Why Are You Silent? Series

Habakkuk part 2: – Why Are You Silent Lord?

Thesis: When we experience times of silence from God we must make sure that our heart is in the right place and we must trust God because He knows best. Silence is not a bad thing from God and we ourselves need to learn to practice the discipline of silence before God.

Summary of last week’s message:

Habakkuk’s first complaint found in Habakkuk “How Long Lord?” is a common cry of many people throughout the history of the world. It’s the time question. We want answers to how long must we endure evil in this world.

Let’s recall what happened in our story of the prophet Habakkuk last week. He complained to God about all the evil in Judah. The Word of God is being rejected by the people and the King. Some of the Prophets have been killed for their words from God. Some of their writings have been destroyed. The King is into idol worship and the rejection of God. The nation is practicing child sacrifice as they serve their idols.

So Habakkuk gets overwhelmed and squares off with God. How long God? In other words “Do something God!” “NOW!” Habakkuk pours out his complaint to God and amazingly God answers him. But Habakkuk does not like the way God responded to his complaint about dealing with the evil in Judah. When God responds he says, ‘No way God you are doing it wrong!” Listen to his feelings behind his response to God’s way of dealing with the nation of Judah.

Scripture Text: Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

O LORD, are you not from everlasting?

My God, my Holy One, we will not die.

O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment;

O Rock, you have ordained them to punish.

13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;

you cannot tolerate wrong.

Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?

Why are you silent while the wicked

swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

14 You have made men like fish in the sea,

like sea creatures that have no ruler.

15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,

he catches them in his net,

he gathers them up in his dragnet;

and so he rejoices and is glad.

16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net

and burns incense to his dragnet,

for by his net he lives in luxury

and enjoys the choicest food.

17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,

destroying nations without mercy?

Habakkuk 2:1:

I will stand at my watch

and station myself on the ramparts;

I will look to see what he will say to me,

and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

Play by play on Habakkuk’s response to God’s amazing way to deal with sin in Judah:

O LORD, are you not from everlasting?

My God, my Holy One, we will not die.

O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment;

O Rock, you have ordained them to punish.

Here is what Habakkuk is saying to God:

1. Lord you are the One who is in control- you’re a number 1

2. You are my God and remember Judah is your chosen people – they are yours!

3. You are the Holy One – the one who pure and has no impurity in Him and that which is holy will have nothing to do with evil.

4. Truth is Lord you will not let your people die!

5. Yes, I know you have appointed the heathens to execute jusgement on your chosen people.

6. But you are the ROCK – the foundation of Judah!

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

7. Then he hits God with his hammer of words- God you are too pure to use those Babylonian Barbarians. They are evil and you do not tolerate wrong or evil! So why would you do this. I assume that because there is the insertion of the words “Why are you silent?” that God did not respond to Habakkuk right away. After he laid out his 2nd complaint to God – there is no immediate response.

a. Silence – Can you empathize with our man of God! You pour out your heart to God – your upset overwhelmed and you yell and scream and rationalize with God and He is quiet.

b. Don’t you hate that?

c. I mean really we want things NOW today! Instant answers – instant information like you get when you do a search on the internet. We want responses immediately when we have questions.

d. We want problems solved NOW! We want answers NOW!