Scripture reading Rom 15:4

“Have you ever finished watching the evening news with all the violence and injustice in the world and in frustration asked, Why isn’t God doing something? Why do the wicked and the dishonest people prosper. Why do they get elected to the White House? Well, that is not a new feeling. A prophet named Habakkuk felt that way around 620 B.C. and wrote a book about it.” (Bible.org)

“Habakkuk’s name means to “embrace” or “wrestle.” As is usually the case, his name has something to do with the message of the book. I think it relates to the fact that he was wrestling with a difficult issue. If God is good, then why is there evil in the world? And if there has to be evil, then why do the evil prosper?” (Bible.org)

Throughout his book, we see the progression of Habakkuk from questioning God to trusting Him

This lesson will take a look at how this progression takes place

“How long shall I cry, and You will not hear?”Habakkuk’s list of problems

“For plundering and violence are before me;”“There is strife, and contention arises.”“Therefore the law is powerless,”“And justice never goes forth.”“For the wicked surround the righteous;”“Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.”

This sounds kind of like America todayWe sometimes wonder

Why does evil go unpunishedWhy do the wicked prosperWhy doesn’t God do something

“Look among the nations and watch-be utterly astounded…”

Vs 6-11 go on to descibe just how evil they are

Vs 11 teaches us that their actions will not go unpunished but God will still use them

God doesn’t always answer us in the way we want or expect Him too

Habakkuk appears to accept the answerVs 13b indicates he may not have been happy about the answer even though he

accepted itLessons to learn from this section

We need to let people grieve and hurtPeople need to work through pain and

sufferingPeople cannot remain in this state forever but

there is a process to go through2:1 Habakkuk states what he will do

Write the vision, it will happenVs 4 “The just shall live by faith”V 5 Babylon contrasted to unsatisfied

drunkardVs 6-17 is a series of woes describing how

evil people can beVs 16-17 the time of judgment will come

God sometimes seems to be inactive, but He is involved

God is holyGod hears and answers prayersGod sometimes gives unexpected answers to

our prayersThe righteous live by faith and faithfulness