Rev. David Holwick H
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
February 24, 1991
Habakkuk 3:17-18
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I. Obscurity of Habakkuk.
A. Tract read as a young Christian - meeting Habakkuk in heaven
and not having a clue as to who he is.
B. Maybe you'll never read it, but you'll hear a sermon on it.
II. His important and relevant message.
A. Habakkuk was confused, even irritated, with God.
1) His way of doing things did not make sense.
2) It did not seem just. 1:2-3
3) The Jews of his time were corrupt and God did nothing.
B. God tells him what he will do about it. 1:6
1) The Babylonians (Iraq) will smash Judah.
C. Habakkuk becomes more angry. 1:13
1) His sharp-edged response to God:
"Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those
more righteous than themselves?" 1:13
2) Babylonians were far worse than Jews.
3) Absence of justice was bad; unjust justice is worse.
III. How people get angry with God.
A. Some conclude God isn't a good God after all.
1) Rabbi Harold Kushner has son Aaron who is born with condition
called progeria, "rapid aging", dies at age 14.
a) Why would this happen to son of good, religious man?
b) He is compelled to write a book.
Bestseller: "When Bad Things Happen to Good People."
#1434
2) Spiritual dilemma of suffering, as summarized by Job.
a) God is all-powerful.
b) God is just and fair.
c) Job is a good person.
1> Job's suffering creates a problem.
2> One of above truths must be sacrificed.
3) Rabbi Kushner abandons belief in God being all-powerful.
a) God doesn't send suffering, and he cannot cure it.
b) But God feels our pain with us.
B. Honest look at life leads to hard questions.
1) (More depth on issue tonight)
2) Is rabbi correct?
C. Habakkuk makes no decision on matter, except to wait for God. 2:1
IV. God's answer.
A. His judgment is selective.
1) Those who trust in God will be spared. 2:4
B. His "instruments" of judgment will be judged themselves. 2:16
1) The Babylonians thought they were following their own agenda.
2) They were wrong.
C. God is still in charge. 2:20
1) Even when events seem out of control, God can be trusted.
2) God is the ruler of history.
a) Not everything that happens is good.
b) But God can take everything that happens and turn it
for good.
D. Faith is required on our part. 3:16
1) Sometimes we will see our vindication, sometimes not.
2) God often works in round-about ways. (Babylonians)
V. Habakkuk never got to see the results of his prophecy.
A. Israel kept on sinning and Babylonians came.
1) Only years later did the Babylonians got theirs.
a) (The capital is now a pile of ruins.
Saddam Hussein is parking aircraft nearby.) [Ur]
2) In the end, the Jews came out purer and more dedicated to God.
B. Nevertheless, Habakkuk was at peace with God.
1) Genuine faith doesn't require loose ends to be tied up.
2) Peace even in the midst of trouble. 3:17
3) He was able to rejoice in God. 3:18
C. Do we only believe when it "works"? 3:17-18
D. With salvation, nothing should be able to stop us from rejoicing
in God.
1) We don't thank God for hard times.
2) We thank God that he can bring good out of them.
a) Even if he hasn't done it yet!
E. When God seems distant, he is often the closest.
Poem shared with me by Terri Miears:
I asked God to take away my pride, and God said no.
He said it was not for Him to take away but for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said,
"No, her spirit is already whole. Her body is only temporary."
I asked God to grant me patience, and God said no.
He said that patience is the by-product of tribulation.
It isn't granted; it's earned.
I asked God to give me happiness; God said no.
He said He gives blessing; happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain, and God said no.
He said I must grow on my own, but he will prune me in order
to make me fruitful.
I asked God if he loved me, and God said yes.
He gave me his only Son who died for me, and I will be in
heaven someday because I believe.
I asked God to help me love others as much as he loves me,
and God said,
"Ahhhh, finally! Now you have the idea."
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VI. Do you have this solid faith this morning?
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