Trusting in the Justice of God

Trusting in the Justice of God

2006002

Topic # 695 (Habakkuk)

Introduction:

A. Life is perplexing.

1. Live in a world where evil runs rampant.

2. abortion prevalent; corrupt politicians; name of God trampled on.

B. We often sit back & wonder how much longer God will allow the ridicule, blasphemy that defies His righteousness.

C. Why will God not punish all the evil right now?

1. Add to that of how Christians are maligned & looked down on & evne persecuted.

2. How much more can Christians bear?

3. We know God is the absolute ruler – but life presents us w/circumstances that appear out of our control.

4. what can we do?

D. We often feel that we are the first generation to experience these things.

1. There is nothing new under the sun. Ecc 1:9

2. What we experience now very similar to Habakkuk’s experience in the 6th century BC.

E. Habakkuk is an obscure prophet. Know little about him. But his message valuable for today’s Christian. It has been said:

1. there is no OT book that is able to do more for the burdened souls of men or raise them to the highest levels of hope & confidence than the brief story of Habakkuik.

I. Habakkuk was a man with deep burning spiritual questions.

A. 1:1 – oracle refers to the prophetic message given to Habakkuk by God.

1. When the message announced doom – it was a “burden” for the prophet to declare it.

2. Habakkuk’s job was to announce doom on Judah. Babylon was being raised up by God to take out Judah.

B. 1:2-4, 13 – Habakkuk’s honesty is evident in his questions to God.

1. He wasn’t the first to ask these questions.

2. Psa. 44:24; 74:10; 79:5; 80:4; 89:46

3. Psa 73:2, 13 – Psalmist confessed frustration about God’s apparent injustice in allowing wicked to prosper while righteous suffered. He just about gave up on God’s justice.

4. Jer 12:1-4; 15:16-20 – Jeremiah struggled with these questions.

C. So how can a just God allow despicable injustice to exist?

D. Aren’t these questions still asked today?

1. Isa 55:8 – while God’s way not our way – we still try to explain it in our mind as to why sin not punished the way we think we should.

2. we often find ourselves with questions, but not many answers.

E. This is frustrating.

1. 1:4

2. Keep in mind Habakkuk is about to see everything he held dear to be lost to a godless nation that God had strengthened.

3. 1:12b-13 – he really wrestled with the age old problem of why the innocent suffer while the ungodly prosper.

II. Habakkuk was a man of patience.

A. Even fraught with frustration, Habakkuk knew that God had a reason & he was determined to wait for it.

1. 2:1

2. faith told him that there was a method to the madness and that God would reveal His answer sooner or later.

B. This same patience is enjoined upon Christians today.

1. Psa 5:1-3; 4-6 – David’s great faith in God’s justice at the darkest hour of his life.

2. Psa 85:8

3. Rom. 12:18-19; Heb. 10:30-31

4. Even when it appears all is lost & an explanation can’t be found, Christians must wait patiently for God’s purpose to be known.

5. God is His own interpreter and He will make it plain.

III. Habakkuk was a man of great faith.

A. 3:1-7; 18-19

1. Even with his questions, he trusted in God.

2. Habakkuk’s faith was the key trait of his character.

3. in chapter 3 we see a faith that was confident & absolute.

B. Here’s a man burdened with his message.

1. questions lead him to frustration.

2. Yet he’s patient because of a strong faith.

C. It was Habakkuk’s faith that led him to take his unresolved problems to God.

1. So it should be for us.

2. Phil. 4:4, 6-7; 1 Pet. 5:7; Heb. 13:5b-6

D. Note that Habakkuk didn’t turn to worldly wisdom & vain philosophy.

1. We must not either.

2. Who do we turn to when times look dreary? How strong is our faith?

3. Song Lyrics: Casting Crowns:

4. What if His people prayed
And all who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face
And Turn from their own way
And what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of day
What if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to do
He said that they would hear
His promise has been made
He'll answer loud and clear
If only we would pray

IV. Habakkuk realized the error of walking by sight rather than by faith.

A. His prophecy began with absolute frustration & perplexity…but ends with triumphant acclaim. (Compare 1:2 to 3:18-19).

1. from tragedy to triumph.

2. worry to worship

3. fear to faith

B. Even though the immediate circumstances were totally against him, ultimate triumph was certain.

1. Habakkuk found a solution to his problem through wholehearted confidence in God.

2. God will right the evils over which we have no control.

3. Habakkuk’s reaction similar to Job’s (42:1-6) and the Psalmist (73:21-28).

4. we err greatly when we walk by sight rather than faith.

5. we must believe that God’s providential soverignity will ultimately reconcile the apparaent inconsistencies of life.

C. Isn’t the same true for the Christian? Has not God turned our:

1. tragedies to triumph?

2. worry to worship?

3. fear to faith?

D. 1 Cor. 15:54-58 - Is this not what Paul wrote about?

1. Is it not why Paul could claim what he did in 2 Cor. 4:16-5:7?

2. It is our faith that allows us to hold our heads high – Romans 8:31, 35, 38-39.

3. Statement about Polycarp…

E. Regardless of the crises of life – we must trust in God.

1. Even though all may appear lost – we must resolve to trust in the triumph that God promises to all who are steadfast.

2. Rev. 2:10

3. We need to move with boldness concerning the future.

Conclusion:

A. We can identify with Habakkuk.

1. His struggles with God’s justice are common to all who seek righteousness.

2. He can be used as a pattern for our lives.

3. May we learn to face life’s struggles with confidence, knowing that the future holds tremendous blessing for everyone who fears & obeys God.

B. Learn to develop the disposition of Psa. 119:18. When you do, you’ll find yourself agreeing w/Psa. 119:33-34.

C. When you do this, you’ll want to be come a Christian. Will you today?

D. I N V I T A T I O N



Trusting in the Justice of God 2006002 Topic # 695 (Habakkuk) Introduction: A. Life is perplexing. 1. Live in a world where evil runs rampant. 2. abortion prevalent; corrupt politicians; name of God trampled on. B. We often sit back & wonder how much longer God will allow the ridicule, blasphemy that defies His righteousness. C. Why will God not punish all the evil right now? 1. Add to that of how Christians are maligned & looked down on & evne persecuted. 2. How much more can Christians bear? 3. We know God is the absolute ruler – but life presents us w/circumstances that appear out of our control. 4. what can we do? D. We often feel that we are the first generation to experience these things. 1. There is nothing new under the sun. Ecc 1:9 2. What we experience now very similar to Habakkuk’s experience in the 6th century BC. E. Habakkuk is an obscure prophet. Know little about him. But his message valuable for today’s Christian. It has been said: 1. there is no OT book that is able to do more for the burdened souls of men or raise them to the highest levels of hope & confidence than the brief story of Habakkuik. I. Habakkuk was a man with deep burning spiritual questions. A. 1:1 – oracle refers to the prophetic message given to Habakkuk by God. 1. When the message announced doom – it was a “burden” for the prophet to declare it. 2. Habakkuk’s job was to announce doom on Judah. Babylon was being raised up by God to take out Judah. B. 1:2-4, 13 – Habakkuk’s honesty is evident in his questions to God. 1. He wasn’t the first to ask these questions. 2. Psa. 44:24; 74:10; 79:5; 80:4; 89:46 3. Psa 73:2, 13 – Psalmist confessed frustration about God’s apparent injustice in allowing wicked to prosper while righteous suffered. He just about gave up on God’s justice. 4. Jer 12:1-4; 15:16-20 – Jeremiah struggled with these questions. C. So how can a just God allow despicable injustice to exist? D. Aren’t these questions still asked today? 1. Isa 55:8 – while God’s way not our way – we still try to explain it in our mind as to why sin not punished the way we think we should. 2. we often find ourselves with questions, but not many answers. E. This is frustrating. 1. 1:4 2. Keep in mind Habakkuk is about to see everything he held dear to be lost to a godless nation that God had strengthened. 3. 1:12b-13 – he really wrestled with the age old problem of why the innocent suffer while the ungodly prosper. II. Habakkuk was a man of patience. A. Even fraught with frustration, Habakkuk knew that God had a reason & he was determined to wait for it. 1. 2:1 2. faith told him that there was a method to the madness and that God would reveal His answer sooner or later. B. This same patience is enjoined upon Christians today. 1. Psa 5:1-3; 4-6 – David’s great faith in God’s justice at the darkest hour of his life. 2. Psa 85:8 3. Rom. 12:18-19; Heb. 10:30-31 4. Even when it appears all is lost & an explanation can’t be found, Christians must wait patiently for God’s purpose to be known. 5. God is His own interpreter and He will make it plain. III. Habakkuk was a man of great faith. A. 3:1-7; 18-19 1. Even with his questions, he trusted in God. 2. Habakkuk’s faith was the key trait of his character. 3. in chapter 3 we see a faith that was confident & absolute. B. Here’s a man burdened with his message. 1. questions lead him to frustration. 2. Yet he’s patient because of a strong faith. C. It was Habakkuk’s faith that led him to take his unresolved problems to God. 1. So it should be for us. 2. Phil. 4:4, 6-7; 1 Pet. 5:7; Heb. 13:5b-6 D. Note that Habakkuk didn’t turn to worldly wisdom & vain philosophy. 1. We must not either. 2. Who do we turn to when times look dreary? How strong is our faith? 3. Song Lyrics: Casting Crowns: 4. What if His people prayed And all who bare His name Would humbly seek His face And Turn from their own way And what would happen if we prayed For those raised up to lead the way Then maybe kids in school could pray And unborn children see light of day What if the life that we pursue Came from a hunger for the truth What if the family turned to Jesus Stopped asking Oprah what to do He said that they would hear His promise has been made He'll answer loud and clear If only we would pray IV. Habakkuk realized the error of walking by sight rather than by faith. A. His prophecy began with absolute frustration & perplexity…but ends with triumphant acclaim. (Compare 1:2 to 3:18-19). 1. from tragedy to triumph. 2. worry to worship 3. fear to faith B. Even though the immediate circumstances were totally against him, ultimate triumph was certain. 1. Habakkuk found a solution to his problem through wholehearted confidence in God. 2. God will right the evils over which we have no control. 3. Habakkuk’s reaction similar to Job’s (42:1-6) and the Psalmist (73:21-28). 4. we err greatly when we walk by sight rather than faith. 5. we must believe that God’s providential soverignity will ultimately reconcile the apparaent inconsistencies of life. C. Isn’t the same true for the Christian? Has not God turned our: 1. tragedies to triumph? 2. worry to worship? 3. fear to faith? D. 1 Cor. 15:54-58 - Is this not what Paul wrote about? 1. Is it not why Paul could claim what he did in 2 Cor. 4:16-5:7? 2. It is our faith that allows us to hold our heads high – Romans 8:31, 35, 38-39. 3. Statement about Polycarp… E. Regardless of the crises of life – we must trust in God. 1. Even though all may appear lost – we must resolve to trust in the triumph that God promises to all who are steadfast. 2. Rev. 2:10 3. We need to move with boldness concerning the future. Conclusion: A. We can identify with Habakkuk. 1. His struggles with God’s justice are common to all who seek righteousness. 2. He can be used as a pattern for our lives. 3. May we learn to face life’s struggles with confidence, knowing that the future holds tremendous blessing for everyone who fears & obeys God. B. Learn to develop the disposition of Psa. 119:18. When you do, you’ll find yourself agreeing w/Psa. 119:33-34. C. When you do this, you’ll want to be come a Christian. Will you today? D. I N V I T A T I O N