If you have ever been on a rollercoaster then you’ve experienced the excitement, the thrill, the exhilaration of the ride. Or maybe for some of you, you’ve had that nauseating, upsetting feeling. On a rollercoaster there are ups and downs, twist and turns, loops and fast speeds. But for 1 and a half to two minutes through all the adventure of the ride you hold on and remain in the safety of the seat. And at the end you turn to your friend and say “let’s do it again.” Well, today we’re going to take a ride. It will be a rollercoaster sort of journey through the life of the prophet Habakkuk. Habakkuk himself experienced an emotional and spiritual as he dialoged with God about the soon coming future of Israel. So please sit back, fasten all seat buckles, secure all loose objects and please keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. Are you ready for the ride?
Background
The structure of the book of Habakkuk is very unique. It is the only book among the prophets in which the prophet himself never speaks before a nation to proclaim the word of God. Instead we find Habakkuk having a one on one dialogue with God. There is a conversation that is taking place. When was the last time you dialogued with God? When was the last time there was a conversation between you and your Father. I’m not talking about a simple night time prayer or a blessing over the meal. But a heart to heart dialogue where you sat in the presence of God not only to cast your cares and concerns upon him but to hear attentively to him; to receive his revelation, his word; to get understanding and guidance for your life. This is where we find Habakkuk; in this type of conversation with God.
During this time in history Judah, the southern kingdom of the nation of Israel, had just experienced a time of peace and prosperity, a time of reform and restoration during the reign of king Josiah. These days were glorious and marked with economic prosperity, social stability and spiritual revival. Josiah reigned for 31 years. But after his death he was succeeded by his sons. And so there is a shift that takes place in Judah. No longer is there peace within the nation but rather people have turned to violence and injustice against one another. There is perversion and wickedness in the land. And in the midst of national chaos, is where we find our man Habakkuk. He is a prophet to whom God reveals his plan for the judgment and destruction of Judah.
Read verses 1:2-4
Here it is, our first look at Habakkuk and what do we find him doing? He is questioning God. What nerves Habakkuk has questioning God. What boldness, what guts he has. He seems a bit angry and frustrated that God has not done anything about violence and wickedness in the land. But before we go to condemning Habakkuk, let’s examine ourselves. We have often asked the same questions as Habakkuk and even more; Why do you God allow such injustice and perversion in this world? Why am I the one that has cancer? Why would you allow the execution of a seemingly innocent man for a crime he didn’t commit? Why does it seem that those in the world are being blessed while I’m struggling even though I’ve been faithful? These are questions that run through our mind and gets us upset and frustrated because we don’t understand exactly what God is up to. They are not questions that criticize or attack God’s person or his character but rather they are addressed towards God’s plan and purpose, the things that we don’t seem to understand. Habakkuk finds himself angry, frustrated and impatient with God. He finds himself questioning God at a time when everything seemed to be going wrong and nothing was right. I don’t know about you but there have been times when I have been so angry, so frustrated and so impatient with God because things weren’t going my way and at times I thought God wasn’t even listening to me. I felt like giving up. I felt like throwing in the towel. Every question was “why God?” The good news is that God can handle your questions. He’s not got off guard. He’s not stumped by your questions even in your frustration. Then God answers Habakkuk. He says this is what I’m going to do.
Read verse 1:5-7
God says I got an answer to your question. (Be careful when you question God, you might just get an answer.) He says, I’m going to raise up the Babylonians, a nation that is bent on conquest, a nation that wipes out everyone and everything in its path. They are the ones who will overtake this entire region including Judah. God says I’m going to allow king Neb to seize and destroy Jerusalem. That’s God’s answer for Habakkuk.
Habakkuk not expecting this answer has now found himself in place of confusion and perplexity. He doesn’t clearly understand God answer to his question and his reasoning for what he is about to do. So Habakkuk again questions God.
Read 1:12-17
He literally ask God, why are you going send a nation, a people that is more wicked, more violent, more perverted than we are to destroy us? Why are you sending the wicked to devour the righteous? Habakkuk just does not get it. And as Christians we sometimes just don’t get God’s answers us. In our minds we are already worked out the expected answer that we deem reasonable. But when God actually answers and it doesn’t line up with what we have already thought, we become just like Habakkuk, confused and perplexed. We become puzzled and bewildered. Wait a minute God. This was not the answer I was expecting. We really don’t want an answer from God. What we want is for God to validate what we have already thought about. And when God’s answer to our question conflicts with our own thoughts it messes up our entire agenda. Now we have a dilemma on our hands. Do I take God at his word and follow is plan and purpose or do I simple go ahead and do what I was planning on doing anyway. Habakkuk once again waits on an answer from God.
Read verse 2:2-4
We now come to the turning point in the book. This is where it comes together for us. Notice verse 4 again. This verse is quoted three times in the NT; Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38. In each instance it is quoted as “the just shall live by faith.” But to get the full understanding we must examine the source from which they quoted which our verse here in Habakkuk. Each NT verse leaves out on word that is found in this verse here. I need you to understand that this verse makes three assumptions: 1) that there are still those among the people in Judah that are righteous and just, not everyone has turned to violence and wickedness 2) that the righteous possesses a measure of faith, the Bible declares that we have all been given a measure of faith 3) that there is a personal level of faith. The phrase “the just say live by faith” stands in contrast to the fact that the just does not live by sight. And this is true. But our verse here takes it a bit deeper. It speaks of an apprehending faith. That is, it is synonymous with trust, trust in God, trust in his person, plan and provision. It also speaks of a faithfulness to God. It’s the ability to remain steadfast, unmovable despite what’s going on around you. We are all given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) but we are commanded to grow and strengthen our faith. Therefore not everyone is at the same level of faith.
God goes on in his response to Habakkuk condemning the people of their pride, their greed, dishonesty, their violence, their sexual immorality, and their idolatry. After getting this faith revelation from God and in the midst of God speaking, Habakkuk now seems to begin to understand. Instead of the question marks that been over his head the light bulb now shines. And Habakkuk realizes that it is pointless to argue with God and question him any longer. He comes to terms with what God is getting ready to do. Habakkuk says I got this thing now. I don’t have more anymore questions God. You do what you are going to do. I don’t have control over your plans, over your purpose and soon coming judgment. But the one you’ve reminded me of is that I’ve got my faith. I’ve got the one thing that I can control. I’m perplexed, I don’t understand, I’m a bit frustrated but so long as I got my faith, I can trust you.
I know you have questions. I know you can’t understand what God is doing right now. I know it seems confusing to you. You can’t understand why after months of employment you still haven’t found a job. You don’t know why all of a sudden this pain has hit your body. You just lost who thought was your best friend without an explanation. You’re wrestling with why this nation is in such economic turmoil and nobody can seem to fix it. You wonder why God won’t do anything about the rampart molestation and abuse of our children. You question God about the violence that’s killing our young boys; the depression and suicide rate among our teens. Our job is not to understand everything that God is up to. Our job is simple to trust him in the midst of difficulty and instability. That’s why that one little word in that verse is key. You can’t live by anybody else’s faith. I can’t trust God for and you can’t trust God me. It says the just shall live by his faith. It is a faith that says despite the circumstances, despite what this nation is experiencing, despite who else is trust, I’m going to trust and believe that My God is working everything out for our good.
In the last chapter Habakkuk ends his conversation, his dialogue with God with a prayer. This is what he says at the end of that prayer
Read verses 3:17-19
Notice the emotional shift that has taken place in Habakkuk. The questions are no longer. He now rejoices in the good of the Lord. The prophet has moved from a place of anger to a sense of awe of God’s presence. He has moved from perplexity to praise; from confusion to confidence in God; from worry to worship. Habakkuk exchanged his fear for faith. Habakkuk get off this rollercoaster ride with his strength renewed, his joy lifted and faith increased.
Habakkuk shows us how to have faith in God despite how we feel in the face of unfavorable circumstances. He demonstrates that in the midst of an emotional rollercoaster only your faith in God will sustain you. Not only does the book of Habakkuk show us how to have faith in God despite how we feel in the face of unfavorable circumstances but it reveals the very character of God himself. He is sovereign and in control of world. He also is a God who listens and responds to his people.
