WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.040 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.160 For more information about our church or to find more recorded sermons, 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:22.719 please visit us online at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.719 We'd also love to connect with you on social media. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.679 You can find us by searching Lakeside Bible NC on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:37.879 For specific questions about the Bible or our church, please email us at info at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:43.000 Well, I want to invite you to take your Bibles and turn with me to Habakkuk, 00:00:43.099 --> 00:00:46.799 the book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament Minor Prophets. 00:00:47.219 --> 00:00:50.700 It may take you a couple of minutes to get there, so take your time, 00:00:51.099 --> 00:00:54.079 and we will start a brand new study today. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:57.719 It's a brand new study in this book that I think is going to be beneficial to us. 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:02.820 From time to time, people will ask me what my favorite book of the Bible is, 00:01:02.899 --> 00:01:09.679 and almost always my answer to that question is whatever book I happen to be studying 00:01:09.679 --> 00:01:11.920 at the time that I get asked that question. 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:15.599 And this is the same exact case today. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:23.359 I have found in my personal study of the book of Habakkuk over the last couple of weeks 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:27.719 to be a really fruitful time of study. 00:01:27.839 --> 00:01:29.899 It's been actually really fantastic. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:35.299 I've enjoyed myself in it, and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite books of the Bible. 00:01:36.419 --> 00:01:41.359 I don't really know exactly how you're supposed to pronounce the name of this book. 00:01:41.359 --> 00:01:45.219 In fact, if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, 00:01:45.379 --> 00:01:49.359 you probably saw earlier this week that I was trying to get some people to help me out with that. 00:01:49.579 --> 00:01:54.180 What I've come to determine is that if you are from the United States, 00:01:54.180 --> 00:01:56.400 you probably say Habakkuk, 00:01:56.659 --> 00:02:01.760 and if you are from anywhere else, you probably say Habakkuk or Habakkuk. 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:07.239 And if you're Jewish, there's some ways in there that I can't even pronounce anyways, 00:02:07.239 --> 00:02:10.920 at least in a way that wouldn't be embarrassing to me. 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:13.159 But even though I don't really know how to say it, 00:02:13.179 --> 00:02:16.479 you're probably going to hear me say it a few different ways in every sermon. 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:19.699 I really have truly grown to love this book, 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:22.879 and I hope that that will be the case for you as well. 00:02:23.799 --> 00:02:32.619 As you will see, this book of the Bible is actually amazingly relatable to us today. 00:02:32.799 --> 00:02:34.719 In fact, at any point in history, 00:02:35.119 --> 00:02:39.579 this book would have been completely relevant and relatable. 00:02:39.580 --> 00:02:47.380 Have you ever cried out to God about a particular condition that you find yourself in 00:02:47.380 --> 00:02:51.340 or a particular condition that you notice to be prevalent in the culture? 00:02:51.820 --> 00:02:53.900 Maybe the wickedness of our society, 00:02:54.020 --> 00:02:57.260 maybe even the wickedness that can often be found within churches 00:02:57.260 --> 00:03:01.020 has caused you at some point in your walk with Christ 00:03:01.020 --> 00:03:02.780 to cry out to God asking, 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:04.640 why are you allowing this to happen? 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:08.359 Why aren't you doing something about this? 00:03:08.519 --> 00:03:14.119 Why are you bringing this particular thing to my life? 00:03:14.899 --> 00:03:16.859 Sometimes our questions of that, 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:19.139 of why and how long, 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:22.119 will lead us to question God's love. 00:03:22.239 --> 00:03:25.819 Sometimes it will lead us to question God's existence. 00:03:26.179 --> 00:03:27.759 And the truth of the matter is, 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:29.500 there's not a person, 00:03:29.659 --> 00:03:31.039 not a believer at least, 00:03:31.039 --> 00:03:34.639 that will go through their life without at some point 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:37.739 being confronted with those questions. 00:03:38.099 --> 00:03:41.280 As we come to understand the Lord more, 00:03:41.419 --> 00:03:43.959 and as we understand the scriptures more, 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:47.599 and we understand his control and his sovereignty, 00:03:48.239 --> 00:03:50.979 that really can be perplexing 00:03:50.979 --> 00:03:53.340 as to why he would allow sin, 00:03:53.780 --> 00:03:55.659 why he would allow destruction, 00:03:55.659 --> 00:03:57.960 why he would bring things to pass 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:01.599 and seemingly be absent in judgment 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:05.219 or absent in intervening in times 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:08.280 that we really cry out for his help. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:11.039 Well, you're not alone in those questions. 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:14.539 Habakkuk asks those same questions 00:04:14.539 --> 00:04:16.240 as we'll study over the next few weeks. 00:04:16.420 --> 00:04:19.579 And in the case of Habakkuk's book, 00:04:20.180 --> 00:04:24.980 God's answers actually led to more perplexity for him. 00:04:25.660 --> 00:04:28.060 But ultimately, as we see, 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:30.759 he came to understand that God is always right 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:34.879 and that he must be trusted by us. 00:04:35.220 --> 00:04:37.259 Let's just read the first verse of the book, would you? 00:04:37.520 --> 00:04:39.120 Habakkuk chapter one and verse number one. 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:40.340 It just simply says, 00:04:40.740 --> 00:04:43.680 the burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 00:04:43.960 --> 00:04:46.660 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 00:04:46.840 --> 00:04:48.900 Now, to understand the context of the book, 00:04:48.900 --> 00:04:50.460 I wanna just divide this verse up 00:04:50.460 --> 00:04:51.740 into three different categories, 00:04:52.220 --> 00:04:53.819 and we're gonna use that to explore 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:58.599 what the Bible says was the context of Judah 00:04:58.599 --> 00:04:59.699 during this time. 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:01.360 And the first thing that we look at 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:03.120 is this phrase, the burden, 00:05:03.599 --> 00:05:05.899 or the burden in verse number one. 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:08.360 Now, the use of the term burden 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:11.959 in the Old Testament prophetical books is common. 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:15.600 Sometimes it's rendered as oracle, 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:21.500 and the term really refers to a specific revelation from God 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:25.860 that is given through his chosen servant. 00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:31.180 Now, these chosen servants are what we refer to as prophets. 00:05:31.660 --> 00:05:33.060 And we don't call them prophets 00:05:33.060 --> 00:05:36.320 because they had some kind of special power 00:05:36.320 --> 00:05:37.879 to protect the future, 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:40.760 but because they were responsible 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:44.019 for delivering the message of God 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:46.579 in regards to a future occurrence. 00:05:47.139 --> 00:05:49.639 These people, these servants of God, 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:52.060 were not fortune tellers. 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:54.639 They were preachers. 00:05:54.779 --> 00:05:58.120 They were proclaimers of God's message 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:01.939 in regards to the future fulfillment of his covenant. 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:04.120 That would be a positive burden, 00:06:04.219 --> 00:06:05.339 a positive prophecy. 00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:09.439 Or it was in relation to the demonstration 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.399 of God's wrath against sin. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:14.799 And that would be a negative burden. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:18.439 Well, here in the case of Habakkuk, 00:06:18.779 --> 00:06:22.639 the message is one of judgment against Judah 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:27.579 for their continual idolatry and rebellion towards God. 00:06:28.019 --> 00:06:30.839 But our modern understanding of the word burden 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:32.879 is not to be dismissed, 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:35.899 for there truly does exist 00:06:35.899 --> 00:06:38.659 a heavy weight of responsibility 00:06:38.659 --> 00:06:42.920 in the heart and mind of God's messenger. 00:06:43.839 --> 00:06:45.659 This message from God is seen 00:06:45.659 --> 00:06:49.779 as a legitimate burden to Habakkuk in two ways. 00:06:49.939 --> 00:06:51.100 The first one is this, 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:55.279 that he was burdened by the wickedness of Judah 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:58.659 in the seeming absence of God's judgment. 00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:00.860 So when it refers to this prophecy 00:07:00.860 --> 00:07:02.560 as the burden of Habakkuk, 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:06.060 we see first that it was because of a burden in his heart 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:07.899 when he stopped and he considered 00:07:07.899 --> 00:07:10.579 the sinful condition of the nation. 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:14.060 Now, in the case of Habakkuk, 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:17.759 God chose to introduce his message of judgment 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:21.579 through the real burden of the prophet's heart. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:25.240 Now, the context of God's words in this book 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:28.160 is set within a specific dialogue 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:33.680 that actually began with Habakkuk crying out to God. 00:07:34.380 --> 00:07:39.740 So burdened was Habakkuk about the rampant wickedness of Judah 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:45.120 that he continually cried out to God in prayer because of it. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:47.800 So this cry of his righteous heart 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:50.740 led to God providing an answer 00:07:50.740 --> 00:07:54.600 that Habakkuk was commanded to proclaim to the people. 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:57.879 So since the prophecy itself was initiated 00:07:57.879 --> 00:07:59.620 by the prayer of the man, 00:07:59.960 --> 00:08:01.920 it is appropriate for the narrative 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:04.140 to be introduced as his burden. 00:08:04.600 --> 00:08:08.460 As in other prophecies are set opposite of this 00:08:08.460 --> 00:08:11.320 where God comes to a chosen servant 00:08:11.320 --> 00:08:14.460 irregardless of his prayer or his condition 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:19.799 and he calls out to them in seeming obscurity 00:08:19.799 --> 00:08:21.299 and he just says, 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:23.839 hey, I've got a message, I need you to proclaim it. 00:08:24.359 --> 00:08:27.060 In the case of Habakkuk, it didn't happen that way. 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:29.259 God didn't just appear to Habakkuk and say, 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:31.399 hey, I want you to proclaim this message of judgment. 00:08:31.659 --> 00:08:36.240 He actually introduces his message 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:38.779 because of Habakkuk's prayer. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:42.579 And Habakkuk comes to prayer day by day 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:44.360 for how long, we don't know. 00:08:44.420 --> 00:08:46.060 It was probably for a pretty long time. 00:08:46.180 --> 00:08:47.639 And he cries out to God, 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:50.060 why are you allowing this to happen? 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:52.920 Why are you allowing this sin to continue? 00:08:53.400 --> 00:08:55.500 Why aren't you doing something 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.580 about the wickedness of the nation? 00:08:57.780 --> 00:09:01.460 And it was because of Habakkuk's burden in his heart 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:04.340 that God responded with a message 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:06.980 that he actually ended up having Habakkuk 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:08.740 proclaim to the people. 00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:13.680 Now this reveals to us the very nature of Habakkuk's heart. 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:15.879 He was a holy man. 00:09:16.779 --> 00:09:18.440 And we know that he was a holy man 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:21.180 because he recognized the sin. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:24.779 And it's not only that he recognized the sin, 00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:27.519 but that he was burdened by the sin. 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:30.379 It wasn't that he was okay or dismissive 00:09:30.379 --> 00:09:31.580 of what was going on. 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:33.639 It bothered him that the nation 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:35.460 had turned their backs on God once again. 00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:38.920 It bothered him that they were worshiping false gods. 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:42.019 It irritated him that nothing was happening 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:45.460 in regards to the wicked leadership of the nation. 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:47.920 And the truth is, this is the same burden 00:09:47.920 --> 00:09:49.060 that we're supposed to carry. 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:52.120 But many of us don't carry this burden 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:55.000 because we've become so desensitized 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:56.620 to the sin around us 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.379 that it no longer bothers us 00:09:58.379 --> 00:10:00.340 to see the wickedness in our own lives. 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:02.680 It doesn't bother us to see the wickedness in our homes. 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:04.500 It doesn't bother us to see the wickedness 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:05.480 sometimes in our churches. 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:08.360 It doesn't bother us to see the wickedness in our nation. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:10.200 We've become desensitized to it. 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:12.080 We've become okay with it. 00:10:12.580 --> 00:10:14.080 We see that it's there, 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:16.240 but it doesn't bother us all the time. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:18.360 This was different for Habakkuk. 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:20.559 It irritated his heart. 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:22.740 He was holy before the Lord. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:25.000 And so he carried with him this burden 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:27.220 over the condition of the nation. 00:10:27.419 --> 00:10:28.700 And because of this burden, 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:29.919 he cried out to the Lord. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:31.820 And because he cried out to the Lord, 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:33.720 the Lord ended up using him 00:10:33.720 --> 00:10:35.680 as his chosen servant 00:10:35.680 --> 00:10:38.400 in this pronunciation of judgment. 00:10:39.140 --> 00:10:40.720 So we see that it's a burden for that reason. 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:41.440 Secondly, 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.900 the nature of judgment 00:10:43.900 --> 00:10:46.280 in God's message through Habakkuk 00:10:46.280 --> 00:10:48.860 means that the actual delivery 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:50.760 of the prophecy itself 00:10:50.760 --> 00:10:53.040 would have been a tremendous burden. 00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:58.000 No one minds being the bearer of good news. 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.340 We get excited to go and tell people good things. 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:03.879 One of the things that I love about Ashlyn 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.120 is she loves, 00:11:05.300 --> 00:11:06.240 she wants to be the one 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:07.399 to tell everybody everything. 00:11:07.800 --> 00:11:09.580 And if there's something dramatic taking place, 00:11:09.660 --> 00:11:11.080 she wants to be the one that tells you. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.740 If there's something super exciting 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:13.540 that's taking place, 00:11:13.660 --> 00:11:14.120 especially, 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.860 she will run through the house 00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:17.259 to beat everybody else 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:18.320 for the opportunity 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.040 to let me know what has happened. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:22.320 Nobody minds being the bearer 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:24.139 of good news or exciting news. 00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:26.960 But very few people 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:29.019 have the fortitude 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:31.559 to actually be the messengers 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:33.819 of bad news. 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:36.019 Not only is it a burden 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:38.379 to bring devastating news 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:39.240 to another person, 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:41.779 but the wicked people of Israel 00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:42.759 were not known 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:44.939 for receiving God's prophets 00:11:44.939 --> 00:11:47.960 with submission and kindness. 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:50.500 They often murdered those 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:52.040 that God sent 00:11:52.040 --> 00:11:53.320 to deliver his message. 00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:56.680 And Habakkuk would have certainly been aware 00:11:56.680 --> 00:11:58.220 of the history of the nation 00:11:58.220 --> 00:11:59.840 and how they treated God's chosen, 00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:01.500 especially as it related 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:03.720 to announcements of judgment. 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.720 So being the bearer 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:06.860 of this news of judgment 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:08.280 would have carried with it 00:12:08.280 --> 00:12:10.220 a significant burden 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:11.519 for the prophet. 00:12:11.820 --> 00:12:12.720 This wasn't something 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:14.340 he would have been pleased in. 00:12:14.400 --> 00:12:15.639 It wouldn't have come easy 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:17.340 for him to actually go to the nation 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:18.899 and maybe even to the leadership 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:19.539 of the nation 00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:20.399 and say, 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:21.720 because of your sin, 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.159 this is the judgment 00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:26.220 that God is going to bring your way. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:27.919 It's no different 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:30.860 to the task that we have, 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:33.000 the burden even that we have 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:34.819 of sharing the gospel 00:12:34.819 --> 00:12:36.439 with people today. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:38.659 Now the gospel is good news. 00:12:38.779 --> 00:12:40.220 The word itself means that. 00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:41.620 It means good news. 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:43.399 But the gospel, 00:12:43.819 --> 00:12:44.939 while being good news, 00:12:44.940 --> 00:12:46.420 actually begins 00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:48.220 with very bad news. 00:12:49.260 --> 00:12:51.520 Before you can proclaim 00:12:51.520 --> 00:12:53.960 the gospel truth of salvation 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:55.460 and the love of God 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:56.960 and the gracious mercy 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.560 and forgiveness 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:58.300 that he offers 00:12:58.300 --> 00:13:00.280 to those who will believe in him, 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:01.400 you have to begin 00:13:01.400 --> 00:13:02.300 with the reality 00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:03.560 of our sinful condition. 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:06.280 The fact that none of us are good. 00:13:06.940 --> 00:13:08.640 None of us are good enough for God. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.620 All of us in our current condition 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:13.200 stand condemned. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.320 No one likes to be told 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.440 that they're wrong 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.500 and that there's nothing 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.400 they can do about it. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.560 No one likes to be told 00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:22.379 that they will be excluded 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.379 from a blessing 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.840 because of the nature 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:26.360 of their heart. 00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:28.100 And so as we go 00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:29.540 and we carry the burden 00:13:29.540 --> 00:13:30.480 of the gospel, 00:13:30.620 --> 00:13:32.100 we carry that with the excitement 00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:33.259 of God's love, 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:34.400 but we also carry it 00:13:34.400 --> 00:13:35.480 with the burden 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.960 of sharing the bad news 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.540 with people, 00:13:37.780 --> 00:13:39.540 the message of judgment. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:41.500 Because the good news 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.039 of the gospel 00:13:42.039 --> 00:13:42.919 actually begins 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.639 with just that, 00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:44.620 a message of judgment. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.799 And the world will not only 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:48.219 reject the message, 00:13:48.719 --> 00:13:50.620 but they often will reject 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:51.980 the messenger. 00:13:52.939 --> 00:13:54.500 But we are called 00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:56.539 to bear this burden. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.179 Just as Habakkuk was called 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:00.079 to bear the burden 00:14:00.079 --> 00:14:01.959 of this prophetic judgment, 00:14:02.439 --> 00:14:03.519 we as Christians, 00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:04.419 every one of us, 00:14:04.419 --> 00:14:05.939 we are called 00:14:05.939 --> 00:14:07.839 to carry and bear 00:14:07.839 --> 00:14:08.899 the burden 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:10.120 of the gospel. 00:14:10.339 --> 00:14:11.599 While it is good news, 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:12.839 it is also a message 00:14:12.839 --> 00:14:13.519 of judgment. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.719 And we must be willing 00:14:14.719 --> 00:14:15.679 to proclaim 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:17.439 that message. 00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:20.099 Now this specific prophecy 00:14:20.099 --> 00:14:20.699 is dated 00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:22.439 somewhere around 00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:23.479 600 BC. 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:25.839 And the historical references 00:14:25.839 --> 00:14:26.879 within the book 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:27.360 indicate 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:30.240 that the Assyrian empire 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.159 that had taken 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:32.139 the northern kingdom 00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:33.419 of Israel captive 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:35.539 was now fading 00:14:35.539 --> 00:14:36.419 out of view 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:38.199 as this new 00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:39.919 powerful regime 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:41.620 of the Babylonian empire 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.819 or the Chaldeans 00:14:42.819 --> 00:14:44.379 was becoming 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:46.199 the reigning world power. 00:14:47.099 --> 00:14:48.479 Now this regime 00:14:48.479 --> 00:14:49.379 had not yet 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.339 reached Judah 00:14:50.339 --> 00:14:52.579 and that's what 00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:53.459 we actually see 00:14:53.459 --> 00:14:54.299 as a major part 00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:55.099 of this prophecy. 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:56.479 That as a part 00:14:56.479 --> 00:14:57.240 of God's judgment 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.659 or as God's judgment, 00:14:59.019 --> 00:14:59.659 He was actually 00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:00.319 going to eventually 00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:01.699 allow the Babylonians 00:15:01.699 --> 00:15:02.399 to make their way 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:02.879 to Judah 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:05.139 and take them captive. 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.360 But let's make 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:07.240 a few notes 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.480 about the condition 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:08.960 of Judah 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:10.200 that actually led 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.860 to Habakkuk 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.779 having this burden. 00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:15.939 Now 2 Chronicles 00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:16.779 chapter 35 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:18.039 tells us that 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:19.939 about the time 00:15:19.939 --> 00:15:21.360 that Habakkuk 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.659 was writing this 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:25.240 was just a few years 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.159 at most 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:28.500 after King Josiah, 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.440 what we would refer to 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:30.740 often as the boy king. 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.779 it was just 00:15:31.779 --> 00:15:33.740 after he had died. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.379 Now King Josiah 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:36.320 was a godly king 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:36.680 and we're going to 00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:37.320 come back to that 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:38.259 in just a few minutes 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.639 but 2 Chronicles 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.440 chapter 35 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:41.519 actually tells us 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.820 that at the end 00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.320 of his life 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:45.180 he made an unwise 00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:45.799 decision 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:47.680 by going to 00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:49.139 fight against 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:50.019 Pharaoh Necho 00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:51.320 when he was actually 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:52.320 trying to fight 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.220 against the Assyrians. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.120 God had actually 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:54.799 sent a message 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:56.200 through the Egyptians 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:58.200 that Josiah 00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:59.000 and Judah 00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.980 needed to go back home 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.540 they didn't need 00:16:00.540 --> 00:16:01.420 to be involved 00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:02.000 with this 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.440 but he didn't listen 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.240 and he ended up 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.280 dying on the battlefield. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:06.500 You can read about that 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.460 in 2 Chronicles 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:08.220 chapter 35 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:09.300 but after 00:16:09.300 --> 00:16:10.200 the death 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:10.980 of Josiah 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:12.000 we see that 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:12.700 one of his sons 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:13.660 that became known 00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:15.020 as Jehoiakim 00:16:15.020 --> 00:16:17.140 led the nation 00:16:17.140 --> 00:16:17.980 back 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.820 to idolatry 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:21.480 and the sinful 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.560 atrocities 00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.900 that always 00:16:23.900 --> 00:16:24.500 accompanied 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.639 such pagan worship. 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:26.919 Now there's 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:27.860 two passages 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.980 in the Old Testament 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:30.200 historical books 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:31.759 that record 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.440 the nature 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:34.879 of Jehoiakim's 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.720 11 year reign. 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:38.899 Both accounts 00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:40.159 only provide 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:41.240 one substantive 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:41.960 verse 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:43.840 that tells us 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.559 anything about 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:45.320 what the nature 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:46.639 of Judah 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:47.379 was during 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.860 his kingship 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:51.220 and both times 00:16:51.220 --> 00:16:52.519 all the writers 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:53.700 felt was necessary 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:54.379 to communicate 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.540 was one simple 00:16:55.540 --> 00:16:56.080 sentence 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:57.840 that Jehoiakim 00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.620 did that 00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.520 which was evil 00:16:59.520 --> 00:17:00.840 in the sight 00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:02.240 of the Lord. 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:03.780 2 Chronicles 00:17:03.780 --> 00:17:04.620 chapter 36 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:05.400 and verse 5 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.259 Jehoiakim 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:07.420 was 25 years old 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:07.900 when he began 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:08.340 to reign 00:17:08.340 --> 00:17:09.120 he reigned 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:09.880 11 years 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.620 in Jerusalem 00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:11.480 and he did 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.660 that which was evil 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.580 in the sight 00:17:13.580 --> 00:17:14.059 of the Lord. 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.200 2 Kings 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.000 chapter 23 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.900 and verse 37 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:17.759 and he did 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.900 that which was evil 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:19.900 in the sight 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:20.960 of the Lord 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.680 according to all 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.360 that his fathers 00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:24.039 had done. 00:17:24.820 --> 00:17:26.039 So wicked 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:28.420 was Jehoiakim's reign 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.380 that an entire 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.820 11 year span 00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:31.480 of history 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.279 that ultimately 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.500 led to the 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:35.080 captivity of Judah 00:17:35.080 --> 00:17:36.320 for 70 years 00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:37.019 in Babylon 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.420 all that the writers 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.400 felt was necessary 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:39.920 to say 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.920 was that everything 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:41.740 he did 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.840 was evil 00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:43.860 in the sight 00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:44.320 of the Lord. 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:46.100 There was nothing 00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:46.640 righteous 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.880 about this king 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.580 at all. 00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:49.620 He had abandoned 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.219 the ways 00:17:50.219 --> 00:17:50.919 of his father 00:17:50.919 --> 00:17:51.439 Josiah 00:17:51.439 --> 00:17:52.359 he had abandoned 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:52.819 the ways 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:53.539 of the godly 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.219 kings of Judah 00:17:54.219 --> 00:17:54.839 and he had 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.799 followed in the 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.539 path of the 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:57.219 northern kingdom 00:17:57.219 --> 00:17:57.739 of Israel 00:17:57.739 --> 00:17:58.459 and he had 00:17:58.459 --> 00:17:59.619 re-established 00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:00.779 pagan worship 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:02.019 and all of the 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.739 atrocities 00:18:02.739 --> 00:18:03.779 and moral decay 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.899 that came along 00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:05.339 with that. 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.899 So when Habakkuk 00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:07.599 is writing 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.299 and he's crying 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:08.879 out to God 00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:09.339 in the beginning 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:09.959 of this book 00:18:09.959 --> 00:18:10.939 the context 00:18:10.939 --> 00:18:11.479 with which he 00:18:11.479 --> 00:18:11.979 is writing 00:18:11.979 --> 00:18:12.799 is one of 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:14.299 great wickedness 00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:15.259 and devastation 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.699 an entire nation 00:18:16.699 --> 00:18:17.319 seemingly 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.480 turning their 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:18.980 back 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:19.939 on the god 00:18:19.939 --> 00:18:20.359 that had 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.200 chosen them 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.200 and saved 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.539 them 00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.379 and provided 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:23.819 for them 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.799 time and 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.519 time and 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.700 time again. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.099 Now it was 00:18:28.099 --> 00:18:28.619 nothing but 00:18:28.619 --> 00:18:29.220 wickedness 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.000 with a wicked 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.419 ruler 00:18:30.419 --> 00:18:31.439 and Habakkuk 00:18:31.439 --> 00:18:31.899 could not 00:18:31.899 --> 00:18:32.579 figure out 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:33.740 why god 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.439 was allowing 00:18:34.439 --> 00:18:35.379 this to 00:18:35.379 --> 00:18:36.179 take place. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:37.519 Jeremiah 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.339 chapter 22 00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:39.799 tells us 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.519 a little bit 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.460 more about 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.299 Jehoiakim 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:42.939 and it 00:18:42.939 --> 00:18:43.700 pronounces a 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:44.619 specific judgment 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.379 that was delivered 00:18:45.379 --> 00:18:46.500 to him as well. 00:18:46.500 --> 00:18:47.200 You can read 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:47.619 about it on 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:47.980 your own 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.400 in Jeremiah 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.039 22. 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.019 This was a 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.660 wicked man 00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.500 and he had 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.000 led the 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:53.279 entire nation 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.019 into this 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:55.599 vile wickedness 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:56.279 and God 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:56.900 was about 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.619 to pour out 00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.799 an unbelievable 00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.740 judgment 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:01.579 on this 00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:02.220 nation. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.740 But before 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.559 Habakkuk 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.240 understood 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:05.960 the judgment 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.559 that was to 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:06.980 come 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:08.339 he cries 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:08.880 out to the 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:09.240 Lord 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:10.359 so why 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.819 why are you 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:12.420 allowing this 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:12.900 to happen? 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:14.319 Why are you 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.000 allowing this 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.980 to go seemingly 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:18.079 unjudged 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.240 and unhindered? 00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.180 And so we 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:20.960 see the 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.759 burden here. 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:22.259 The second 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.660 thing that we 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.240 notice in 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:23.680 this verse 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:23.940 that's going 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:24.380 to help us 00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.519 understand a 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:25.880 little bit of 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:26.380 the context 00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:27.539 of this book 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.220 is this 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.980 second phrase 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.620 and that is 00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:30.360 the burden 00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:31.940 which Habakkuk 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.660 the prophet 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:33.799 Habakkuk 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.759 the prophet 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.860 the truth 00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.460 is that we 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.400 really have 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.259 no idea 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.200 who this 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.819 man is. 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.160 We don't know 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:41.799 anything about 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.960 him except 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:43.900 for what we 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:44.519 can deduce 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.079 from our 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:45.539 study of 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:45.819 the book 00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:46.220 itself. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:46.799 We have 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.279 no idea 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.460 who Habakkuk 00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:49.079 is. 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:49.740 No other 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.379 portions of 00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.099 scripture mention 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:51.440 him. 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.839 We can only 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.420 deduce his 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:54.240 identity based 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.779 on what is 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.299 revealed to 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.259 us in 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:57.579 his book. 00:19:58.139 --> 00:19:58.799 But this 00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.259 is not 00:19:59.259 --> 00:19:59.900 uncommon 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.900 with the 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:01.619 minor prophets 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.700 neither is 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.680 it incidental. 00:20:04.859 --> 00:20:05.119 Owen 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.680 Robertson 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:06.279 said this 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:07.420 like Elijah 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:08.379 as well as 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:08.799 John the 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.319 Baptist 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.440 Habakkuk 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.400 appeared as 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.120 a voice 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:13.200 and nothing 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.640 more. 00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:15.080 He must 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:15.840 be heard 00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:16.660 because he 00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.100 was the 00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:17.860 bearer of 00:20:17.860 --> 00:20:18.220 God's 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:18.920 message 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:20.480 not because 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:20.940 of what 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.680 he was 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:22.940 in himself. 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:24.360 And I find 00:20:24.360 --> 00:20:24.780 that to be 00:20:24.780 --> 00:20:25.500 very helpful. 00:20:26.580 --> 00:20:27.519 Our tendency 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:29.100 is to focus 00:20:29.100 --> 00:20:29.580 on an 00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:30.060 individual 00:20:30.060 --> 00:20:30.600 for their 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.300 personality 00:20:31.300 --> 00:20:32.860 and accomplishments 00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:34.400 rather than 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:35.160 the substance 00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.000 of what they 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.060 say and the 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:37.940 character that 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.960 they portray 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.319 in their 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:39.900 actions. 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.640 Even as 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:42.240 Christians 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.860 we can be 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:44.680 guilty of 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.600 sacrificing 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:46.960 sound theology 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.980 for the 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.460 charismatic 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.799 personality of 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.319 a particular 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:50.740 leader. 00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:52.279 We can also 00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.180 be guilty of 00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:53.900 choosing to 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.519 covenant with 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.000 a church 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.019 not on the 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:56.799 basis of the 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.440 message that 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:57.960 they preach 00:20:57.960 --> 00:20:58.660 but on the 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.440 basis of the 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:00.519 programs that 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.039 they offer. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.220 We can very 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.319 much be shallow 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.380 people in 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:05.180 general but even 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:05.900 Christians can 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.680 fall guilty to 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:07.000 this. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.220 And so God 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.779 doesn't reveal 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.420 to us much 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:10.799 about Habakkuk 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.399 seemingly so 00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:12.960 that we don't 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.859 become so 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:14.940 immersed in the 00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:16.019 person of the 00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.859 prophet that we 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:18.039 miss the message 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.079 that he was 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.180 tasked with 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:20.799 delivering. 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.639 God has never 00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:23.359 been interested 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.700 in the praise 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.160 of men. 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:27.399 We do not 00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:28.119 heed the 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.799 message of 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.500 Habakkuk's 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:30.720 burden because 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.740 of the credentials 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.779 that he bears 00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:34.399 but because it 00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:35.339 is the message 00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:36.639 of the almighty 00:21:36.639 --> 00:21:37.200 God. 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:38.039 Again, 00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:38.960 we don't 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.960 listen to the 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:40.519 words of this 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:42.180 book because of 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:42.799 the credentials 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.819 of Habakkuk 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:45.000 but because it 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:45.960 is the message 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:48.099 of God. 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:48.920 And the same 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.440 should be the 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:49.960 case with our 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.319 church. 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:51.960 Not that you 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.259 would be 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:52.759 particularly 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:53.500 enamored with 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.019 me in any 00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:55.339 way but you 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:55.980 are never to 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.619 listen to the 00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:57.759 message because 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.319 of me. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:59.539 You are to 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.180 listen to the 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:00.940 message because 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.559 it is the 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.579 word of God. 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.180 And if there 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:03.879 comes a time 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.899 that I cease to 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.740 preach the word 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.259 of God and 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.039 rely more on 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.160 personality and 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:09.279 rely more on 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.140 preaching of my 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.819 own preferences 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.319 and my own 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.559 opinions, that's 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.140 the moment that 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:13.920 as a church, it 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:14.319 is your 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.640 responsibility to 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.720 confront me, not 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.120 capitulate to the 00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:19.059 personality or to 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.720 the offerings or 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.519 accomplishments that 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.200 may come along the 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:21.380 way. 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.519 We must not 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.220 listen to the 00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:23.539 man. 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.859 We must listen to 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:25.640 the message that 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:27.799 comes from God. 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:30.200 Well, if the 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.139 culture of Judah 00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:33.099 during the life of 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.819 Habakkuk was so 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:36.079 pervasively wicked, 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.940 how is it that he 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:40.159 had developed such 00:22:40.159 --> 00:22:42.079 a hatred for sin 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:43.659 and burden for the 00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:44.039 nation? 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.599 What was it that 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:48.099 kept Habakkuk from 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:49.240 following the same 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:51.039 wicked patterns as 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.779 the rest of the 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.159 nation? 00:22:53.159 --> 00:22:54.639 Now, obviously, a 00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:55.200 big part of that 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.519 answer is that it 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.159 was the work of 00:22:57.160 --> 00:22:57.980 God in his life, 00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:59.720 but I believe that 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:01.080 the means of God's 00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:03.540 work in Habakkuk is 00:23:03.540 --> 00:23:04.240 seen in his 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.920 upbringing. 00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.180 Now, while we 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:08.600 don't know his age 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.360 at the time of the 00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:10.279 writing, we can 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.960 determine through our 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:12.620 study of the book 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.500 that he was probably 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.800 an adult, maybe 00:23:14.800 --> 00:23:15.620 even a mature 00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:18.120 adult at the time 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.720 that he wrote. 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.740 Now, because the 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.980 reign of Jehoiakim 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.920 was so short, it 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.080 was only 11 years, 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:27.140 we can deduce that 00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.400 Habakkuk was raised 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:30.360 predominantly during 00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:31.360 the reign of the 00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:33.060 godly king, Josiah. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.660 Now, I've already 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:36.320 mentioned the events 00:23:36.320 --> 00:23:37.220 surrounding the death 00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.460 of Josiah, but in 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.460 this moment, it's 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.320 helpful for us to 00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:41.500 understand the nature 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:43.580 of his reign as it 00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:44.420 relates to the heart 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:45.259 of Habakkuk. 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.160 Now, if there's 00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.060 nothing else that you 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:48.780 get in this more 00:23:48.780 --> 00:23:49.940 informational study 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.740 setting up the book 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.820 as we study it 00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.340 together over the 00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:53.380 next few weeks, I 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:53.920 want you to pay 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.600 attention to this 00:23:54.600 --> 00:23:54.940 part. 00:23:55.560 --> 00:23:56.539 This part matters 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:59.140 so much, not only 00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:00.019 to our understanding 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.960 of Habakkuk as an 00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:03.200 individual, but how 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.660 we can develop this 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.779 same burden for 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:07.180 sinfulness in our 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.960 own lives. 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:10.220 Now, often referred to 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.580 as the boy king, 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.300 Josiah ascended to 00:24:14.300 --> 00:24:15.019 the throne when he 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:16.220 was only eight years 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:16.640 old. 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.420 And by the time he 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:20.120 was 16, he was 00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:21.480 leading a nationwide 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:23.860 reform that involved 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:25.120 the utter destruction 00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:27.460 of Judah's pagan 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:29.579 worship and idols. 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:32.299 And 2 Chronicles 34 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:34.279 explains how this 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:36.740 reform was being led 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.920 by Josiah in the 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.140 early years of his 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.339 reign. 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:40.200 In fact, I want you 00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.059 to turn there in your 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.360 Bibles. 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:41.960 Would you do that? 00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.680 Flip over to 2 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:45.640 Chronicles 34. 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:46.819 I want you to see 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.059 this. 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:47.559 I'm not going to put 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.079 it on the screen 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.420 this time. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.059 I actually want you 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.680 to see this in your 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:49.980 Bibles. 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:52.220 So 2 Chronicles 34. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.519 And then just stay 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.200 there for a little bit 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:54.860 because we're going to 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:56.120 stay in that area of 00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:57.099 the Scriptures. 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:59.240 2 Chronicles 34, 00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:01.500 verses 3-7 record for 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:02.819 us the nature of this 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.140 reform in the early 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:06.059 years of Josiah's 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.319 reign. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:07.900 Look at verse number 00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.200 3. 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.460 For in the eighth year 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.460 of his reign, while 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.640 he was yet young, he 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:12.360 was only 16, 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:15.319 Josiah began to seek 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.420 after the God of 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:17.460 David, his father. 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:19.559 And in the twelfth year, 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.360 he began to purge 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:23.279 Judah and Jerusalem 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:25.120 from the high places 00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:26.740 and the groves and the 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.980 carved images and the 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.600 molten images. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:30.579 And they break down the 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.980 altars of Balaam in his 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:33.240 presence, and the images 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:34.380 that were on the high 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:36.400 above them, he cut down. 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:38.220 And the groves and the 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.460 carved images and the 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:41.240 molten images, he break in 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:43.079 pieces and made dust of 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.940 them and threw them upon 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:46.120 the graves of them that had 00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:47.319 sacrificed unto them. 00:25:47.959 --> 00:25:49.439 And he burnt the bones of 00:25:49.439 --> 00:25:50.419 the priest upon the 00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:52.239 altars and cleansed Judah 00:25:52.239 --> 00:25:53.059 and Jerusalem. 00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:54.799 And so did he in the 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:56.419 cities of Manasseh and 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:58.739 Ephraim and Simeon, even 00:25:58.739 --> 00:26:00.619 unto Naphtali, which 00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.759 their maddox round about. 00:26:02.699 --> 00:26:03.619 And when he had broken 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.699 down the altars and the 00:26:04.699 --> 00:26:05.819 groves and had beaten the 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:07.359 graven images into powder 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:09.399 and cut down all the idols 00:26:09.399 --> 00:26:10.579 throughout all the land of 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:12.719 Israel, he returned to 00:26:12.719 --> 00:26:13.899 Jerusalem. 00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.019 Jerusalem. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:16.440 Now, between the ages of 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:20.660 16 and 20, Josiah brought 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:22.080 this incredible reform. 00:26:22.280 --> 00:26:24.060 But at this point, it's only 00:26:24.060 --> 00:26:24.680 reform. 00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.680 He's going through the 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.820 nation, he's going through 00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:29.660 Judah, and he's breaking 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:31.220 down the idols, he's trying 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:32.780 to turn the hearts of the 00:26:32.780 --> 00:26:35.180 nation back to the God of 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:35.519 David. 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.980 He's really just bringing 00:26:36.980 --> 00:26:40.060 more of a religious reform, 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.500 and he's bringing a 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.920 governmental reform and a 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.039 civil reform. 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:45.640 It is all with the right 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.099 motivation. 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.279 He's following after the 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.579 God of David, but it's 00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.559 really nothing more than 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.980 reform at this point. 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.940 Now, something significant 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:55.059 happens in the 18th year 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:56.359 of Josiah's reign. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:58.519 When he's about 26 years 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:00.900 old now, he had initiated 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:03.500 the building project to fix 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.859 the temple of God that had 00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:06.339 fallen into disrepair. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.640 And in the process of this 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:10.780 renovation, when he's 26 years 00:27:10.780 --> 00:27:14.600 old, someone finds hidden in 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:16.920 the temple a copy of the 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:20.320 scriptures of the Bible that 00:27:20.320 --> 00:27:22.520 had been forsaken for so long 00:27:22.520 --> 00:27:23.540 in Judah. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.720 Now, it's unbelievable to think 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:28.000 that, that for years and years, 00:27:28.060 --> 00:27:29.020 and even throughout this 00:27:29.020 --> 00:27:31.940 reform, Josiah had not yet dug 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:33.420 himself into the scriptures. 00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:35.259 He was basing everything up to 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:37.100 that point, as far as we can 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:38.740 gather, off of the tradition 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:40.279 that had been passed down, at 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:42.199 least from the godly kings and 00:27:42.199 --> 00:27:43.559 what he knew of David and what 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:45.159 he knew of David's reign. 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.519 But for the first time, when 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:48.639 he's 26 years old, they find 00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:50.439 the book, they find the 00:27:50.439 --> 00:27:50.879 scriptures. 00:27:51.419 --> 00:27:53.419 And after reading the Bible, 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:56.759 Josiah led a second wave of 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:59.599 revival that swept across the 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.000 land. 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:02.039 For the first few years, it was 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.779 just reform. 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:04.319 It was good reform, but it was 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:04.740 reform. 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:06.639 Now that he has been confronted 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.740 with the truth of the 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:09.660 scripture, he is leading this 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:11.880 wave in this season of 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:13.820 revival in the land. 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:16.880 And 2 Kings chapter 23 helps 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:19.240 us grasp the significance of 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.820 this revival. 00:28:20.060 --> 00:28:21.080 I want you to turn there now. 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:22.920 Just flip a few pages back from 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:24.440 where you are in 2 Chronicles 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:26.120 34, and I want you to look 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:28.860 with me at 2 Kings chapter 23. 00:28:29.800 --> 00:28:30.940 And the first thing we see here 00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:32.700 is Josiah reading the 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:34.300 scriptures, not just to 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:36.099 himself, but he's reading it to 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.980 the nation. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.419 Look with me at verse number 00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:39.319 1. 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:41.299 And the king sent, and they 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.759 gathered unto him all the 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.460 elders of Judah and of 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.919 Jerusalem. 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:47.220 And the king went up into the 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:49.079 house of the Lord, and all the 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.279 men of Judah, and all the 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.740 inhabitants of Jerusalem with 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:53.139 him, and the priests and the 00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:54.460 prophets, and all the people, 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:56.180 both small and great. 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.379 He's gathered everybody 00:28:57.379 --> 00:28:59.079 together to preach the word, 00:28:59.159 --> 00:28:59.759 is what he's doing. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.259 Now look at the next phrase. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:04.940 And he read in their ears all 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:06.960 the words of the book of the 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:09.140 covenant, which was found in the 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.519 house of the Lord. 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:12.460 Church, this is so important. 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:14.200 This is so significant. 00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:16.579 Though the reforms up to that 00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:19.140 point were fantastic, and they 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:20.720 were laying the groundwork for 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.779 this revival. 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:24.039 They were nothing but reform. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.839 But at the moment that we 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:27.599 confront ourselves with the 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:29.939 truth of the scripture, simple 00:29:29.939 --> 00:29:32.480 reform becomes revival. 00:29:32.939 --> 00:29:34.559 And true revival that is 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:37.019 spirit-led makes a massive 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:39.319 difference in our lives and in 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.879 our homes and in our nation. 00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:43.119 And here's what Josiah did. 00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:45.579 And the king stood by a pillar 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:48.039 and made a covenant before the 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:51.240 Lord to walk after the Lord and 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.919 to keep his commandments and his 00:29:52.919 --> 00:29:54.559 testimonies and his statutes. 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.899 Now listen, it turns from the 00:29:55.899 --> 00:29:56.779 singular to the plural. 00:29:56.779 --> 00:30:02.119 With all their heart and all their 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:03.119 soul. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:05.700 This is the nation he's leading 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.079 now. 00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:09.200 To perform the words of this 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:11.139 covenant that were written in 00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:13.660 this book and all the people 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:15.579 stood to the covenant. 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.920 This revival begins with a 00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:19.980 commitment to the scriptures. 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:22.599 Revival in your life and in your 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:24.819 home and in your church and in our 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:26.359 nation is not going to come through 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:26.960 the election. 00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.460 It's going to come through our 00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:30.619 commitment to the scriptures. 00:30:31.159 --> 00:30:32.659 Reform will do nothing. 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.379 It will do nothing for us. 00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:36.039 You can try to shape everything up 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:37.379 the way you want to and the 00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:39.299 nation can try to cut away some of 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.679 the fat of the wickedness and do 00:30:40.679 --> 00:30:41.359 what they're going to do. 00:30:41.439 --> 00:30:43.259 But without a commitment to the 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:45.259 scriptures, revival will not come. 00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:47.819 Josiah started with the 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.299 scriptures. 00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.500 Now the second thing that we 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.740 notice in this same chapter, 00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:53.599 2 Kings 23, is Josiah dealing 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.440 with sin. 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:56.640 And he's dealing with it in a 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:58.220 different way and in an additional 00:30:58.220 --> 00:31:00.740 way than what he had done before. 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:02.180 Look with me at verse 4. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.500 And he brought forth out of the 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:06.140 temple of the Lord all the vessels 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:07.940 that were made for Baal, the false 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:10.099 god, and for the grove and for all 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.920 the host of heaven. 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:12.740 And he burned them without Jerusalem. 00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.359 Verse 5. 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:17.019 And he put down the idolatrous 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.559 priest. 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.819 Verse 6. 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:20.980 And he brought out the grove from 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:22.919 the house of the Lord and burned 00:31:22.919 --> 00:31:23.179 it. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.319 Verse 7. 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:26.539 And he break down the house of the 00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:27.419 sodomites. 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:29.599 Those were male prostitutes that 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:31.740 were involved in the forms of pagan 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:34.679 worship that accompanied the sin of 00:31:34.679 --> 00:31:35.159 the nation. 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:35.980 Verse 8. 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:38.559 And defiled the high places where the 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:40.279 priest had burned incense. 00:31:40.639 --> 00:31:41.279 Verse 10. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:43.740 And he defiled Topheth, which is in 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:45.220 the valley of the children of Hinnom, 00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:47.859 that no man might make his son or his 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:49.679 daughter to pass through the fire to 00:31:49.679 --> 00:31:50.199 Moloch. 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:52.559 I don't know if you understand what 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:54.459 this worship of Moloch was. 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:56.399 This was an idol that they would have 00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.699 built and they would have fashioned out 00:31:57.699 --> 00:31:59.299 probably some type of metal. 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:02.139 And it had its hands out like this 00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:02.699 right here. 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:05.339 Passing through the fire is when they 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:07.779 would take their children and they 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:10.919 would sacrifice them to this idol called 00:32:10.919 --> 00:32:11.839 Moloch. 00:32:11.979 --> 00:32:13.639 And this Moloch, they would take his 00:32:13.639 --> 00:32:15.619 hands and they would heat them up to an 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:17.799 extreme degree and they would take their 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:19.639 children, their babies, and they would 00:32:19.639 --> 00:32:22.279 lay them on this heated up idol and they 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:24.599 would sacrifice their children literally 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:28.079 to death on this idol in this pagan 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:28.500 worship. 00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:30.579 This wasn't the pagan people of the 00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:30.819 nation. 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:32.500 This was the children of Israel. 00:32:32.959 --> 00:32:34.019 This was Judah. 00:32:34.659 --> 00:32:36.679 This was the godly section, supposedly 00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:38.659 godly section of the nation. 00:32:38.659 --> 00:32:40.119 And they were literally taking their 00:32:40.119 --> 00:32:43.259 children and sacrificing them to Moloch. 00:32:43.259 --> 00:32:45.119 And it's really no different than what's 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:47.039 happening to us today in our nation. 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:49.680 People aren't sacrificing their children 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.200 to Moloch. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:52.259 They're sacrificing their children to the 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:53.099 god of self. 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:56.119 And they're not going to a pagan place of 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:58.339 worship and setting their children up on 00:32:58.339 --> 00:33:00.220 an idol that's been heated up to a very 00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:00.859 high degree. 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:02.720 They're going to the doctor's office and 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.039 they're taking a pill or they're having 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:06.420 a doctor literally go into their womb and 00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:09.640 destroy and sacrifice their babies to the 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:10.839 god of themselves. 00:33:10.839 --> 00:33:14.319 This wickedness in Judah is just as vile as 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:16.439 the wickedness that we see today. 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:19.579 And Josiah, because of the scriptures, not 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:22.079 only goes about this with reform, but he goes 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:24.379 through the nation and he begins to deal with the 00:33:24.379 --> 00:33:26.619 specific sins of the nation. 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:30.500 Verse 12, and the altars that were on the top of the 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:33.339 upper chamber of Ahaz, the king beat down. 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:37.379 Verse 13, and the high places, listen, which Solomon, 00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:40.660 the king of Israel had built, did the king defile. 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:44.280 This had been around for hundreds of years, even 00:33:44.280 --> 00:33:45.780 before the divided kingdom. 00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:49.480 Solomon had even led the nation in idolatry. 00:33:49.620 --> 00:33:54.400 And it didn't matter to Josiah how historical these idols 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:55.780 and places of worship were. 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:58.940 It didn't matter to Josiah that it was the great king 00:33:58.940 --> 00:34:01.900 Solomon that had instituted him or placed him there. 00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:06.019 It didn't matter to Josiah how culturally acceptable, how 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:09.539 historically desensitized the nation had become to them. 00:34:09.780 --> 00:34:13.980 He was getting rid of every single bit of sin that he could 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:15.099 find in the nation. 00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:19.000 Verse 14, and he break in pieces the images and cut down the 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:19.300 groves. 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:23.800 Listen, genuine revival in the heart of a person and in a home 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:27.180 and in a church and in a nation does not come through reform. 00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:29.779 It comes first through the commitment to the scriptures. 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:33.000 And out of the commitment to the scriptures comes a repentant 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:38.239 heart that is bent on clearing out every bit of sin in our 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:41.819 lives, no matter how historical that sin is, no matter how 00:34:41.819 --> 00:34:45.019 accepted that sin is among everybody else. 00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:47.799 It's a commitment to dealing with sin. 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.980 And then he leads in worship. 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.819 Look at verse 21. 00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:56.500 And the king commanded all the people saying, keep the Passover 00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:59.980 unto the Lord your God, as it is written in the book of this 00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:00.260 covenant. 00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:05.360 Surely there was not held such a Passover from the days of the 00:35:05.360 --> 00:35:09.220 judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of 00:35:09.220 --> 00:35:12.240 Israel, nor the kings of Judah, but in the 18th year of the 00:35:12.240 --> 00:35:15.420 king Josiah, wherein the Passover was held to the Lord in 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:15.860 Jerusalem. 00:35:16.200 --> 00:35:17.280 He led them in worship. 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:18.920 This is a part of the revival. 00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:21.619 But this wasn't a fake worship. 00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:25.920 This wasn't an entertainment driven worship. 00:35:26.680 --> 00:35:32.139 It was a worship that was so profound and genuine that the 00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:37.180 writer tells us that not even in the days of King David was the 00:35:37.180 --> 00:35:40.000 Passover celebrated in this way. 00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:44.720 And with this type of revival in the hearts of the people. 00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:53.119 Now, I say all of that to say that this was the context in which 00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:54.719 Habakkuk was raised. 00:35:55.819 --> 00:35:59.019 He grew up in this dynamic. 00:35:59.839 --> 00:36:05.059 He grew up amongst this kind of revival among God's people. 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:12.299 And it's a reminder to us that true revival is not a scheduled series of 00:36:12.299 --> 00:36:17.880 meetings replete with emotionally stirring music and microwave sermons that 00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:19.480 have proven to hype up a crowd. 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:22.059 Here's what true revival is. 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:29.320 True revival only comes when God's people first dig into the depths of the 00:36:29.320 --> 00:36:36.519 scriptures and come out of their study, taking the action necessary to break down the idols 00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:38.740 of their hearts. 00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:45.800 Not just the most recent vices that have plagued their lives, but even the historical vices to 00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:51.580 which they have grown accustomed to after years and years of spiritual neglect. 00:36:51.579 --> 00:37:00.980 True revival involves the genuine worship of our holy God born out of a heart of repentance 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:06.699 and recognition of God's abundant mercy toward us. 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:13.380 Why did Habakkuk carry a burden in his heart and beg for God to judge the sin of the nation? 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:18.019 Why wasn't he desensitized to the wickedness that surrounded him? 00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:25.579 Because he had learned long before the scriptures and had committed himself to following the holy 00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:29.699 God that does not tolerate the sinfulness of man for very long. 00:37:30.719 --> 00:37:37.440 And how will we see the sin of the nation and even the sin of our church with the same sense of 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:39.019 burden as Habakkuk? 00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:46.300 It will only come once we seriously and genuinely commit ourselves to the scriptures, 00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:54.260 the breaking down of the idols in our hearts and the true worship of our gracious father. 00:37:55.960 --> 00:38:00.080 That's the point of pointing back to King Josiah's reign. 00:38:01.740 --> 00:38:07.420 Some of us may be wondering, I've never really cried out to God with that kind of burden like Habakkuk did. 00:38:07.940 --> 00:38:13.660 And the reason you've never cried out to God in that way is because you've allowed yourselves to neglect the scriptures 00:38:13.659 --> 00:38:21.039 and you've become desensitized to the sin of the nation and even to the sin of your own home and to the sin of your own life. 00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:27.539 You've allowed the acceptable sins that even sometimes the church will disregard. 00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:30.379 You've allowed that to become prevalent in your life. 00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:35.719 And the reason you don't carry this burden is because you are not committed to the holiness of God 00:38:35.719 --> 00:38:42.639 and understanding his judgment against sin in the way that Habakkuk was acknowledging his holiness and his judgment. 00:38:44.039 --> 00:38:50.159 Part of Habakkuk's heart in crying out to God was wondering why God wasn't bringing judgment already. 00:38:50.919 --> 00:38:58.039 He was burdened by the sin and he anticipated that God was going to bring another revival through judgment. 00:38:58.039 --> 00:39:04.259 And to be honest, we've got one more section of this to discover before we close it out for today. 00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:08.079 But I think this is probably a good time wherever you're at to pause the video 00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:11.199 and have a time of response to the Lord there. 00:39:13.259 --> 00:39:17.440 Is the Bible a dusty old book hidden somewhere in your house? 00:39:18.739 --> 00:39:26.039 If you do read it, is it your goal to simply gain knowledge or to actually know and obey God? 00:39:26.039 --> 00:39:29.840 Are you reading the scriptures just to try to figure it all out? 00:39:30.019 --> 00:39:33.119 Or are you coming with a desire to know the God of the Bible? 00:39:33.219 --> 00:39:34.199 That'll make a difference. 00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.900 Do you read the Bible? 00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:39.659 Or is it hidden back in the temple somewhere? 00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:49.880 Are you willing to enter an all-out assault against the sin of your life and the sin of your home 00:39:49.880 --> 00:39:54.139 and the sin of the church and the sin of the nation? 00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:57.599 Do you have a burden over sinfulness? 00:39:58.199 --> 00:40:01.420 Or are you desensitized to the acceptable sins of your life? 00:40:01.759 --> 00:40:06.319 And as you pause this video in just a moment, it probably would be wise if you're there with your family 00:40:06.319 --> 00:40:11.259 to maybe go around and just let's do some serious evaluation of our home. 00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:14.719 Are we becoming desensitized to some sinful behavior? 00:40:15.259 --> 00:40:20.839 Or at least some behavior that's leading us to sinful practices that maybe we've ignored for a while? 00:40:20.840 --> 00:40:23.640 Are we committed to the scriptures as a family? 00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:29.300 Are we burdened about the sinfulness not just around us but the sinfulness that's in us? 00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:40.000 Is your worship born out of a heart of repentance that genuinely delights in the God of mercy and grace? 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:45.000 I want to encourage you to pause the video now as we'll be doing in my home 00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:48.059 and pray and beg God to give you this burden. 00:40:48.559 --> 00:40:54.780 To help you be willing to cleanse the sin of your life in the way that Josiah cleansed the sin of the nation. 00:40:55.679 --> 00:41:00.099 And that you would commit yourself to the scriptures and to the genuine worship of our God. 00:41:00.099 --> 00:41:03.880 Thank you for listening to this sermon made available by Lakeside Bible Church. 00:41:04.319 --> 00:41:05.980 Feel free to share it wherever you'd like. 00:41:06.500 --> 00:41:12.259 Please do not charge for it or alter it in any way without express written consent from Lakeside Bible Church. 00:41:12.799 --> 00:41:15.940 Don't forget to visit us online at lakesidebible.church 00:41:15.940 --> 00:41:20.579 or find us on Facebook and Instagram by searching for Lakeside Bible NC. 00:41:21.239 --> 00:41:25.679 If you live in the Charlotte or Lake Norman area, we'd love for you to attend one of our worship services. 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:28.079 We meet every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. 00:41:28.079 --> 00:41:29.420 We'd love to meet you.