God’s Answers Are Always Appropriate Series

GOD’S ANSWERS ARE ALWAYS APPROPRIATE

Habakkuk 2:2-20

INTRODUCTION:

A. If you have been here for the last few weeks you know, by now, that Habakkuk is having a rough go of things

1. He has been praying and God has been answering, but not in the way he would have liked

a. Judah was in a mess: greed, injustice, violence, carousing and idolatry were rampant

b. They needed revival and Habakkuk ask God how long it was going to take Him to correct these problems.

c. God answers and says, “Don’t you worry my young prophet, I am sending the Babylonians to judge Judah for her sins.”

d. Habakkuk was taken back at this – he could not believe God would use such an ungodly nation.

e. And so he asks God – How can you do that?

f. As far as Habakkuk was concerned God’s answer was totally inappropriate

2. So in the opening verse of chapter two we read of Habakkuk taking up a position to wait on God to answer him concerning this complaint.

B. This brings us to our passage this morning

1. But before we get into the study I want you to know we can learn from it

a. To many people want to pass over the prophets saying, they were for a different time.

b. Or, they were speaking about a different nation

c. And both of these are true.

2. But listen to Paul’s words to the Romans found in Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

3. So I encourage you to listen with an attentive ear and an open heart so you might find patience and comfort from our message this morning entitled “God’s Answers Are Always Appropriate.” His answers will come at

a. An Appropriate Time, with

b. An Appropriate Word, and

c. An Appropriate Purpose

4. May we accept God’s message to us as appropriate for our time and place.

PRAY

God’s Answers Are Always Appropriate in that they will always be at

I. AN APPROPRIATE TIME, Habakkuk 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

A. God’s Word To Habakkuk - the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

1. What the Lord is about to give Habakkuk is a prophecy of things to come

2. Habakkuk was to write it on tablets and post it for all to see

3. The people are to wait, with their hope in God, for the fulfillment of God’s word!

4. There is an appointed time, the prophet wrote – in other words there is an end in sight, wait on God and be sure it will come!

B. Now that is all well and good for them, but what about us?

1. 2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2. In a day when greed, injustice, violence, carousing and idolatry are seen all around it is easy to say – what is the use – I always seem to come up on the short side of the stick

3. Remember the words of Jude, Jude 1:14-15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

4. God will set things straight and judge the wicked but in His timing

a. We must wait on His timing, knowing it is best

b. Knowing, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18

5. God’s word gives us more than enough proof that he will be true to His word, but we must wait on His timing.

So God’s Answers Are Always Appropriate. There is an appropriate time and

II. AN APPROPRIATE WORD, Habakkuk 2:4-6 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him,…