Habakkuk's Prayer

Title: Habakkuk’s Prayer Scripture: Hab. 3

Type: Expository series Where: GNBC 10-17-21

Intro: How do you live by faith in a fallen world? Have you ever struggled with the perception of there being a lack of justice in this world? In philosophy courses in college the problem is often put as a syllogism: If God is all-powerful and loving, He would put a stop to evil. Evil has not been stopped. Therefore, either God is not all-powerful or He is not loving. In his best-seller, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Rabbi Harold Kushner argued that God is loving; He just isn’t able to stop evil. While that is obviously not a satisfactory solution, many Christians fall into essentially the same error. They try to escape the problem by saying that God permitted evil by giving man free will, but He did not ordain or cause evil. Habakkuk was a prophet who had revealed to him some very troubling news. It was shattering news and it was news that would soon befall his beloved nation. This revelation shook his faith. That’s what we face too, living in a fallen world. Daily obstacles living by faith in a fallen world.

Prop: Examining Hab. 3 will give us 3 insights into living by faith in a fallen world.

BG: 1. Convinced this prophet has distinction of most mispronounced name in the Bible!

2. Written in about 605 BC. Time of Battle of Carchemish when allied armies of Egypt and Assyria vs. Babylonians, Medes, and Persians. Was a change in dominance from Assyria to Babylon.

3. Hab. 3 was written as a song to be sung as a result of what the prophet learned from God.

Prop: Examining Hab. 3 will give us 3 insights into living by faith in a fallen world.

I. Habakkuk Begins by Recognizing God’s Fame and Awesome Deeds in the Midst of His Own Discouragement. Vv.1-7

A. Habakkuk Begins by Taking his Frustrations to the Lord.

1. The Prophet write about this in the 3rd chapter.

a. Chap. 3 is essentially a Psalm. It is a prayer psalm. Like all psalms it was a song to be sung. It was a prayer psalm written out of the frustration he was going through while underscoring his personal reliance upon the Lord to see him through.

b. “Shigionoth” – interesting word used here in v. 1. “according to Shigionoth”. The word is only used here and in Psalm 7. Scholars believe it was a term used to direct how the song was to be performed. Most likely meant: “A wandering style”. Music is stylistic and the mood of the music expresses the composer’s temperament or idea attempting to communicate. No different here. In his mind the prophet is weighing out the balance of the evil and injustice he sees in the world while balancing that with the understanding that God is in charge, fully capable, and loving.

2. Habakkuk starts by affirming a complete reliance upon the Lord even though he does not understand what God is doing.

a. Vv. 1-2 (Read). Essentially the prophet is saying, “I hear you, but I don’t understand You.” I hear the report…” Possibly, it is the victory of Babylon, and he knows already that this will spell doom for the Kingdom of Judah. This report that Habakkuk has learned of causes fear to well up within him. By divine revelation he has learned that in the coming years God is going to use the new superpower to punish the sins of Judah.

b. V.2 – “In wrath remember mercy.” God is perfectly just in using one sinful nation to chastise another. Sadly, seemingly “innocent” people get hurt and killed in these calamities. The prophet pleads for mercy. “In wrath, remember mercy.” Possibly he means in the intervening time between these events and the destruction of Judah, remember to be merciful to your people. (Illust: Can you and I do that?

B. Habakkuk Focuses on God’s Greatness in the Midst of his Struggle with the Perceived injustice of the coming events.

1. Why is it Important to Meditate on God’s Greatness When Struggling with Issues of perceived Injustice? Habakkuk’s problem is what the theologians/philosophers call a.“Theodicy” or divine justice. Habakkuk saw the violence, the law breaking, the injustice so he questions God’s purposes in this. It troubled him and it troubled his faith in a good God. How could the beast of Babylon on the horizon be used for good in punishing Judah for her sins against God? It didn’t seem “fair” it didn’t seem “right”. It’s an observable argument, isn’t it? Certainly are injustices in the world. Not the least of all was how God was going to use a horrifically pagan kingdom to chastise His chosen people.

b.Many people, when faced with struggles of perceived injustices have lost their awe because they are too hurried and superficial. The prophet makes a 3-fold appeal: 1.revive Thy work. 2. Reveal Thyself 3. Remember mercy.