HABAKKUK GOD IS IN CONTROL OF HISTORY

1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.

Habakkuks First Cry2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?Or cry out to you, Violence! but you do not save?3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Habakkuk prophesized during the final days of the Assyrian Empire and the beginning of Babylonians world rulership under Nabopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar. When Nabopolassar ascended to power in 626 BC, he immediately began to expand his influence to the north and west. Under the leadership of his son, the Babylonian army overthrew Nineveh in 612 BC, forcing the Assyrian nobility to take refuge first in Haran and then Carchemish. Nebuchadnezzar pursued them, overrunning Haran in 609 BC and Carchemish in 606 BC.The Egyptian king Necho, travelling through Judah in 609 BC to assist the fleeing Assyrian king was opposed by King Josiah at Megiddo (2 Chr 35:20-24). Josiah was killed in the ensuing battle, leaving his throne to a succession of 3 sons and a grandson. Earlier, as a result of discovering the Book of the Law in the temple (622 BC), Josiah had instituted significant spiritual reforms in Judah (2 King 22,23), abolishing many of the idolatrous practices of his father King Amon (2 King 21:20-22) and grandfather King Manasseh (2 King 21:11-13). Upon his death, however, the nation quickly reverted to her evil ways (cf. Jer 22:13-19), causing Habakkuk to question Gods silence and apparent lack of punitive action (1:2-4) to purge His covenant people.

The reforms of Josiah (II Ch. 34: - 35:19; II Ki. 22:1-25)? What the Lord predicted (II Ki. 23:26-27)? How Josiah died (II Ki. 23:28-30; II Ch. 35:20-27)?

Josiahs legacy Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David (34:1-3).Removed idols and priests and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded imagesHe also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and JerusalemWhen he had broken down the altars and the wooden images, had beaten the carved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem (34:3-7).

While repairing the temple they found and read the book of Law which leads to reformation Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORDAnd Shaphan read it before the kingBut as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Concerning the words which you have heard because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, says the LORD. Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants. (34:15, 18-19, 26-28).

Temple worship is restored and vows are made to stand for God And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD. Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. (34:30-32).

Passover feast is restored. Now Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month. And he set the priests in their duties and encouraged them for the service of the house of the LORD There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (35:1-2, 18).

Gods prediction Nevertheless the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. And the LORD said, I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there (23:26-27).

Josiahs death But he [Necho, king of Egypt] sent messengers to him, saying, What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you. Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Take me away, for I am severely wounded (35:21-23).

Josiahs service Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him (23:25).

How Bad was Judah at that timeJeremiah 5:30-31 30 A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?

Jeremiah 8:12Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD.

What were the sins of Judah (Zep. 1:5, 8-9, 12; 3:2-7; II Ki. 21:3, 5; 23:11; Jer. 7:17; 5:3; 7:28; 32:33)?

Mixed or impure worship (i.e. idols/temple) Those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear oaths by the LORD, But who also swear by Molech (Zep 1:5).

For he rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars for Baal, and made a Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done; and he worshiped all of them and served themAnd he built altars for all the starry hosts in the two courts of the temple of the LORD (II King 21:3, 5).

Dressing like foreign nations (ie. adopting their cultures) And it shall be, In the day of the LORDs sacrifice, That I will punish the princes and the kings children, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel (Zep 1:8).

Zep 1:9Fraud and violence In the same day I will punish All those who leap over the threshold, Who fill their masters houses with violence and deceit (Zep 1:9).

Zep 1:12Indifference And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil (Zep 1:12).

Zep 3:2-7obeys no oneaccepts no correctiondoes not trust God

- does not draw near to her GodHer officials are roaring lions, her rulers are evening wolves, who leave nothing for the morningHer prophets are arrogant; they are treacherous men.Her priests profane the sanctuary and do violence to the law In short, the reforms instituted by King Josiah did not continue after his death

Even though Christians opinions vary on issues, many Christians demonstrate concern about issues of justice such as abortion, capital punishment, inadequate housing and medical care for the poor, unfair employment practices, racism and exploiting the poor in countries all over the worldSome may disagree about which side of these issues is truly just. Treat each point of view with respect and encourage others to do the same. We cannot solve political differences at this point, but we can acknowledge that God works on the side of justice (whatever that is), and His people should do the same.

Gods First Response

5 Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed.For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

6 I am raising up the Babylonians,[a] that ruthless and impetuous people,who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.7 They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk.Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar.They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;

9 they all come intent on violence.Their hordes[b] advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand.10 They mock kings and scoff at rulers.They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them.11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on guilty people, whose own strength is their god.

Who were these Babylonians? How evil were they?Their own will is a law to them, and, in the fierceness of their pursuits, they will not be governed by any laws of humanity, equity, or honour: Their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves, v. 7. Appetite and passion rule them, and not reason nor conscience. Their principle is:Quicquid libet, licetMy will is my lawSic volo, sic jubeo; stat pro ratione voluntasThis is my wish, this is my command; it shall be done because I choose it.

2 Kings 24,25 and 2 Chronicles 36In Rablah the Babaylonians slew King Zedekiahs sons before his eyes and put out Zedekiahs eyes. Zedekiah was then bound in brass fetters and taken to BabylonDaniel 2:5 . If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your house turned into a dunghillHabakkuk 2:15 A Babylonian sometimes gave wine to a neighbour to make him very drunk so that he might perversely gaze upon his nakedness

Lamentations 4:9Those killed by the sword are better off than those who died of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the fieldLamentations 4:10With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyedLamentations 5:11-1211 Women have been ravished in Zion, and virgins in the town of Judah. 12 Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect

Zep 1:17Their blood will be poured out like dust, and their entrails like filth

In short, the Babylonians were ruthless, violent, etc.They even dismember and disembowel their enemies, aliveOne writer, and I believe there are more, has said that it is better to commit suicide than to fall into the hands of the Babylonians

Habakkuks Second Cry

12 Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you[c] will never die.You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.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 people like the fish in the sea, like the 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

2 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.[a]

Gods Second Response

2 Then the Lord replied:

Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald[b] may run with it.3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.Though it linger, wait for it; it[c] will certainly come and will not delay.

4 See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[d] . the just shall live by faith.

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these. (KJV)

I form the light and create darkness. I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things (NIV)

5 indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest.Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied,he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.

First Woe Against Plunder

6 Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.8 Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you.For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

Second Woe Against Unjust/Dishonest Gain/Greed

9 Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.11 The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.

Third Woe Against Oppression/Injustice/Cruelty

12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!13 Has not the Lord Almighty determinedthat the peoples labor is only fuel for the fire,that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Fourth Woe Against The Sensual/Violence

15 Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed[e]!The cup from the Lords right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.17 The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you.For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.

Fifth Woe Against Idolatry

18 Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies?For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.19 Woe to him who says to wood, Come to life! Or to lifeless stone, Wake up!Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.

It is of the greatest honour that God made men in His image; it is the of greatest dishonour when men in turn made god in his image.

20 The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Habakkuk 3

Habakkuks Embrace

3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.[a]

2 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.

3 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran.[b]His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.4 His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.5 Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps.6 He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble.The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed but he marches on forever.7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish.

8 Were you angry with the rivers, Lord? Was your wrath against the streams?Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory?9 You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows.You split the earth with rivers;10 the mountains saw you and writhed.Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high.

11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear.12 In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.

13 You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one.You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.14 With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding.15 You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters.

16 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound;decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled.Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us.17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

LESSONS LEARNED1. God can and does use wrathful instrument to discipline his people: Babylonians during Habakkuks time; Holocaust during 2nd World War?, etc..2. We cannot be presumptuous that our timing/schedule/plan are in line with God: the 50th year of Jubilee has not happened: the crossover is a prophesy that was not fulfilled 3. God will and does eventually balance his book/square the accounts at His time

Adrain RogersAdrain Rogers, 3 times President of the Southern Baptist Convention of USA, often said, There are 3 categories of people in the world. Those who are afraid, those who dont know enough to be afraid, and those who know their Bibles. And the little book of Habakkuk (hey, he is a MINOR Prophet) is particularly valuable in this day!

Discussion Questions

18th Century English poet William Cowpers poem Light Shining out of Darkness gave the English language the idiom God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. Discuss this in the light of Gods action or inaction, His unexpected providences and His unusual instruments in the book of Habakkuk

James Bignon, in his song Im Believing God for a Miracle (Miracle album released on 26 Sept 2000) reminds us of In His own time, in His way. I dont know how Hes gonna do it, but by faith it will be done. Gods ways and timing are indeed often misunderstood by the world, by His people and by the Prophet himself

3. Discuss the following principles drawn from the book of Habakkuk:- History is Under Divine Control- History Follows a Divine Plan- History Follows a Divine Timetable