Habakkuk

HABAKKUK

HABAKKUK 3:19

FOCAL POINT: QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS AND ANSWERS

INTRODUCTION:

HABAKKUK (TO EMBRACE OR WRESTLE ) WAS A PROPHET TO JUDAH, THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM. WE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THIS PROPHET. HIS CONTEMPORARIES WERE ZEPHANIAH AND JEREMIAH. ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN DEAD SEA SCROLLS IS A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK! HE STRUGGLED WITH SOME OF GOD’S WAYS; HOWEVER, HE KNEW GOD WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING IN THE END. HE SHOWS US THAT GOD SOMETIMES USES EVIL PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES. EVENTUALLY, GOD WILL JUDGE EVIL AND TRIUMPH OVER IT. MOST SCHOLARS DATE THE WRITING ABOUT 605 B.C.

EXPOSITION:

HABAKKUK 3:19 (NASB) “THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH. AND HE HAS MADE MY FEET LIKE HINDS’ FEET, AND MAKES ME WALK ON MY HIGH PLACES.” THE WORD YHWH IN HEBREW IS USUALLY RENDERED LORD.

HABAKKUK’S QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS AND GOD’S RESPONSE:

HABAKKUK 1: 2 (NASB) “HOW LONG, O LORD WILL I CALL FOR HELP, AND YOU WILL NOT HEAR? I CRY OUT TO YOU, ‘VIOLENCE’ YET YOU DO NOT SAVE.” HIS ANSWER CAME IN HABAKKUK 1:6. “FOR BEHOLD, I AM RAISING UP THE CHALDEANS, THAT FIERCE AND IMPETUOUS PEOPLE WHO MARCH THROUGHOUT THE EARTH TO SEIZE DWELLING PLACES WHICH ARE NOT THEIRS.” HE PUNISHED THE SINFUL JUDEANS THROUGH NEBUCHADNEZZAR IN 586 B.C.

HABAKKUK 1:12 (NASB) “ARE YOU NOT FROM EVERLASTING, O LORD, MY GOD, MY HOLY ONE? WE WILL NOT DIE. YOU, O LORD HAVE APPOINTED THEM TO JUDGE, AND YOU, O ROCK HAVE ESTABLISHED THEM TO CORRECT.” GOD RESPONDS IN HABAKKUK 2:3. (NASB) “FOR THE VISION IS YET FOR THE APPOINTED TIME; IT HASTENS TOWARD THE GOAL AND IT WILL NOT FAIL. THOUGH IT TARRIES, WAIT FOR IT; FOR IT WILL CERTAINLY COME, IT WILL NOT DELAY.”

HABAKKUK 1: 13 (NASB) “YOUR EYES ARE TOO PURE TO APPROVE EVIL, AND YOU CAN NOT LOOK ON WICKEDNESS WITH FAVOR. WHY DO YOU LOOK WITH FAVOR ON THOSE WHO DEAL TREACHEROUSLY? WHY ARE YOU SILENT WHEN THE WICKED SWALLOW UP THOSE MORE RIGHTEOUS THEN THEM?” GOD RESPONDS IN HABAKKUK 2:4, 2:6 AND 2:20.

HABAKKUK 3:2 (NASB) “LORD, I HAVE HEAD THE REPORT ABOUT YOU AND I FEAR O LORD, REVIVE YOUR WORK IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS , IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS MAKE IT KNOW, IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY.” IT APPEARS THE LORD GAVE NO DIRECT RESPONSE. IT IS THE LORD’S PREROGATIVE TO REMAIN SILENT.

READ HABAKKUK 3: 17-19 HABAKKUK GOT IT RIGHT. NO ANSWER REQUIRED!

READ ISAIAH 30:18 AND 40: 31

APPLICATION: HABAKKUK TEACHES YOU TO TAKE YOUR CONCERNS TO THE LORD, WAIT ON HIM TO TEACH YOU, REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU “FEEL”!

REF: THE BIBLE FOR BLOCKHEADS, BY DOUGLAS CONNELLY, DR. CONSTABLE’S NOTES ON HABAKKUK, THE THEOLOGY OF THE OLDER TESTAMENT BY J. BARTON PAYNE, GOTQUESTIONS.ORG. BLUELETTERBIBLE.ORG