God Works In Mysterious Ways

The reason they would not choose this book as their favorite is because they do not know that much about the book of Habakkuk.

Let me share a few things with you about this precious book of the Bible and it might become your favorite.

Let’s look at…

I. THE BOOK

Out of the sixty six books of the Bible...

1) This little book was written just before the world caved in for the people of Judah.

2) If you don’t know where to find Habakkuk, look in the Minor Prophets of the Old Testament.

3) There are 17 prophetic books in the Old Testament, divided between the Major Prophets (5 books) and the Minor Prophets (12 books).

4) The three chapters of Habakkuk is squeezed between Nahum and Zephaniah.

5) Habakkuk is called a “Minor” prophet. These prophets are not called “major” and “minor” because of their respective importance but because of their size.

Illus: For example, in one of my Bibles:

• The five Major Prophets take up 191 pages

• The twelve Minor Prophets take up only 61 pages.

• We’re talking about a short book here. Habakkuk contains 56 verses spread over 3 chapters.

6) Habakkuk is unlike the other prophetic books (major or minor) in that it records a dialogue between one man and God.

7) Whereas Isaiah contains a message from God, Habakkuk records a conversation with God.

Illus: Have you ever wish that you could be a fly on the wall and listen in on some conversations of two people carrying on a conversation.

Did you know that eavesdropping is more popular than most folks think.

Illus: My wife and I have a favorite restaurant that we always enjoy going there. But as we go there we have to be careful because they have a waitress that can hear a pin drop in the next zip code.

Eavesdropping is something done by cab drivers, barbers, waitresses and many more.

I have to admit when Habakuk and God was having this conversation in the book of Habakuk I think we would have all enjoyed being there and listening to this conversation.

But actually this is what we have in the book of Habakuk, a conversation between God and the prophet Habakuk.

We have looked at THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK but now let us look at…

II. THE PROPHET

If you’ve ever felt like you had a few questions for God, this is the book for you.

Illus: Howard Hendricks called Habakkuk “the man with a question mark for a brain.”

Illus: Habakkuk makes me think of my granddaughter who has lots of questions.

Some people think it is wrong to question God.

God’s Word tells us otherwise, Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

In times of NEED we do not need to be fearful to come to God and ask Him things that concerns us. He tells us we can come boldly anytime we are in need.

Habakuk had some real concens…LET ME SHARE WITH YOU WHY HE HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS?

Let’s look at the background why he had some questions to ask God.

Here’s a bit of the background. The year is 605 BC or thereabouts.

Judah had been blessed with a good king named Josiah. After he died in 609 BC, the nation of Judah plunged headlong back into the cesspool of corruption, immorality and idolatry that had plagued it for so many generations.

This time the people seemed hell-bent on their own destruction.

Illus: Instead of edging toward the cliff, they seemed determined to plunge over it going full speed. It was as if the nation had a death wish and no use for God at all.

It was at this time that Habakkuk came on the scene.

Who was Habakkuk?

This man Habakkuk we know almost nothing. We assume he was around 30 years old, but that’s just a guess.

When he saw the terrible moral decline of Judah, he prayed for God to “do something.”

Habakkuk had been faithfully praying and even crying out to God and had received no answer.

The country was in a mess and he wanted God to do something.

Look at Habakkuk 1:1-2 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

Habakkuk asked the Lord two questions:

1) “How long must I pray before You answer?”

2) “ Why do You permit such injustice?”

Illus: Something we all forget is two things:

(1)First, we treat God as if He created the mess that surround us.

(2)Secondly, we treat God as if He is indifferent to the plight of His people,