Setting – Habakkuk challenges the Lords silence and lack of deliverance
Content – Habakkuk questions the Lord (v. 2 NLT) “How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! "Violence!" I cry, but you do not come to save.” After the death of Josiah the king (righteous king), Judah quickly returned to their sinful was. Habakkuk saw this (v. 3 NLT) “Must I forever see this sin and misery all around me? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.” In fact, the Law meant little to the people (v. 4 NLT) “The law has become paralyzed and useless, and there is no justice given in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery.”
God responses to Habakkuk (v. 5 NLT) “The LORD replied, "Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.” God was preparing the Babylonians to judge (overthrow Judah) (v. 6 NLT) “I am raising up the Babylonians to be a new power on the world scene”
Habakkuk’s response is obvious worry that Judah will be wiped out (v. 12 NLT) “O LORD my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal--is your plan in all of this to wipe us out?” Habakkuk questioned God’s plan, wondering why the unjust would execute judgment upon God’s chosen people (v. 13b NLT) “Should you be silent while the wicked destroy people who are more righteous than they?” He further wonders if this new nation will dominate the earth forever (v. 17) “Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?”
Application – This is very applicable to today. But in reality, this is applicable to all generations, because evil/sin exists so injustice will exist, (v. 4b NLT) “The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery.” And just like Habakkuk, we ask God how long will wait until you execute your judgment? But we know two things, that God will execute vengeance (Heb. 10:30) “For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” and that God is patient with His creation hoping that they will return to Him (2 Pet. 3:9) “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”
Habakkuk states (Hab. 2:4b NLT) “but the righteous will live by their faith.” So we must wait on the Lord. While sin and injustice exist we who are God’s will trust in His ways and pray for His righteousness to prevail.
Content – Habakkuk questions the Lord (v. 2 NLT) “How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! "Violence!" I cry, but you do not come to save.” After the death of Josiah the king (righteous king), Judah quickly returned to their sinful was. Habakkuk saw this (v. 3 NLT) “Must I forever see this sin and misery all around me? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.” In fact, the Law meant little to the people (v. 4 NLT) “The law has become paralyzed and useless, and there is no justice given in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery.”
God responses to Habakkuk (v. 5 NLT) “The LORD replied, "Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.” God was preparing the Babylonians to judge (overthrow Judah) (v. 6 NLT) “I am raising up the Babylonians to be a new power on the world scene”
Habakkuk’s response is obvious worry that Judah will be wiped out (v. 12 NLT) “O LORD my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal--is your plan in all of this to wipe us out?” Habakkuk questioned God’s plan, wondering why the unjust would execute judgment upon God’s chosen people (v. 13b NLT) “Should you be silent while the wicked destroy people who are more righteous than they?” He further wonders if this new nation will dominate the earth forever (v. 17) “Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?”
Application – This is very applicable to today. But in reality, this is applicable to all generations, because evil/sin exists so injustice will exist, (v. 4b NLT) “The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery.” And just like Habakkuk, we ask God how long will wait until you execute your judgment? But we know two things, that God will execute vengeance (Heb. 10:30) “For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” and that God is patient with His creation hoping that they will return to Him (2 Pet. 3:9) “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”
Habakkuk states (Hab. 2:4b NLT) “but the righteous will live by their faith.” So we must wait on the Lord. While sin and injustice exist we who are God’s will trust in His ways and pray for His righteousness to prevail.
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