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Habakkuk – Just You Wait To Embrace Or Hold Close To One’s Heart Introduction: Obadiah’s message concerned the defeat of Edom. Nahum’s message was directed at Assyria’s down fall. Now Habakkuk has a conversation with God about Judah and her judgment. I) Time Line A) 640 BC Josiah becomes king of Judah; institutes many reforms B) 624 BC Babylon starts fighting Assyria; 614 Ashur fall; 612 BC Nineveh all. C) 609 BC Josiah goes out to face Egypt and is killed at Megiddo. 1. The following taken from 2 Chronicles 36.1-6 and 2 Kings 23. a. Jehoahaz reigns three months (did evil, 2 Kings 23.32) b. Eliakim’s name is changed to Jehoiakim and reigns 11 years (did evil, 2 Kings 23.37). 2. Habakkuk’s message around 612-606 BC. II) Habakkuk’s Conversation With God, Chapter 1 A) Habakkuk: How can God allow Judah to stand? Vv. 2-4 1. They were wicked and violent. 2. Was God simply indifferent to their sins? B) God’s answer: He will use the Chaldeans to defeat Judah, vv .5-11 1. They were a might and powerful enemy. 2. They were also wicked. C) Habakkuk: How could God use such a wicked nation? 1. Judah was bad but not as bad as the Chaldeans. 2. Surely God’s people would not perish, v. 12 3. Why use such an unrighteous nation to punish a nation more righteous than they? V. 13 4. The prophet says he will be quiet and wait for God’s answer, Chapter 2.1 III) God’s Reply A) You won’t have to wait long. V. 2-3 1. 605 BC Jehioakim rebels, Nebuchadnezzar takes the first Jews captive. 2. Jehoiachin rules and is replace by Zedekiah; by 589 BC Jerusalem is destroyed. B) Fundamental Principle True Throughout the Bible 1. "The just shall live by his faith" v. 4 2. Examples of Abraham, Isaac, Noah, Rahab and others are given in Hebrews and James as people that believed and acted by faith. 3. Three times the is phrase is used in the New Testament a. Romans 1.17 with the emphasis on being just b. Galatians 3.11 with the emphasis on living c. Hebrews 10.38 emphasis on faith 4. We must accept what God says because He is God. 5. We must trust in Him which means to obey Him. C) A general description of and pronouncement of judgment on Babylon 1. They were proud and powerful, v. 5 2. God was not overlooking their sins but also judging them: a. Woe because of their greed and aggression, vv. 5-8 b. Woe because of their effort to build a government through cruelty, vv. 9-11 c. Woe because of their violence and bloodshed, v. 12-14 d. Woe because of their cruel treatment of subjected people, v. 15-17 e. Woe because of their idolatry, v. 18-19 D) Wait and hold your peace, v. 20 1. There are times we have to be patient and let God do His will. a. Abraham had to wait 25 years to have Isaac b. Noah had to wait 120 years for the flood c. The lineage of Abraham would not receive the land of Canaan for 400 years, etc. 2. We have to remember that time does not mean the same thing to God as it does to us. 3. God knows more than we and we have to trust Him. E) Chapter 3 is a psalm written by the prophet 1. Speaks of the might of Jehovah, vv. 3-7 2. Why was all of this happening? The big picture is expressed in v. 13. 3. Things may be bad but God’s will is to be done, v. 17-18 IV) Jesus in Habakkuk, 3.13 A) He is the Lord’s anointed to bring salvation to His people 1. Luke 4.18 to preach the gospel to the poor 2. Acts 10.38 Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power; Acts 10:42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." V) What Happened? A) 606 BC, 2 Kings 24.1-3 Jehoiakim rebels, Nebuchadnezzar takes the 1st captives. B) 598 BC – 2 Kings 24.10,12 Jehoiachin rebels, Nebuchadnezzar takes the second wave of captives. C) 589 BC 0 2 Kings 25.2,9-10 Zedekiah rebels, Jerusalem is under seized and destroyed. D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 01.13.08 |