Part 3 -- Which Way Will You Choose? Series

WHICH WAY WILL YOU CHOOSE?

Habakkuk 2:2-20 Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. 4 "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith-- 5 indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.

6 "Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, "’Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?’

7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their victim. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed man’s blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

9 "Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin! 10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. 11 The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

12 "Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime! 13 Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

15 "Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies. 16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed! The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. 17 The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed man’s blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. 18 "Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.

19 Woe to him who says to wood, ’Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ’Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. 20 But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."

1. THE WAY OF FAITH – 2:4

a. THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH

i. Quoted three times in the NT

b. The basis of RIGHTEOUSNESS

Genesis 7:1 The Lord then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God’s friend.

i. Never what we have done

ii. Always what God has done

c. The responsibility of the righteous

i. Live by faith

ii. Faith here means steadfastness; loyalty to God’s will and commands.

iii. Faith involves commitment

Hebrews 10:37-39 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

d. The Activity of the righteous

i. To LIVE!

ii. To live a life as a believer even in a time of crisis

iii. Living a faithful righteous life is living a life that experiences God’s blessings even in crisis

1. Resting in God’s grace

2. Resting in God’s protection

3. Resting in God’s control

NOW WE CAN LIVE THIS KIND OF LIFE – A LIFE OF FAITH, OR WE CAN LIVE THE OTHER LIFE – THE LIFE OF “UNFAITH”

2. THE WAY OF “UNFAITH” – 2:4a, 6-20

a. “puffed up” with wrong desires

i. “Puffed up”: swollen with evil passions

b. The “Woes” of Habakkuk

i. Woe: distress in the face of judgment