Habakkuk 2:12-14

The fall of “Babylon the great” is a reminder to us that what man builds without God can never last.

*Drunkenness and Violence:

Habakkuk 2:15-17

This repulsive picture can be interpreted both personally and nationally. The Bible warn against the evils of strong drink: (Proverbs 20:1,21:17,23:20-21,29-35; Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:7). Drunkenness and sensual behavior often go together. (Genesis 9:20-27, 19:30-38, Romans 13:11-14)

*Idolatry:

Habakkuk 2:18-20

What is idolatry?

Romans 1:25 “Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Worshipping the creation instead of the Creator.

vs.18 “What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it, To make mute idols?”

Idols are dead substitutes for the living God. (Psalm 115:1-18)

Famous people are the “idols” of millions, especially politicians, athletes, wealthy people, and actors and actresses. Albert Schweitzer said “Anything you have that you cannot give away, you do not really own, it owns you.” 

Philippians 3:19 “Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”

Romans 16:18 “For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” 

God ended His reply to Habakkuk by giving a third assurance:

Habakkuk 2:20 “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

Psalm 11:4 “The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God…