Category: Habakkuk

Good morning church! Just wanted to welcome all who have joined us this morning – both in the hall and online. Our desire for everyone is that we would walk out of this hall looking more and more like Jesus.

And that’s the main reason why we’ve gathered here today – to experience God’s life changing work in our hearts and lives – and that happens as we listen & respond to God’s Word.

As you all know, we’ve been going through this series titled Trusting a Sovereign God from the book of Habakkuk. And the more I think about it, I feel that this is such a timely book for all of us as a church because I really believe God wants to encourage & instruct us through our present day struggles of life.

Just to recap – a couple of Sundays back, we attempted to understand God’s sovereignty (we just got a glimpse of that). Last Sunday, we were instructed on what we should do when God’s answer doesn’t make sense. Today we’re going to focus on what trusting & waiting on God practically looks like.

If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking “Yes, I get that I need to trust and wait on God, but how can I do it when God’s plans seem unclear? And more so, what am I expected to do while I trust and wait on God?”

If you’re in that place, let me tell you that you’re not alone. God’s gracious to give us passages like these to instruct our hearts this morning.

But before we proceed, let’s ask God for help to understand and apply this passage in our lives.

As we’ve seen so far Habakkuk is engaged in a two-way dialogue with God as he’s wrapping his mind around God’s plans.

Chapter 1 was his list of complaints. Chapter 2 is God’s answer to him but by the time we get Chapter 3, it’s not as though all of his doubts are clarified & that he understands God’s ways perfectly.

But his response serves as a wonderful teaching for our hearts on what we should do when we’re in situations when life throws us bouncers!

What should we do when that happens?

1. We remember God’s character (V2)

2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
    and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
    in the midst of the years make it known;
    in wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk begins his prayer by addressing God using God’s personal, covenant name “Yahweh”.

When Habakkuk uses the word “Yahweh”, he’s telling himself that this is the covenant keeping God who takes His commitment very seriously. He will keep up His end of the commitment even when the other party doesn’t reciprocate. He cannot break His promises.

And then he goes on to say that he’s heard the reports of God – in other words, he’s aware of how God dealt with His people in the past. And he’s making a petition asking God to do something similar right now. What is that?

“in wrath remember mercy” – In the midst of God’s extreme anger, He’s asking God to show compassion on His people.

But isn’t that a contradiction? Aren’t wrath and mercy two opposite ends of the spectrum? Either God should be wrathful and angry or He should be merciful.

Which is why many people think that God was harsh, angry and impulsive in the Old Testament but is loving and patient in the New Testament. By saying that, they are saying that God’s character has changed over time.

But that’s not the case, because God’s character can never change. If it changes, God ceases to be God. God’s always been the same.

Even in the Old Testament, there’s enough and more proof to show how merciful and compassionate our God is, because He shows mercy in the middle of His wrath. He loves His people not because they are the most lovable people on earth, but despite how unlovable they are.

Right after the Israelites were rescued from the Egyptians, we see them going and making a golden calf for themselves. Not only did they make the golden calf but they declared that this idol was the one responsible for rescuing them from the Egyptians’ hands.

Now imagine God’s grief in seeing the people whom He personally saved now turn against Him. So it makes perfect sense why God punished them, but what doesn’t make sense is what God says right after judging them:

Ex 34:6-7 –

[6] The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

[7] keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Because God is Holy, He can’t overlook sin. He has to judge it but also at the same time, He’s longing eager to show mercy and compassion on His people.

In fact that word “mercy” means tenderness – it’s the kind of tenderness that a mother shows to her newborn child. That’s the word used to describe God’s heart for His people.

Contrary to what we sometimes assume, God is not waiting for a chance to hurt us or exact revenge, but He actually longs to show mercy & compassion.

In wrath remember mercy – we see the perfect culmination of this truth in the person & sacrifice of Jesus.

God’s wrath and mercy converged in one place on the cross of Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus bore the entire wrath that you and I were meant to bear.

Justice was being done for all the filthy sins that we committed against Holy God. But at the same time, there was an outpouring of God’s mercy to all of us through the same sacrifice on the cross. All of us who didn’t deserve pardon, we’re given pardon on account of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

As we remember God’s character (God’s covenant keeping character & eagerness to show mercy in the midst of wrath), it builds this solid trust because you know that God is for you.

But it’s not just that,

2. We also remember God’s track record (V3-15)

Habakkuk recollects God’s past track record to inform his faith in the present. There are many examples in V3-15, so let’s look at them one by one.

3 God came from Teman,
    and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His splendor covered the heavens,
    and the earth was full of his praise.

It’s a reference to God giving them the covenant law from the mountain.

Many times when we think about 10 commandments, we think about it as rules that God enforced on His people.

But it was not for the sake of rules. God wanted to establish what kind of relationship they were going to share with Him. What would it mean for sinful people to relate with Holy God – what was the kind of commitment that God was making with them & expected from them. In some ways, it was like a marriage vow that was being exchanged between God and His people.

Habakkuk is reminding himself that this is the amazing God who Himself came down and gave us this covenant law from the mountain.

4 His brightness was like the light;
    rays flashed from his hand;
    and there he veiled his power.

5 Before him went pestilence,
    and plague followed at his heels.

This is a reference to the 10 plagues in Egypt. As God’s people were being oppressed by Pharaoh and the Egyptians. And not just oppressed, they were trapped. Pharaoh was stubbornly against letting them go. And so God devised a rescue mission for His people by sending down 10 plagues upon the Egyptians & finally they relented and let them go.

6 He stood and measured the earth;
    he looked and shook the nations;
then the eternal mountains were scattered;
    the everlasting hills sank low.
    His were the everlasting ways.

7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction;
    the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

This is a reference in the book of Judges where we see a cyclical pattern – the Israelites sin against God, enemy nations invaded them, and when the Israelites cry out to God, God sends them judges as “saviors” to save and rescue them from the hands of their enemies. We see that again and again.

8 Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord?
    Was your anger against the rivers,
    or your indignation against the sea,
when you rode on your horses,
    on your chariot of salvation?

9 You stripped the sheath from your bow,
    calling for many arrows.[b] Selah
    You split the earth with rivers.

10 The mountains saw you and writhed;
    the raging waters swept on;
the deep gave forth its voice;
    it lifted its hands on high.

One of the things that we see a lot in the OT is God’s supreme power and authority over nature to do some unbelievable feats – oftentimes seas and rivers were a means to demonstrate God’s power.

The first of the 10 plagues in Egypt was to turn the River Nile into blood. Then the most famous event – parting of the Red Sea which allowed all of God’s people to cross on dry land and come to safety and when the Egyptians pursued them the waters came back and destroyed all of them. And then in Joshua, God parted the river Jordan so that the Israelites could cross over and enter the Promised Land.

11 The sun and moon stood still in their place
    at the light of your arrows as they sped,
    at the flash of your glittering spear.

In Joshua chapter 10, there’s another unbelievable account – this time God makes the sun stop in it’s place for 24 hours until God’s people defeat their enemies!

12 You marched through the earth in fury;
    you threshed the nations in anger.

13 You went out for the salvation of your people,
    for the salvation of your anointed.

That’s the core of God’s heart in doing all of these amazing deeds. It’s directed towards saving and rescuing His people.

You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,
    laying him bare from thigh to neck.[c] Selah

This is a reference to God’s judgment of Pharaoh or the rulers of Canaan – they were being judged because of their own wickedness.

14 You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors,
    who came like a whirlwind to scatter me,
    rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.

15 You trampled the sea with your horses,
    the surging of mighty waters.

As we’re reading all of this, two things jump right at us. Firstly, we are forced & challenged to make a decision whether we believe that these were true (non-fictional,real events) exactly the way it was written or if it was fictional (made up stories) or exaggerated (partly true with some extra masala).

We are forced to reckon with this question if this is the God that we are in relationship with? Everytime we meet with God, is it the same God of such great unbelievable power and authority?

The second thing is that we are comforted and assured to know that this God is relentless in rescuing and saving His people. God will not hold anything back when it comes to rescuing His own. When it came to rescuing us, God didn’t even hold back His own precious Son so that you and I could be saved.

As Habakkuk remembers God’s character and God’s track record, it changes him and produces in him 2 things which weren’t there in Chapter 1. This will also be our application points for today:

• Waiting

16 I hear, and my body trembles;
    my lips quiver at the sound;
rottenness enters into my bones;
    my legs tremble beneath me.
Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble
    to come upon people who invade us.

When we read this verse, we see that Habakkuk doesn’t deny the dreaded thought of a Babylonian invasion but unlike his complaint in Chapter 1, he quietly waits on the Lord to bring about His judgment on them. He Quietly waits.

That word “Wait” doesn’t mean sitting isle and doing nothing. The word “wait” in Hebrew means “Rest, being settled”.

In ancient Hebrew culture, rest was a very important value to them. But it meant more than just absence of work. It was an intentional time of spiritual renewal and reflection on God’s faithfulness.

When Habakkuk is saying that he quietly waited on God, he’s saying that he intentionally went back into God’s Word so that he could remind himself of God’s character and track record.

He knew that what he needed the most was not to mull over his fear and disappointment. What he needed the most at that time was to know who his God was, in the midst of all trouble and confusion.

When you don’t know what to do, remember your God who always knows what to do.

And I don’t believe that it was only restricted to his personal study of the Word. In Habakkuk 3:2, he says “I have heard your report”. In other words, this is something that he heard in corporate worship – in a group setting with other believers where he was reminded of God’s character and track record.

And so where am I coming to? When we’re hit with life’s surprising and shocking turns, the tendency is to abandon God because God didn’t do what we expected in our lives. Our tendency is to move away from all those things that used to give us life at one point.

This passage is telling us that we need to fight that tendency and in fact be all the more intentional to have reminders of God’s character and track record because that’s what we need the most! If you’re there today, God’s calling you to not abandon those life giving rhythms to help you remember your God in the midst of what you’re going through.

But not only does he learn to wait, he also learns to

• Joyful Trust

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer’s;
    he makes me tread on my high places.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

As Habakkuk ends his prayer, he’s ending with joyful trust not because there’s indication of improvement in his present day circumstances. In fact, his circumstances hit a dead end in V17.

But he doesn’t stop there, he proceeds to V18 where he makes a choice to joyfully trust in God.

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

How come? Is he becoming a blind optimist? Is he in denial mode? No, he’s able to joyfully trust God because it’s not based on his circumstance, but based on his God.

Habakkuk says that he’s rejoicing in “the God of his salvation”. He derives joyful trust by remembering God’s character & track record. He gets great joy when He thinks about His God who always keeps up His end of the commitment & is committed to saving His people. He’s able to look at his present trouble in the face because He knows the character of His God & the track record of His God.

It’s like a little child who doesn’t know everything that needs to be known when he or she in trouble, but all he Or she knows is that his papa and mumma will come to help. They don’t know what papa or mumma will end up doing, but they know the character and track record of their parents.

Now does that mean that we will not experience pain or confusion right now? No, The pain is real. But this we know that our God takes his commitment to us seriously & is always looking to rescue us.

While we don’t know in what form we will get present relief, we can trust to know that our God is using the present trouble to refine us and make us more and more like Jesus. And there will be one day, when we will see an end of trouble and pain and confusion – when our Savior appears again.

In our previous sermons, we saw Habakkuk’s first complaint about injustice and God’s surprising response.

Today, we’ll examine Habakkuk’s second complaint and God’s profound answer.

Let’s read Habakkuk 1:12-13

Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?

Habakkuk is struggling to reconcile two truths:

1. God’s holy character – He is pure and cannot tolerate evil

“You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” (1: 13)

When Habakkuk says God is “of purer eyes than to see evil,” he’s acknowledging God’s perfect holiness and righteousness.

This attribute of God means He cannot approve of or participate in evil. God’s holy character is fundamental to His nature He is morally perfect, absolutely pure, and completely set apart from all sin.

But it appears that he is ok with sinful men who do sinful things to destroy others.

This knowledge is creating a tension in Habakkuk’s mind because he sees God using sinful people as instruments of judgment, which seems to conflict with God’s pure nature.

Perhaps a sense of betrayal

Its like a Christian parent using worldly ways to discipline their children – harsh emotional tactics, manipulation, guilt-tripping.

Here are some scenarios where we struggle with understanding God’s holy character:

1. Natural Disasters and Suffering : When earthquakes, hurricanes, or pandemics cause widespread devastation, many question how a holy God could allow such suffering. We struggle to reconcile His goodness with these catastrophic events.
2. Personal Tragedies : When faithful believers face terminal illness, lose children, or experience severe hardships, we often question God’s holy character. Like Habakkuk, we ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
3. Success of the Wicked : When we see corrupt leaders prosper, dishonest businesses thrive, or unethical people getting ahead in life while godly people struggle, we question God’s justice and holiness. This modern parallel closely mirrors Habakkuk’s struggle.
4. Unanswered Prayers : When earnest prayers for healing, restoration, or justice seem to go unanswered, we struggle to understand how a holy God could seem silent. This challenges our
   understanding of His character and promises.
5. Persecution of Christians : As we witness moral decay in society, the persecution of Christians, and the seeming triumph of ungodly values, we struggle to understand why a holy God appears to allow evil to prevail.

2. God’s chosen method – Using the wicked Babylonians to punish Judah

Habakkuk 1:12 where the prophet acknowledges: “O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.”

Habakkuk struggles with God’s decision to use the Babylonians, who were known for their extreme brutality and wickedness, as instruments of judgment against Judah.

While Judah had sinned, the Babylonians were far more wicked, making God’s choice seem paradoxical to Habakkuk.

Parent example

Here are some scenarios where we struggle to understand God’s chosen
methods:

1. Using Non-Christians for Kingdom Work : When God uses non believers or secular organizations to accomplish His purposes (like providing aid or advancing medical breakthroughs), some Christians struggle to accept this as God’s method.
2. Church Divisions and Denominations : Many believers struggle to understand how God could use church splits or denominational differences to advance His kingdom, yet sometimes these lead to greater gospel reach.
3. Personal Setbacks as Spiritual Growth : Job losses, relationship failures, or health challenges that God uses for spiritual transformation often seem like unlikely methods for achieving His purposes.
4. Technology and Modern Media
   The use of secular platforms and digital technology for spreading the gospel can seem like an unlikely method to some traditional believers.

When we struggle to reconcile with these truths, heres what we need to remember

1. God’s justice may be delayed, but it is never denied

In Habakkuk 2:2-3, God assures that justice will come at its appointed time: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

When we are frustrated because of the delay in Gods justice, remember …

• His timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with our expectations

When we feel that God’s justice is taking too long, we must remember that His perfect timing serves multiple purposes:

• It allows time for repentance and transformation of those who are doing wrong

Just as in Noah’s time when God gave people 120 years to repent while the ark was being built, or how He sent prophets to warn nations before judgment, God’s delay often serves as an opportunity for sinners to turn back to Him.

• It develops patience and deepens faith in those who are waiting for justice

James 124 reminds us that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. When we wait for God’s justice, we’re not just waiting for an outcome – we’re being transformed in the process.

• It demonstrates God’s mercy and long-suffering nature

2 Peter 39 explains this beautifully – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Just as a parent might delay consequences to give a child opportunity to learn and change, God’s timing often includes space for redemption.

Consider how Jesus spoke about the wheat and tares growing together until harvest – this illustrates how God’s timing often involves allowing situations to fully develop before executing judgment.

2. Pride leads to destruction, but faith leads to life

The contrast between pride and faith is evident throughout chapter 2. The Babylonians represent pride – their soul is “puffed up” 24, while the righteous are called to live by faith.

This principle is demonstrated in several ways:

• The proud Babylonians accumulate wealth unjustly 268, but their gree leads to their downfall

“Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,
‘Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long? and loads himself with pledges!’
Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble?
Then you will be spoiled for them. Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.”

• They build their empire through violence 212, but their achievements will ultimately prove worthless

“Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!”

• They trust in idols of their own making 21819, demonstrating the foolishness of human pride

“What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.”

In contrast, those who live by faith:

• Trust in God’s timing rather than their own strength
• Wait patiently for God’s justice rather than seeking revenge
• Find life and righteousness through their faith in God’s character

How do we develop such faith? It comes through Jesus Christ. Here’s how:

• Through the Gospel message – Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Understanding and believing in Christ’s sacrifice for us is the foundation of our faith.
• Through His perfect example – Jesus demonstrated perfect faith in the Father, even facing the cross. His life shows us what true faith looks like in action
• Through the Holy Spirit – When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, helping us grow in faith and trust Galatians 52223.
• Through Christian community – Being part of Christ’s body (the church) strengthens our faith as we encourage one another and share in both struggles and victories.
• Through trials – James 124 teaches that trials test and strengthen our faith, with Christ as our anchor through difficult times.

3. God’s glory will ultimately fill the earth (2:14)

• In verse 14, God declares: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” This powerful promise reveals several important truths:
• God’s glory is unstoppable – just as water naturally fills every space in the sea, God’s glory will permeate all creation
• This knowledge will be universal – all people will ultimately recognize God’s sovereignty and glory

This verse provides hope in the context of Habakkuk’s complaints. While evil may seem to triumph temporarily, God’s ultimate purpose is to fill all creation with His glory. This reminds us that:

• Current circumstances are temporary, but God’s glory is eternal
• God’s purposes will prevail despite apparent setbacks
• The final outcome of history is not in doubt God’s glory will triumph

The passage concludes with a powerful statement in 2:20 :

“But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” This passage in Habakkuk teaches us three vital lessons for our lives today:

• Trust God’s timing – Even when we don’t understand His methods or timing, we can trust His perfect justice and wisdom
• Choose faith over pride – Like Habakkuk, we must move from questioning to trusting, from pride to humble faith
• Rest in God’s sovereignty – Knowing that His glory will fill the earth, we can find peace in His ultimate control

When life doesn’t make sense, when God’s methods seem confusing, or when justice appears delayed, remember Habakkuk’s journey. He began with complaints but ended in worship. He started with questions but concluded with trust. And like him, we too can declare that even if everything around us fails:

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength.”

Let us therefore approach our challenges not with despair but with faith, knowing that the same God who was sovereign in Habakkuk’s time remains in control today. His ways may be mysterious, but His purposes are perfect, and His glory will ultimately prevail.

Let us pray…

Good morning church! A warm welcome to all who have joined us here at the hall & our friends who have joined us online.

Even as we begin, I just want to remind us that we’re here today not by accident or just out of a weekly routine, but this time is divinely ordained by God so that He can speak to us and change us in the process. I really believe that God wants to speak some specific things to each and every one of us this morning.

Last week we kick started a new sermon series titled “Trusting a sovereign God” from the book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament.  Ps. Saju did a wonderful job of setting the context for this series and telling us why we need to study Habakkuk.

I found it so interesting that this book is so different from the other prophetic books in the Bible. The usual pattern we see in other prophetic books is that the prophet hears a word from the Lord and he delivers it to God’s people.

But in this book it’s something totally different. It’s a dialogue. It’s a two-way conversation that the prophet has with God. And what we’ll see over the course of the next few weeks is that from this dialogue, there’s so much that we can learn about God and what it means to trust Him. That’s the journey that we have set on.

But before we proceed, I’d love to pray for us.

Pray

One of the most common one-word questions that parents often get from their children is the question “Why”. On one hand, it’s exciting to see your kids ask that question because it shows that they are learning to discover the world by themselves.

On the other hand, it can get quite draining because it never stops at one “why” question. It’s usually followed up with multiple follow up questions. So for many parents, the “why” question is a dreaded question.

And that “why” question gets even more uncomfortable especially when it’s directed toward our personal choices and decisions – where we’re put in a spot and asked to explain why we chose to do or not do certain things. That’s when it gets really uncomfortable.

And it’s so interesting that that’s the kind of dialogue that the prophet Habakkuk has with God. It almost seems like he’s putting God in a spot and asking God to explain His actions or inaction. Let’s quickly look at v1-4 and then we’ll get to V5 onwards. 

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
    and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
    and you will not save?

The prophet seems to have a series of complaints against God. But before he begins sharing his complaints, he refers to God as “O Lord”. In the Hebrew that’s translated as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”. That’s God’s personal name that He revealed to His covenant people in the OT.

And so even as Habakkuk is making his complaints known to God, he’s doing it with the full knowledge that there’s complete freedom in a relationship with Him. He can be brutally honest and know that God will not push him away.

And then he proceeds to make his complaints. 

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
    and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
    and you will not save?

In his first complaint, he feels that his prayers and cries for help are falling on deaf ears. He feels like God’s response is only silence.

3 Why do you make me see iniquity,
    and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    strife and contention arise.

His next complaint is God’s inaction over sin. The prophet is so unsettled by the sin of his own people and he’s surprised that God’s not doing anything. How can God sit idle is the question that he asks.

4 So the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
    so justice goes forth perverted.

From these verses we get an idea on how bad the situation was in those days. It was an extremely lawless society! They left the One True God who rescued them & went after the idols of nations around them.

They were extremely brutal and violent toward one another. The rich kept oppressing the poor and took advantage of them. Leaders were extremely corrupt and excused themselves from accountability. The handful of righteous people who held onto God suffered while the wicked seemed to have everything going for them. Terrible injustice!!

Now some of us may hear this and think that this is true of every society but let me remind you that this was no ordinary nation! This was God’s own people and it looked like they never even had a law to govern them! 

Habakkuk sees all of this injustice and wrestles with the question : How can my Loving, Holy God be silent? How can my Loving, Holy God not act? Can we relate to that sentiment? Have you and I ever wrestled with those questions in our hearts?

If yes, let me tell you that you’re not alone. Over the years, many of God’s people have wrestled with these questions & as we can see here, they’ve not only wrestled with these questions but have honestly expressed them to God.

But what does God do now that he’s put in the spot? Does God chide and rebuke Habakkuk for asking questions that are above his pay grade? Or does God just dismiss these questions telling Habakkuk that he’s just being childish? No, we see God engaging with Habakkuk and respond to these complaints.

This should encourage our hearts this morning to recognize that whatever our complaints might be – even the dreaded & uncomfortable “why” questions, God welcomes it in prayer. God wants to engage with us just like He engages with Habakkuk in this passage. How encouraging is it to remember that this morning?

Let’s look at God’s response in V5.

5 “Look among the nations, and see;
    wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
    that you would not believe if told.

In this verse, we see Principle #1 in understanding God’s Sovereignty: We have to admit that we don’t have the capacity to understand God’s ways and plans. I know that this seems a little counterintuitive, I’m talking about understanding God’s sovereignty and Principle 1 is that we can’t understand it. Please bear with me, and we’ll unpack this but for now hold on to this truth – We simply don’t have the faculty to comprehend how God operates.

In this verse, God is telling Habakkuk to look among the nations and he’ll see that God is already at work in solving this injustice problem. But here’s the thing – even if God told him exactly what He was going to do, even if God broke down all of the details to him, Habakkuk simply didn’t have it in him to be able to understand it.  

It’s like me sitting down with Lydia with a detailed PPT on any subject. No matter how much I explained, no matter how many examples I used, no matter how many visual pictures I used, she wouldn’t be able to understand. Because at this age as a one year old, she simply doesn’t have the capacity to understand what I’m saying. In the same way, we don’t have the capacity to understand God’s great and grand plans.

Many times we say “Only if God explained what He is trying to do in this hard season of life, all of this would make sense and I’d be able to trust Him more”. The truth is that even if God explained everything to us, we wouldn’t be able to understand. This is what Isa 55:8-9 tells us:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

And that’s a humbling place for us to start from. Because even as we start this journey of understanding God’s sovereignty, let’s not assume that just because we’ve obtained theoretical knowledge of God’s sovereignty, that we’re able to understand His plans and ways with clarity. No, we won’t because we simply don’t have the capacity in us to comprehend God’s ways and plans.

God could’ve stopped the conversation at V5 and that would’ve been enough but He goes on to actually reveal His plan to solve the injustice problem in V6:

6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
    that bitter and hasty nation,
who march through the breadth of the earth,
    to seize dwellings not their own.

We arrive at Principle # 2 in understanding God’s sovereignty: God often uses unexpected, unpredictable means to accomplish His purposes.

Chaldeans was another name for the Babylonian nation. They are not a better believing nation, they are in fact an unbelieving nation. V6-11 actually describes a much more wicked nation than Judah at the time.

They were a bitter and hasty nation – a very resentful and impulsive nation who would go miles to hijack homes and lands and make it their own. They were the ultimate bullies!

7 They are dreaded and fearsome;
    their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.

In V7, God’s not appreciating their moral character but rather revealing their flawed character. I found the NIV translation helpful here:

They are a feared and dreaded people;

    they are a law to themselves

    and promote their own honor.

As a nation they were intimidating and frightening. They only did what only seemed right to them – which was to promote their own selfish interests & glory.

When the people who are coming to capture you are only interested in their own self interests and glory, it’s a very scary thought because you know it’s going to involve a lot of trauma and abuse.  

8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,
    more fierce than the evening wolves;
    their horsemen press proudly on.
Their horsemen come from afar;
    they fly like an eagle swift to devour.

The Babylonian horsemen were known for their great speed. They would scatter the enemy’s foot soldiers and then hunt them down one by one mercilessly.

9 They all come for violence,
    all their faces forward.
    They gather captives like sand.

As a nation they were eager to injure, abuse and destroy whoever came in their way. Whoever was left after the battle, they brought them back as prisoners of war – war slaves. These were not the friendly type – next door neighbour kind of nation guys. They were a mean, dangerous, scary nation. 

10 At kings they scoff,
    and at rulers they laugh.
They laugh at every fortress,
    for they pile up earth and take it.

11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on,
    guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

In V10-11 we see how prideful they were as a nation. They mocked the smaller, weaker nations as they captured them. And their complete confidence was in their own strength “their might was their god”.

We look at these verses describing the Babylonians and just like Habakkuk was, we’re probably perplexed that God would choose this kind of wicked nation to judge His own people.

God’s words in V6 tells us “I am raising them up” – this is not just an endorsement from God – God is saying that this is His divinely ordained plan and it’s not making any sense to us. We would like God to operate in a box of our expectations, and God does something totally out of the box.

No matter how much of the Bible you may know, no matter how much theology you would have learnt, you’ll still find it hard to wrap your mind around the fact that God would use unexpected means to accomplish His purpose – that God would use a wicked Babylonian nation to accomplish His purpose.

And this is not a one-off case in the Bible. We will see this repeatedly again and again.

Rom 9:17: 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

This unbelieving stubborn, harsh Pharaoh in the Bible was raised up by God to reveal God’s power and glory in the earth!

Isa 44:28: who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,

    and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;

saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’

    and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”

This unbelieving King Cyrus is the one whom God refers to as “my shepherd” and the one whom God appointed to rebuild the temple of God.

In all these cases, the Babylonians, Pharaoh and Cyrus, God never overlooks their sin. In each of these cases, their sins are clearly described and called out in Scripture.

However, at the same time, Scripture is also categorically clear that each of them were used as instruments of God. In God’s wisdom, using these characters would display God’s glory all the more brightly. Expected? Predictable? Not at all but yet they were the divinely ordained means to accomplish God’s purposes. 

So where do we go with this principle? How do we apply this in our lives?

As we think about the unwanted, uncomfortable situations and people in our lives, do we see God’s sovereign hand over it?

When we go to our workplaces and face a boss who is super demanding & demotivating, do we see God’s sovereign hand over it?

When we think about our close family members and how hurtful they’ve been to us (sometimes we wish we were better off in another family), do we see God’s sovereign hand over it?

When we think about the unexpected health issue that popped up in our life, do we see God’s sovereign hand over it?

When we think about failed decisions in life – things that didn’t turn out the way we expected them to turn out – do we see God’s sovereign hand over it?

Now again in all these situations and people, God isn’t endorsing or excusing the sinful actions which were committed. God is deeply grieved by the sin. But at the same time, because He is sovereign He uses unexpected, unpredictable means to accomplish His purposes.

The perfect example of this was shown on the cross. Look with me at

Acts 4:27-28 ESV

[27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

The sin of man isn’t being endorsed or excused. The sin of man is clearly being called out & man is guilty for all that they have done.

But yet, in ways that we won’t fully understand, God used something as horrific as the death of His Son on the cross to accomplish His purposes which was to save you and me. And it wasn’t a last minute change of plan – God had predestined it to take place. So if nothing else, let the cross of Jesus Christ encourage us to know that the God who was sovereign over the cross is sovereign over every unexpected, unwanted, unpredictable situation of life. Will it always make sense to us? No, it won’t. Many times it will leave us perplexed just like Habakkuk but we can always trust His character & authority irrespective.

This Sunday, we are starting a new series titled “Trusting a Sovereign God,” and we will study Habakkuk’s book.

The title for today’s sermon is “Why Study Habakkuk?”

Let’s look at Habakkuk 1:1-4

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence! and you will not save? 3 Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. 4 So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.

Discovering how every scripture points to the Gospel & Christ

Historical Background

Habakkuk prophesied during a crucial period in Judah’s history, likely between 612 and 605 BC, during King Jehoiakim’s reign.

• Political Context : The old Empire The Assyrian Empire) was declining & the new Empire Neo-Babylonian) was rising to Power.
• Social Conditions: Judah was experiencing internal corruption, social injustice, and spiritual decline
• Religious State: Despite reforms under King Josiah, the people had returned mainly to idolatry and wickedness

Habakkuk’s dialogue with God during this chaotic period, as he wrestles with understanding how God could use the wicked Babylonians to punish His people.

Heres what Habakkuk was experiencing

Chaos & Confusion

• It doesn’t appear that we are moving toward the life promised by God.

God had promised Judah prosperity, peace, and spiritual blessing as His covenant people.

• A land flowing with milk and honey (material abundance)
• Protection from enemies when they remained faithful
• His presence among them through the temple
• Spiritual leadership through priests and prophets
• Being a light to the nations as God’s chosen people
• It appears that God has abandoned them, perhaps because of their sin and rebellion.
• It appears that God is not acting upon it.
• The enemy seems to be winning.

Sin & Brokenness

• Idolatry: Despite previous reforms, the people had returned to worshipping false gods and practicing pagan rituals
• Rejection of God’s Law: The people were openly disregarding the Torah and its commandments
• False Worship: While maintaining outward religious practices, their hearts were far from true devotion to God

Injustice & Wrongdoing

• Social Injustice: The powerful were oppressing the weak, with widespread exploitation of the poor and vulnerable
• Corruption in Leadership: Both religious and political leaders were abusing their positions for personal gain
• Moral Decay: There was a general breakdown of ethical behavior and social values

Our Reality

We are still living in the now and there, in a sinful and broken world.

How believers experience chaos and confusion today:

• Digital Overwhelm: Constant exposure to conflicting information, negative news, and social media debates about faith and morality
• Cultural Pressure: Facing increasing hostility towards traditional Christian beliefs and values in society Career Conflicts: Balancing professional demands with biblical ethics and principles
• Family Dynamics: Navigating diverse beliefs within families and raising children in an increasingly secular world Church Issues: Dealing with denominational divisions, church scandals, and questions about authentic faith
• Financial Pressure: Maintaining trust in God’s provision amid economic uncertainties
• Identity Crisis: Struggling to maintain Christian identity in an increasingly pluralistic society

How believers experience sin and brokenness today:

• Personal Struggles: Wrestling with addictions, harmful habits, and recurring patterns of sin
• Relational Breakdown: Experiencing broken relationships, divorce, and family conflicts
• Sexual Temptation: Facing challenges with pornography, sexual immorality, and changing cultural norms
• Materialism: Struggling with greed, overconsumption, and misplaced priorities
• Pride and Self-Reliance: Difficulty surrendering control and fully trusting God
• Spiritual Apathy: Experiencing seasons of lukewarm faith and disconnection from God
• Workplace Ethics: Confronting moral compromises and ethical dilemmas in professional settings
• Mental Health: Struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges that affect spiritual well-being

How believers experience injustice and wrongdoing today:

• Workplace Discrimination: Facing unfair treatment due to religious beliefs or moral convictions
• Social Marginalization: Being excluded or mocked for holding biblical values
• Educational Challenges: Dealing with anti-faith bias in academic settings
• Legal Pressures: Confronting laws that conflict with religious convictions
• Community Conflict: Witnessing injustice in local communities without apparent resolution
• Global Persecution: Being aware of worldwide persecution of fellow believers

Given these challenges and circumstances in our world today, studying Habakkuk is relevant.

1. Amid chaos and confusion, we can understand God’s sovereignty

His complete power, authority, and control over everything.

• Habakkuk 1:5-6 – God declares His sovereign work: “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I will do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising the Babylonians.”
• Habakkuk 2:1-4 – God’s sovereign plan for the earth: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

Airoplane Illustration

Just as an aircraft has numerous parts – wings, engines, landing gear, navigation systems, and countless other components – each with its unique function and importance, we, too, are part of God’s grand design. The chief engineer doesn’t just focus on individual parts; they have a clear vision of the final goal: a plane that can safely transport passengers to their destination.

Similarly, God, as our divine architect, sees beyond our circumstances. While we might feel like small components experiencing turbulence, God orchestrates everything – allowing certain events, removing or replacing parts, and guiding the whole journey – to achieve His sovereign purpose. Just as no aircraft part is insignificant, our roles, though sometimes unclear to us, are essential in God’s master plan.

The engineer must sometimes modify, repair, or even replace parts to ensure the aircraft’s optimal performance and safety. Likewise, God, in His wisdom, works through various circumstances – even difficult ones – to accomplish His ultimate purpose for humanity.

Joseph’s Story: Understanding God’s Sovereignty Through Suffering

Joseph’s life powerfully illustrates how God works sovereignly through difficult circumstances to accomplish His purposes:

• Betrayal by Family: Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy, completely disrupting his life
• False Accusations: In Egypt, he was wrongly accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned
• Abandonment: He was forgotten in prison by those he helped, spending years in confinement

Yet through all these hardships, God was positioning Joseph for a greater purpose:

• Position of Authority: He became second-in-command in Egypt
• Preservation of Life: He saved countless lives during the seven-year famine
• Reconciliation: He was reunited with his family and able to provide for them

Joseph’s profound statement in Genesis 5020 reveals his deep understanding of God’s sovereignty: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.”

This demonstrates how God can work through human evil and suffering to accomplish His redemptive purposes, without minimizing the reality of the pain or excusing the evil actions of others.

2. Amid sin and brokenness, we can experience God’s grace & mercy

Because of what he ultimately accomplished through Christ

• Habakkuk 3:2 – “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.”
• Habakkuk 3:17-19 Even in devastation and loss, Habakkuk proclaims God’s mercy: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength.”
• John 3:16-17 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
• Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Based on the context, this refers to God’s covenant with His people, particularly His promises to provide, protect, and be present with them. Despite periods of apparent divine silence or inaction, Christ ultimately fulfilled these promises.

He is not a God who abandons us or leaves us to figure things out on our own

The Gospel (the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ) provides solace and reassurance to believers experiencing difficulties, demonstrating God’s love, mercy, and ultimate plan for redemption.

3. Amid injustice and wrongdoing, we can trust in God’s ultimate justice

His promise to make everything right in His perfect timing.

• Habakkuk 2:2-3 God assures that His justice will come at the appointed time: “For the revelation awaits an appointed time… Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

• Psalm 37:7-9 – “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”

The Bible teaches that Jesus will return to establish His kingdom and bring perfect justice to earth:

Revelation 19:11-16 – Jesus returns as King of Kings to rule with justice: “With justice he judges and wages war… On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Physical Reign: Christ will establish His throne in Jerusalem and rule over all nations with perfect righteousness and wisdom
Perfect Justice: All wrongs will be made right, and evil will be fully dealt with under His rule
Isaiah 11:4-5 – “But with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth… Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”

Conclusion

As we study Habakkuk, we find profound comfort and guidance for our modern challenges. His journey from questioning to trust mirrors our spiritual walks.
Remember these three key truths:

1. God remains sovereign even when life seems chaotic and confusing.
2. His grace and mercy are available through Christ, even in our brokenness.
3. His perfect justice will prevail, though we may need to wait patiently.

Like Habakkuk, we can choose to trust God despite our circumstances. We can move from questioning to worship, from doubt to faith, and from confusion to confidence in His sovereign plan.

Let us close with Habakkuk’s powerful declaration of faith:

“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, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

May we, like Habakkuk, learn to trust our sovereign God, rest in His grace, and await His perfect justice.