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,…
A. God speaks to Habakkuk and has an appropriate word – God calls it like He sees it and there is no favoritism
1. Concerning Babylon: they are proud and greedy
a. Their pride is in their own strength therefore they transgress by wine and can’t stay at home
b. Their greed is pictured as death and hell which are never satisfied – always wanting more
2. But even more than this – note Habakkuk 2:6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him…,
a. The “these” talked about in this verse are the nations Babylon was brutalizing and plundering
b. Instead of using the words parable and proverb - We could use a story and a taunting saying: other translations use scoffing and mockery
c. In other words, the Babylonians would be on the receiving end of taunting, scoffing and mockery – the hunter will become the hunted!
B. So what can we learn from this?
1. One lesson to be found is in Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
a. I think we often believe the wicked are getting away with something, but they are not.
b. This is a universal law: sowing and reaping – what goes around comes around.
c. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
2. This is why the succeeding verses of Gal 6 are so important: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
3. God’s word to us is to live for him and let Him take care of the rest (no retribution or vengeance)
4. We do not want someone to take up a parable or taunting proverb against us!
So we have seen that God’s Answers are always Appropriate: they have an appropriate time, and appropriate word and finally
III. AN APPROPRIATE PURPOSE, Habakkuk 2:6-20
A. As God spoke to Habakkuk, His purpose was to assure God’s people that He knew what Babylon was doing and He would judge them for their sins!
1. He did this in the use of 5 “Woes” – each divided into three verses in our Bibles
2. For brevity’s sake let me list the general grievance of each “Woe”
a. vv. 6-8, speaks to their Greed
b. vv. 9-11, speaks to their injustice
c. vv. 12-14, speaks to their violence
d. vv. 15-17, speaks to their carousing
e. vv. 18-20, speaks to their use of idols
3. The thing to remember is that each of these triplets was a parable or taunting proverb toward the Babylonians – others would say this of them.
4. It was God’s purpose to point out their sins and give judgment on them.
B. So rather than boar you with all the particulars of what God was speaking to Judah about I thought it would be good for us to look at ourselves – especially in these areas
1. Take this opportunity to do some self-introspection - It is not my intent to accuse you of any of the items we will look at, but rather to get you to examine your own heart in light of God’s word (as I have already done)
a. Greed – this is not just taking money in illegal ways:
- It could be working more hours just to make more money, without a need – taking time away from wife and family just to make a buck
- It could be not tithing, so we can have more stuff
- It could be hoarding
b. Injustice – this is not doing something in a right or godly fashion
- Cheating some one
- Lying
- Stealing something – taking that which is not yours
c. Violence – this speaks of physical, emotional and spiritual abuse
- It could include slapping, hitting and beating a spouse or child
- It could be yelling, screaming or verbally assaulting someone
- It could be gossip or slander
- Or using the Word of God for selfish purposes
d. Carousing – Carousing is defined as: to engage in drunken revel; to drink deeply and frequently
- It speaks of drinking
- It even warns of giving others drink
- And speaks about the things that drinking can lead to!
e. Idolatry – the worshipping of something else other than God – something that has first place in our heart other than God.
- Ezekiel speaks of idols of the heart (Ezekiel 14)
- It could be just about anything: money, position, power, sex, hobbies, sports, affections of all sorts.
- If it is guiding our life and is the basis of our decisions it could be an idol
2. Here is the ironic thing: God judged Judah with Babylon because Judah was committing the same atrocities!
3. If God judged Judah and Babylon, what makes us think He will not judge/chasten us?
4. You may ask why? Well God’s Answers Have A Purpose: Paul wrote to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
5. And If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
CONCLUSION:
A. So what can we learn from this, this morning?
1. God is in control and has a time, word and purpose for all things.
2. We are to live by faith and trust in His word – all of it!
3. We need to examine ourselves and make sure that we are right with God!
B. Will you apply what you have learned?
