WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:05.500 I was thinking about it, and I've been a Christian for almost 20 years. 00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:11.439 I became a Christian right around age 21 and 40, so I suppose technically 19 years. 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:15.759 And if I look back over that period of time and all that has happened, 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:25.460 there is one consistent nagging question that has undoubtedly been the greatest source of doubt for me in my faith. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:32.579 And yes, pastors are full of doubt sometimes, maybe even more so than other people. 00:00:33.620 --> 00:00:44.260 And there's been one central cause behind most of my doubt, and that's the question of suffering, what we call theodicy. 00:00:45.540 --> 00:00:54.820 Basically put this question of how, if God is all good and all powerful, can there be such suffering and evil and injustice in the world? 00:00:54.820 --> 00:01:00.640 I have wrung my hands and stayed up late many nights wondering about that question. 00:01:01.619 --> 00:01:07.980 And if you just quickly scan the headlines, you know, I did this on Friday. 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:11.420 I just kind of went and said, you know, what are the highlight headlines in the news? 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:14.340 Here's what I saw at like a three-minute glance. 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:20.060 Back-to-back hurricanes wreaking havoc, killing people and destroying homes and entire communities. 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:23.099 A bomb explosion in the London Underground. 00:01:23.099 --> 00:01:27.839 North Korea menacingly firing missiles over Japan. 00:01:28.359 --> 00:01:31.280 White nationalist rallies happening around the country. 00:01:31.619 --> 00:01:33.359 That's just a three-minute scan. 00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:36.719 And then I started thinking about the lives of people I know. 00:01:36.839 --> 00:01:38.719 I mean, people right here in our own community. 00:01:38.979 --> 00:01:42.560 Right now in our community, there are people struggling with loneliness, 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:52.980 with unwanted, unchosen singleness, or with marital strife, facing unemployment or impending unemployment. 00:01:53.420 --> 00:01:57.120 People who are struggling because they are homesick. 00:01:57.520 --> 00:02:02.640 People who are struggling because of challenges trying to parent their children. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:05.040 Or maybe their kids are sick. 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:07.299 People facing sickness themselves. 00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:12.719 People grieving the recent death of dear immediate family, loved ones. 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:14.680 I mean, all of this is happening right now. 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:19.580 And that's just a tiny sliver of what's going on in our greater community. 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:26.200 And so if you think about that, you realize that if you're a Christian and you have any integrity at all, 00:02:27.200 --> 00:02:31.780 in a world like this, you have to face really tough questions. 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:39.140 You cannot be a Christian in a world like ours and not have to wrestle with very tough questions like this one. 00:02:39.139 --> 00:02:44.000 The good news is we are not the first people to ask these questions. 00:02:44.119 --> 00:02:48.719 And in fact, God's people have been asking these questions for thousands of years. 00:02:49.519 --> 00:02:57.679 And if you look in the Bible, there's probably no one who asks hard questions with more brutal honesty than a man named Habakkuk. 00:02:58.239 --> 00:02:59.659 He's one of the prophets. 00:03:00.019 --> 00:03:01.459 You can find him in the Old Testament. 00:03:01.460 --> 00:03:10.960 And Habakkuk, it's a short book, but it's packed with incredibly profound and unique writing. 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:17.600 Habakkuk is unique among the prophets that we see in the Bible for one major reason. 00:03:18.140 --> 00:03:20.879 Most prophets follow a similar formula. 00:03:21.180 --> 00:03:25.100 You have God, and then the prophet is aligned with God. 00:03:25.260 --> 00:03:29.840 And the prophet, on behalf of God, is questioning the people. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:35.200 Right? So the prophet speaks for God, and the prophet questions God's people. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:36.879 Why do you go on sinning? 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:38.379 Why don't you come and repent? 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:40.900 Why don't you trust and put your faith in the Lord? 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:43.800 Why are you abandoning the Lord your God? 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:48.280 And this is the sort of central prophetic message that you see again and again and again. 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:50.460 Well, Habakkuk is different. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:55.000 Habakkuk is not questioning God's people. 00:03:55.740 --> 00:03:58.620 Habakkuk is actually aligning himself with God's people, 00:03:58.620 --> 00:04:02.599 and Habakkuk is questioning God on their behalf. 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:08.159 And it's a very intense dialogue that we see unfold here. 00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:13.719 And through all of this questioning of God, the pushback, the doubt, 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:16.660 somehow Habakkuk remains faithful. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:19.480 So we're going to ask, how is that possible? 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:22.280 What do we have to learn from this amazing little book? 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:25.599 So we're going to be spending the next few weeks in a series called, 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:27.319 How Long, O Lord? 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:29.279 Asking this question together. 00:04:29.539 --> 00:04:32.639 And tonight we really come to understand doubt 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.559 and the role that doubt plays in our faith. 00:04:36.159 --> 00:04:38.739 So Habakkuk chapter 1 is going to show us a couple of things. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:40.619 First, the doubt in our faith. 00:04:41.239 --> 00:04:44.679 And then secondly, the promise in our pain. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:48.679 The promise that is embedded deeply in the pain and suffering of the world. 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:50.860 So let's pray together as we get started. 00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:54.519 Our Father, we thank you for your word, 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:59.199 and we thank you that sometimes your word is clear and makes sense, 00:04:59.280 --> 00:05:01.780 and sometimes it's very hard to understand, 00:05:01.860 --> 00:05:03.360 or it says things that we don't want to hear. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:06.620 But we know that all of it is good and profitable, 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:10.680 and by the power of your Holy Spirit can equip us 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:15.860 and mature us and nourish us in ways that we cannot find anywhere else. 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:20.040 And so we come hungry and thirsty and open-hearted, Lord, 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:22.660 by the power of your Spirit to receive your word today. 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:25.500 We pray this in your Son's holy name. Amen. 00:05:27.100 --> 00:05:32.240 So Habakkuk chapter 1, it really begins with a bang. 00:05:32.400 --> 00:05:34.139 I mean, he dives right in. 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:35.280 There's no introduction. 00:05:35.660 --> 00:05:36.860 He just gets right to it. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:38.560 Brass-tax kind of guy. 00:05:38.780 --> 00:05:41.300 But let me just give you a little bit of information about Habakkuk. 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:42.639 We don't know a whole lot about him. 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.479 He's one of what we call the minor prophets. 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:48.800 Now, don't let that make you think that he's less important. 00:05:48.919 --> 00:05:50.099 You know, read the major prophets, 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:52.620 but the minor prophets are less important. 00:05:52.740 --> 00:05:53.899 That's not what it's talking about. 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:57.279 Minor prophets simply means shorter in length. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:05:59.860 So you have Isaiah, Jeremiah. 00:06:00.099 --> 00:06:00.879 They're very long. 00:06:01.099 --> 00:06:02.479 The minor prophets are a lot shorter. 00:06:02.620 --> 00:06:03.939 Habakkuk's only three chapters. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:07.459 So it's like book-length prophets versus blog-length prophets 00:06:07.459 --> 00:06:08.919 is maybe a better way to think of it. 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:12.220 And Habakkuk is an interesting word name. 00:06:12.400 --> 00:06:13.379 It's Akkadian. 00:06:14.080 --> 00:06:17.580 And quite frankly, scholars can't agree on how to pronounce it. 00:06:18.180 --> 00:06:19.900 And so I'm going to say Habakkuk. 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:21.520 Some people say Habakkuk. 00:06:21.939 --> 00:06:26.560 The traditional Hebrew way of saying it is Habakkuk. 00:06:27.300 --> 00:06:28.819 I tried that in the mirror, 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:30.879 and I just couldn't do it with a straight face. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:32.600 Every time I did it, I would laugh. 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:34.079 And so I'm just not, I can't do that. 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:35.420 I'm not a speaker of Hebrew. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:37.319 And so I'm just going to say Habakkuk, 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:38.959 for lack of a better option. 00:06:39.259 --> 00:06:41.079 We don't know a lot about him personally, 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:44.899 but I think his words immediately resonate. 00:06:45.779 --> 00:06:49.040 Just listen to how he opens his writing here. 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:52.779 The first four verses are Habakkuk talking to God. 00:06:52.779 --> 00:06:56.419 And then verses 5 through 11 are God's response. 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:59.539 And then verse 12 through the end of the chapter, verse 17, 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:02.919 that's Habakkuk responding back to God's response. 00:07:03.039 --> 00:07:05.859 So that's how it, you know, Habakkuk, God, Habakkuk. 00:07:05.919 --> 00:07:06.679 That's how it goes. 00:07:07.059 --> 00:07:08.399 So here's how it opens up. 00:07:08.579 --> 00:07:09.879 Habakkuk says this to God. 00:07:10.899 --> 00:07:14.559 Oh Lord, how long shall I cry for help, 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:15.819 and you will not hear? 00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:19.219 Now is there anybody who has not said that? 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:22.139 How long will I cry for help, and you will not hear? 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:23.959 Or cry to you, violence! 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:25.500 Violence! 00:07:27.479 --> 00:07:28.839 And you will not save. 00:07:30.459 --> 00:07:31.479 You know, as I said before, 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:33.479 I think this is a question for the ages. 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.279 God, if you're all good and all powerful, 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:39.319 how can you look at what's happening to me, to us, 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:41.099 and not do anything about it? 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:41.879 Where are you? 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:46.680 And then God, as I said, answers in verses 5 through 11. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:48.419 We'll look at that more in a little bit, 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:49.560 but suffice it to say, 00:07:49.840 --> 00:07:53.160 it is not what Habakkuk expects at all. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:54.680 It just makes things worse. 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:57.060 And so after that, in verse 13, 00:07:57.280 --> 00:07:58.759 listen to what Habakkuk goes on to say. 00:07:58.819 --> 00:07:59.680 He says in verse 13, 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:02.759 you who are of purer eyes than to see evil, 00:08:02.900 --> 00:08:04.140 and cannot look at wrong, 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:06.560 why do you idly look at traitors, 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:09.759 and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:11.139 more righteous than he? 00:08:11.139 --> 00:08:13.519 So what's he saying there? 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.199 I mean, he's kind of being honest, right? 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:19.300 God, I know we're not perfect. 00:08:20.219 --> 00:08:22.659 I know we deserve some judgment. 00:08:23.479 --> 00:08:25.399 You know, nobody's saying we're perfect, 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:27.659 but they are way worse than us. 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:29.599 He's talking about the Chaldeans. 00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:32.139 This is one of the words in the Bible for the Babylonians. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.340 If you know anything about the Babylonians, 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:36.200 they were, as God himself says, 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:41.039 cruel and vicious and wicked and bloodthirsty. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:44.939 They didn't even know or care about the God of the Bible. 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:46.939 They worshipped their own strength. 00:08:48.580 --> 00:08:49.980 And Habakkuk is saying, 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:51.779 you know, we don't have our act together. 00:08:51.939 --> 00:08:53.559 We've got some ways we need to shape up, 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:55.000 but we're nothing like them. 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:56.539 And then he says, 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:59.139 how do you dare to be a God who hates evil, 00:08:59.439 --> 00:09:01.740 who claims to love goodness and justice? 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:04.019 You claim to love us, 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:07.600 and yet you're going to let them sweep across the world, 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:13.000 take us captive like a man would put sand into a jar. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:18.399 And you've got to hear the desperation in his voice. 00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:22.300 You know, at the core of his questioning of God, 00:09:22.540 --> 00:09:25.620 Habakkuk is zeroing in on a disconnect that he perceives 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:27.580 between what God has revealed 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:30.740 and his lived experience. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:32.519 That's the disconnect. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:34.000 Right? 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:36.100 God, you say you're good, 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:38.779 and yet you seem to tolerate evil just fine. 00:09:39.379 --> 00:09:41.139 God, you say you care about justice, 00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:43.659 and yet we're drowning in injustice. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:46.340 God, you say that you love us, 00:09:46.460 --> 00:09:48.379 but from where I'm looking, 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:50.700 it seems like you've abandoned us. 00:09:50.700 --> 00:09:51.420 God, you say, 00:09:51.420 --> 00:09:52.960 help us understand. 00:09:53.820 --> 00:09:55.379 That's the core of chapter one. 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:57.340 So you might say, 00:09:57.560 --> 00:09:59.140 he's expressing some doubt, right? 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:01.200 So I want to stop there and just ask, 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:03.759 what are we meant to make of this? 00:10:03.860 --> 00:10:05.800 Why is this in Scripture to begin with? 00:10:06.540 --> 00:10:08.160 And I think it shows us a couple of things 00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:09.200 just before we move on. 00:10:09.280 --> 00:10:12.620 I want to focus a little bit on the implications of this. 00:10:13.040 --> 00:10:14.460 The first thing it shows us is this. 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:17.200 It shows us that doubt is extremely important. 00:10:18.800 --> 00:10:20.220 That in fact, for believers, 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:22.660 I think doubt is extremely valuable. 00:10:23.400 --> 00:10:24.020 It's valuable. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:28.200 Not only does God allow Habakkuk to doubt him, 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:31.340 right, these are some of the strongest words 00:10:31.340 --> 00:10:33.220 leveled at God anywhere in the Bible. 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:36.360 I mean, he is towing the line of direct accusation. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:39.800 God not only allows him to do that, 00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:42.080 but then God takes this writing 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.660 and he places it in his canon. 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:48.140 This is holy inspired Scripture, right? 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.600 This is meant to be profitable 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:51.060 for our growth. 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:54.019 And this is, I think, 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:55.440 a clear sign 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:57.700 that doubt is meant to be 00:10:57.700 --> 00:10:59.279 integral to a healthy, 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:00.960 maturing faith. 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:03.060 Right? 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:03.840 So, you know, 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:05.379 you can't really get this 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:07.379 unless you look at the whole book. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:08.279 And sometimes, you know, 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:09.639 week to week, sermon by sermon, 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:11.879 we can lose the forest for the trees. 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:14.059 But if you look at the whole scope of Habakkuk, 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:16.879 commentators will say 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:18.399 that it's not just a book on doubt. 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:20.539 It's partly that. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:22.939 But I think one of the best commentators out there 00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:24.500 is a guy named Palmer Robertson. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:25.639 And he says this. 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:26.039 He says, 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:26.799 Remarkably, 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:28.159 the reader is allowed 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:29.259 the unique privilege 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:31.000 of witnessing the progress 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:32.819 of the prophet himself 00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:35.240 in submitting to a new concept 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.579 of the Lord's purposes 00:11:36.579 --> 00:11:38.539 among Israel and the nations. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:40.899 The idea of growth 00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:43.439 or maturing in faith 00:11:43.439 --> 00:11:45.879 is essential to appreciating 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.059 the genius of this prophecy. 00:11:48.199 --> 00:11:48.939 You hear what he's saying? 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:50.620 This isn't just about doubt. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.500 As he expresses doubt, 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:54.360 we get to see Habakkuk grow 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:55.620 and mature 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:57.399 because he's doing that. 00:11:58.419 --> 00:11:59.399 And if you look at the book, 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:01.100 Habakkuk begins in sorrow, 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:02.440 but you know how it ends? 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:04.159 In song. 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:05.980 The whole third chapter 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.120 is a song of praise. 00:12:08.440 --> 00:12:09.600 Now, some of you grew up 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:10.600 in religious homes 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:12.320 and you grew up 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:14.179 or religious churches 00:12:14.179 --> 00:12:15.139 where the culture 00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:16.159 was very much about 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:18.700 accept what you've been taught 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:19.940 and don't ask questions. 00:12:19.940 --> 00:12:22.980 And if you asked hard questions, 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:24.120 well, this seems to be 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:24.960 an inconsistency 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.620 and how do we understand this? 00:12:26.640 --> 00:12:27.320 And these two books 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:28.580 seem to contradict each other. 00:12:29.400 --> 00:12:29.840 You know, people, 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:30.760 parents or pastors 00:12:30.760 --> 00:12:31.300 would say, 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:32.860 don't ask questions. 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:34.360 Faith means just accepting 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:35.460 even if you don't understand. 00:12:36.420 --> 00:12:36.580 Right? 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:38.580 And so some of us were taught 00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.680 that if you ask questions 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:40.280 or have doubts 00:12:40.280 --> 00:12:41.120 and express those, 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:41.900 that means you have 00:12:41.900 --> 00:12:42.560 a weak faith. 00:12:43.400 --> 00:12:44.840 Well, I think that Habakkuk 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:46.200 shows us the exact opposite 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:46.700 is true. 00:12:47.560 --> 00:12:48.120 That in fact, 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:49.779 not asking questions 00:12:49.779 --> 00:12:51.039 means you have 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:51.720 a weak faith. 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:53.500 Because what that shows you 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.399 is that your faith 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.259 is like this really 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:56.639 delicate house of cards, 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:57.919 this sand castle, 00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:59.299 this glass sculpture 00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:00.100 and that you have to 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:01.100 protect it 00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:03.200 from even a strong wind 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:04.519 that might knock it over. 00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:05.879 That's a weak faith. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:08.039 A strong faith 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:08.919 is a faith 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:10.399 that can hold up 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:11.379 even in the storm, 00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:13.039 even when everything 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:14.120 is breaking loose 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.259 and things are falling apart. 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:17.360 A strong faith 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.399 is that kind of faith 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.180 that can be amassed 00:13:19.180 --> 00:13:19.840 in the storm 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:21.440 that you can cling to. 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:23.360 How do you get that? 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.100 You have to weather 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:25.879 a few storms. 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:29.919 It has to be challenged. 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.139 So we're not called 00:13:32.139 --> 00:13:33.600 to have a blind faith. 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:34.860 We're called to have 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.080 a bold faith. 00:13:37.419 --> 00:13:38.539 Boldly facing doubt. 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:40.279 Boldly asking hard questions. 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:42.079 So that then begs 00:13:42.079 --> 00:13:42.899 the next question 00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:43.439 which is okay, 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.179 well how do we get 00:13:44.179 --> 00:13:45.179 that kind of faith? 00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:46.039 How does doubt 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:47.419 lead to that kind of faith? 00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.559 And I would say 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:49.600 we need to look at Habakkuk 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.779 and what he's actually doing 00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.959 with his doubt. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:53.120 What's he doing 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.360 with all these questions? 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.339 Is he hiding them? 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.579 Is he going off 00:13:57.579 --> 00:13:58.259 and complaining 00:13:58.259 --> 00:13:59.480 to other people about them? 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:00.339 I can't believe. 00:14:00.339 --> 00:14:01.459 Can you believe what he's, 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:01.720 you know. 00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:03.179 No, he's coming directly 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:04.039 to God with them. 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:05.319 In prayer. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.860 He's wrestling with God 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:10.260 over questions 00:14:10.260 --> 00:14:11.600 that he has about God. 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:12.820 Right? 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.040 He's falling on his knees 00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:14.660 before him. 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:16.340 And what we've got to understand 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:16.680 is that, I mean, 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:18.420 verse 12 is the giveaway 00:14:18.420 --> 00:14:20.420 that really shows us 00:14:20.420 --> 00:14:21.020 his posture. 00:14:21.160 --> 00:14:21.500 He says, 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.260 even in the midst 00:14:22.260 --> 00:14:23.100 of his frustration 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:23.700 and his anger, 00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:24.160 he says, 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:26.480 O Lord, my God. 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.320 My Holy One. 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.260 Right? 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:30.560 So this isn't a man 00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.460 who's standing back 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.340 from God saying, 00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:34.220 you better explain all this 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:34.920 or I, you know, 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:35.360 I'm not going to, 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.620 you need to help me 00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:36.979 or, you know, 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.019 the jury's still out on you. 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:40.159 That's not what he's doing. 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:42.599 He's like a child. 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:45.039 He's falling into the arms of God 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.519 and saying, 00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.019 help. 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:48.620 This doesn't make sense. 00:14:49.459 --> 00:14:49.819 Help. 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:50.860 My God. 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.199 My Holy One. 00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.439 I know I belong to you. 00:14:53.439 --> 00:14:54.679 I know that you're holy. 00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:57.039 I'm not even questioning that. 00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.579 Help me. 00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:00.120 Understand this. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.659 It's a very different posture. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:04.980 You see doubt expressed 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:06.159 in different ways 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:06.799 in the Bible. 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.459 There's a great example of this, 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:09.439 of the contrast 00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:10.860 in Luke chapter 1. 00:15:11.579 --> 00:15:13.419 Interesting back-to-back accounts 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:15.079 between two individuals. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:16.120 You have Zechariah 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.240 and you have Mary. 00:15:18.179 --> 00:15:20.419 And in both accounts, 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.539 Zechariah and Mary, 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.579 an angel comes out of nowhere 00:15:23.579 --> 00:15:24.679 and says, 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:26.679 you're about to have a baby. 00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:29.899 And both people 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:31.219 are astounded, right? 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:33.319 Zechariah's past childbearing years, 00:15:33.479 --> 00:15:34.139 Mary's a virgin. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.979 So both Zechariah and Mary 00:15:36.979 --> 00:15:38.359 express doubt to the angel. 00:15:38.719 --> 00:15:39.079 What? 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.000 How can this be? 00:15:40.059 --> 00:15:40.679 What's going to happen? 00:15:41.599 --> 00:15:42.959 So they both question 00:15:42.959 --> 00:15:44.519 the claim being made 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:46.239 by the divine being. 00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:47.819 So up to that point, 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.439 they're the same. 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:50.059 But then the angel's response 00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:50.879 makes these stories 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.659 radically different. 00:15:51.859 --> 00:15:52.919 What happens to Mary? 00:15:53.959 --> 00:15:55.099 The angel is kind 00:15:55.099 --> 00:15:55.719 and loving 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.300 and generous 00:15:56.300 --> 00:15:57.440 and gives her more information 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.960 and helps her to understand, right? 00:15:59.040 --> 00:16:00.480 What happens to Zechariah? 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:01.600 Right? 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:03.000 He gets struck mute. 00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:03.960 Right? 00:16:05.160 --> 00:16:06.360 Oh, you're asking questions. 00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:07.399 I'm going to take away 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:08.300 your ability to speak 00:16:08.300 --> 00:16:09.639 until the baby comes, right? 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.080 And you just think, 00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:12.180 well, what's going on there? 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.220 Is Gabriel just kind of 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.160 having a bad day? 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:14.800 And he's like, 00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:16.080 I'm tired of all the questions. 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:16.580 Bam! 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:18.160 No more words from you. 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:18.660 You know? 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:20.379 And it's interesting 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.600 to try to make sense of that. 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:23.340 But the answer, I think, 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.060 comes from the fact 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:24.600 that the Bible 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.740 has a very nuanced 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.000 understanding of doubt. 00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:28.540 A very nuanced 00:16:28.540 --> 00:16:29.340 understanding of doubt. 00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:30.139 And this is where 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:31.060 you see the difference. 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.860 There's what you might think of 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:33.860 as honest doubt. 00:16:34.560 --> 00:16:35.940 And there's what you might call 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:37.480 dishonest doubt. 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:38.540 And if you look at Mary, 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.300 Mary is an honest doubter. 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.680 Which means this. 00:16:41.920 --> 00:16:43.379 She is honestly looking 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.440 for more information. 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.720 She's honestly wanting 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.360 to understand. 00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:47.779 Right? 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:49.340 She knows that she's a virgin 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.540 and she simply wants 00:16:50.540 --> 00:16:51.320 to understand 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:52.560 the angel better. 00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:54.000 So she asks literally, 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.940 how will this happen 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.040 since I have not known 00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:57.580 my husband? 00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:58.920 How is this going to happen? 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.280 What are the mechanics of it? 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.220 Because I don't, 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.240 I can't, 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:02.899 I don't know how 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:03.800 this kind of thing works. 00:17:03.800 --> 00:17:04.100 Right? 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.500 And if you look at Zechariah, 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.860 what he's actually asking 00:17:07.860 --> 00:17:08.640 is subtly 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:10.860 but very meaningfully different. 00:17:11.819 --> 00:17:12.759 Zechariah says, 00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:14.400 not how will this happen, 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.819 but he says, 00:17:16.379 --> 00:17:17.220 how do I know? 00:17:18.419 --> 00:17:19.700 It's a very different tone. 00:17:20.679 --> 00:17:21.119 So in other words, 00:17:21.159 --> 00:17:21.639 he's not saying, 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.579 help me understand this better. 00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:23.059 He's saying, 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:23.819 prove it. 00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:26.039 Maybe I'll believe you, 00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:26.819 maybe not. 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.019 Prove it to me 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.419 and then we'll see. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:32.799 Very different kind of doubt 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.220 because honest doubt 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:35.519 comes from a place 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:36.839 of intellectual humility. 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:37.720 Honest doubt is saying, 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.139 you know, 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.740 I know I don't understand everything. 00:17:39.899 --> 00:17:40.419 I know you know 00:17:40.419 --> 00:17:41.399 way more than I do. 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:43.500 Understand things way beyond 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.619 what I'll ever be able to. 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:46.059 Help me understand. 00:17:46.459 --> 00:17:47.039 Give me wisdom. 00:17:47.179 --> 00:17:47.699 Give me knowledge. 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.519 Give me understanding. 00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:50.199 That's honest doubt. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:52.359 It's asking questions 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:53.639 and wanting answers. 00:17:55.459 --> 00:17:56.359 Dishonest doubt 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:58.139 is called dishonest doubt 00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:59.319 because it actually tends 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.279 to come from a place 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:01.899 of intellectual pride. 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:02.939 Right? 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.859 It's the posture 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.779 that assumes 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.899 you know most everything 00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:06.559 worth knowing 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.179 and even more importantly 00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:09.819 that if you can't 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:11.299 understand something, 00:18:11.399 --> 00:18:12.459 if something doesn't fit 00:18:12.459 --> 00:18:13.239 with your sense 00:18:13.239 --> 00:18:14.379 of how the world works, 00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.759 it must not be true. 00:18:16.859 --> 00:18:18.319 See, so it's not really doubt. 00:18:19.619 --> 00:18:20.599 It's more of a kind 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.739 of posture of judgment. 00:18:22.419 --> 00:18:23.439 I will decide 00:18:23.439 --> 00:18:25.159 whether this is true or false. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:25.839 I will decide. 00:18:25.899 --> 00:18:27.000 And if it doesn't make sense to me, 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.279 it's probably not true. 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.779 And there are a number 00:18:29.779 --> 00:18:30.639 of people who say, 00:18:30.719 --> 00:18:30.939 you know, 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:31.879 you look at Christianity 00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:33.319 and there are these mysteries 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:35.639 and seeming inconsistencies 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:36.779 and things that don't line up. 00:18:37.179 --> 00:18:38.159 That's a clear sign 00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:38.839 that it's not true. 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:41.699 And I would say, 00:18:41.879 --> 00:18:43.599 if that's your way of thinking, 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.259 you should really question that. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:46.399 I think assuming 00:18:46.399 --> 00:18:47.959 that things can only be true 00:18:47.959 --> 00:18:49.399 if we understand them 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:50.819 fully 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:52.419 is the height 00:18:52.419 --> 00:18:53.419 of human arrogance. 00:18:54.939 --> 00:18:55.119 Right? 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.259 Unexplained mysteries 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.799 don't automatically mean 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:59.159 something isn't true. 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:01.019 In fact, 00:19:01.080 --> 00:19:01.980 if we're really dealing 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:03.220 with the deepest mysteries 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.960 of existence, 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:04.860 wouldn't we expect 00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.420 that there would be 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:06.120 some things 00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:07.660 that might be just beyond 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:09.840 our vast intellectual capacity? 00:19:11.080 --> 00:19:12.120 So I think one of the things 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:13.220 to take away from this is, 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.300 beware simplistic answers. 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:17.519 Do you know, 00:19:17.600 --> 00:19:18.900 some of the greatest times 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:19.759 of growth for me 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:21.320 in my own spiritual life 00:19:21.320 --> 00:19:22.660 have come from people 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:23.360 asking me, 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.279 knowing I'm a Christian, 00:19:24.600 --> 00:19:25.320 and asking me 00:19:25.320 --> 00:19:26.160 really, really, 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:27.240 really hard questions. 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:29.080 Well, how do you explain this? 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.259 What do you Christians 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.120 think about that? 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.340 Because what it does 00:19:32.340 --> 00:19:33.540 is it drives me 00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:34.740 into prayer, 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.980 and it drives me 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.980 into God's Word. 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.180 And it drives me 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.820 to ask and seek out 00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:40.960 the advice and wisdom 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:41.759 of people who have been 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:43.160 believers longer than I have, 00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:44.140 who are more mature 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:44.820 than I am. 00:19:45.340 --> 00:19:46.840 And all of those things 00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.680 bring about 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.019 great opportunities 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:50.880 for rich maturity 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.500 and growth. 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:54.000 But we have to be willing 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.720 to face the hard questions 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:57.640 if we want that 00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.380 to be true for us. 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.720 So that's part one, 00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:01.120 the doubt in our faith 00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.800 and the significant role 00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:04.660 it plays in Habakkuk's life 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:05.700 and in our life. 00:20:06.360 --> 00:20:06.760 And now, 00:20:06.820 --> 00:20:07.500 with the rest of our time, 00:20:07.540 --> 00:20:07.960 we're going to look 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:09.160 at God's response, 00:20:09.280 --> 00:20:11.060 verses 5 through 11, 00:20:11.060 --> 00:20:12.660 and we'll see the promise 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.700 to be found 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.980 in our pain. 00:20:15.520 --> 00:20:16.780 Here's how God responds. 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.300 Now listen, 00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:18.760 imagine that you're Habakkuk, 00:20:18.820 --> 00:20:19.260 you've just said 00:20:19.260 --> 00:20:19.780 what you've said. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.080 Now here's what God says. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:25.039 Look among the nations 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:25.899 and see, 00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:28.339 wonder and be astounded, 00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:30.059 for I'm doing a work 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.720 in your days 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.839 that you would not believe 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.000 if told. 00:20:33.199 --> 00:20:33.779 And you can imagine 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.379 Habakkuk saying, 00:20:34.699 --> 00:20:35.279 I'm ready, 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.299 lay it on me, 00:20:36.419 --> 00:20:37.559 this is going to be amazing. 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:39.099 And then guess what God says? 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.279 If you go on, 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:40.859 right? 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:42.939 I'll just summarize it for you. 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.699 God essentially says, 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.960 and I'm sort of putting 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.559 words in his mouth, 00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.220 hopefully this is 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.199 an accurate paraphrase, 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:50.259 you think it's bad now? 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.720 You think this is bad? 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.600 It's going to get way worse. 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:55.380 Right? 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.580 I'm going to raise up 00:20:56.580 --> 00:20:57.600 the Chaldeans, 00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.740 the Babylonians, 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:01.220 who are bloodthirsty 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:01.740 and wicked 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.660 and they only worship 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.519 their own strength, 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.620 and they're going to take 00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:05.680 all of you captive 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:07.580 like a man piles sand 00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:08.600 into a jar. 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.900 Now that's an interesting reference 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.840 considering the promise 00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:11.840 given to Abraham, right? 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:13.960 I'm going to make 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.600 your descendants 00:21:14.600 --> 00:21:15.840 as vast and as numerous 00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:17.640 as grains of sand. 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.120 Right? 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:20.140 Well now God's saying, 00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:21.280 I'm going to let 00:21:21.280 --> 00:21:22.300 this foreign nation 00:21:22.300 --> 00:21:23.320 who hates me 00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:24.020 and hates you, 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:24.900 they're going to gather 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.060 all of that sand up 00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:27.400 and put it in a jar. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:28.380 They're going to take you captive. 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.540 Right? 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:31.040 And Habakkuk is horrified 00:21:31.040 --> 00:21:33.040 and so Habakkuk fires back 00:21:33.040 --> 00:21:33.860 and says essentially, 00:21:34.040 --> 00:21:34.960 Lord, as I said, 00:21:35.020 --> 00:21:36.020 I know we're not perfect 00:21:36.020 --> 00:21:37.180 but there's so much worse. 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:38.460 How could you let this happen? 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:41.040 And chapter 1 00:21:41.040 --> 00:21:42.240 ends with this image 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.460 of Habakkuk saying, 00:21:43.540 --> 00:21:43.700 you know, 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.820 all of us are like fish 00:21:44.820 --> 00:21:45.580 in the sea 00:21:45.580 --> 00:21:46.680 and you're allowing 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.660 the Babylonians 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.779 to be like this fisherman 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:50.380 who just mercilessly 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:51.560 like a commercial fisherman 00:21:51.560 --> 00:21:53.299 just throws these big nets out 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.799 and gathers everybody up 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:56.279 and then at the end of the day 00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.200 they don't even give you 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:58.299 thanks for that, God. 00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.900 They worship their nets. 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.200 And then he says, 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.259 are you just going to let them 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.380 take over the world? 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.000 Is this your great plan? 00:22:06.620 --> 00:22:07.700 End scene. 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:09.340 Right? 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:10.659 That's how chapter 1 ends. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.759 But fortunately, 00:22:14.459 --> 00:22:17.019 we have an advantage, 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:17.419 I think, 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.879 that Habakkuk didn't have 00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:20.459 which means we know 00:22:20.459 --> 00:22:21.379 a little bit more 00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:22.199 of the story. 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.879 This is happening 00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.699 in the, you know, 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.799 around the 6th, 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.259 7th century BC 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:29.740 so we have a little 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.459 more perspective. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:34.000 All Habakkuk knows 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.279 is that this wicked nation 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.179 is going to conquer them 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.200 and take them into exile. 00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:40.120 And yet more happens 00:22:40.120 --> 00:22:41.539 and 600 years later 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.600 the Apostle Paul 00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:44.539 is preaching in a synagogue 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.279 and he's preaching 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:45.940 to a combination 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:48.440 of Jews and God-fearers. 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.160 These are people 00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:50.400 who are Gentiles 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.660 who want to follow God 00:22:51.660 --> 00:22:52.560 and have a relationship 00:22:52.560 --> 00:22:52.980 with Him 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:55.019 and so they're Gentile converts 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.799 to Judaism. 00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:57.519 And so he's preaching 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:58.580 to this mixed audience 00:22:58.580 --> 00:23:00.000 and he's talking about Jesus. 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.140 And he's talking about 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:02.480 how because of the cross 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.019 and the death 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.960 and resurrection of Jesus 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.920 it's now possible 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:07.019 to be saved in a way 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.680 that the law 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.900 didn't make possible. 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.100 And that's something 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:11.140 that is now open 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:11.860 to everyone. 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:13.500 Jews and Gentiles alike, right? 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.900 This is this new message 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.640 of the gospel. 00:23:17.300 --> 00:23:17.779 In other words, 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.220 Paul is sort of, 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.519 he's just sort of laying out 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.840 God's plan for salvation 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:24.180 and then of all things 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:24.980 he could have quoted 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:26.820 in the Old Testament scriptures, 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:27.960 where does he go? 00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:30.680 He quotes Habakkuk 1.5. 00:23:31.620 --> 00:23:32.880 I mean, that's crazy, right? 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:34.720 He quotes this passage 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.460 full of doubt. 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.800 And he quotes 00:23:36.800 --> 00:23:37.900 where God is saying, 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:40.600 look, you scoffers, 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:42.039 be astounded and perish, 00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:43.220 for I'm doing a work 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:43.860 in your days, 00:23:44.060 --> 00:23:45.320 a work that you will not believe 00:23:45.320 --> 00:23:46.580 even if one tells it to you. 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:48.240 He quotes Habakkuk 1.5. 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.400 And the fact that he quotes it 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.460 where he quotes it 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.320 tells us something 00:23:53.320 --> 00:23:54.039 loud and clear. 00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.680 Paul is saying, 00:23:56.560 --> 00:23:58.880 when God said these words 00:23:58.880 --> 00:23:59.680 to Habakkuk, 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:01.180 ultimately these words 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.720 were pointing 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.320 to the coming of Jesus. 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:05.240 Habakkuk never could have known that. 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.440 But this is what God 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.359 is actually saying. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.559 He's saying to Habakkuk, 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:10.440 look and be astounded. 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:13.099 Look at what's about to happen. 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:13.980 He says, 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.319 you know, 00:24:14.359 --> 00:24:15.599 I'm going to raise up Babylon 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:16.920 and you're going to be 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.880 taken into exile. 00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:19.279 But that's just the beginning. 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:20.859 He says, 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:22.299 then I'm going to raise up Assyria 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:24.099 and Assyria is going to conquer Babylon. 00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.099 And then you're going to be 00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:25.859 set free again. 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:27.640 And then Greece is going to take over. 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:29.180 And because the Greeks take over, 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.900 their language is going to become 00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:32.640 the dominant common language 00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:35.620 among these known people groups. 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.560 And then after that, 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.640 you're going to become decentralized. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.520 And instead of the temple, 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:40.240 you're going to develop 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.320 the synagogue system. 00:24:41.540 --> 00:24:43.000 And so all of these Gentiles 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.440 are going to start to come in 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.520 and become familiar 00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:47.320 with the Jewish way of life 00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:48.320 and religion. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:50.220 And then Rome is going to take over 00:24:50.220 --> 00:24:51.759 and establish the Pax Romana. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:52.940 And then the known world 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:54.480 is going to be connected by roads 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.799 and a common system of government 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:57.599 and systems and institutions. 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.819 And then this perfect storm 00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:01.339 of major political forces 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:01.980 that Habakkuk, 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.019 you're not even going to begin 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.519 to understand. 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.640 This perfect storm 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.599 is going to be established 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:08.180 from all these countervailing movements 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.380 in world history. 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.460 And right in the midst 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.599 of that perfect storm, 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:14.319 God's Son is going to plunge Himself. 00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:16.680 And while you, Habakkuk, 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.440 may cry out, 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.299 O Lord, 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.819 and believe that you're alone. 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:21.759 And while we may cry out, 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.500 O Lord, 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.099 and believe that we're alone. 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:26.339 That man is going to cry out, 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:26.920 O Lord, 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.559 from the cross, 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.980 and he will be alone. 00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.720 The only one in history 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:33.099 that God truly abandoned. 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.319 But because of that, 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:36.640 because of that, 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:39.500 this promise is going to ensue 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:42.660 of a complete cosmic renewal. 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:43.660 Because of this death, 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.940 all the injustice 00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:46.000 and hatred 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.900 and cruelty, 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:47.819 all of that stuff 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:49.299 that you're railing against Habakkuk, 00:25:49.539 --> 00:25:51.240 all of that is going to be dealt with. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:51.980 And one day, 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.660 justice will fill the earth again. 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:56.059 And then the news of this 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.339 is going to begin to spread. 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:59.960 And it's going to go far and wide. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:01.240 And then people are going to start 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.079 writing it down. 00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:03.120 In what language? 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.720 Koine Greek, 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:06.440 the common tongue. 00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:07.599 And then it's going to begin 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.480 to be written down 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:10.140 and formed into something 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:11.740 that will be called the Bible. 00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.559 And then that's going to be 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:14.299 translated into Latin. 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:15.140 And then it's going to start 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.799 to be translated 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:17.059 into all of the various 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:17.980 common tongues 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.400 around the known world. 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:21.640 And that book 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:22.420 is going to become 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:22.940 to date 00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:24.740 the most widely read book 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.720 in the history 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.700 of humanity. 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.500 And that book 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:28.259 is going to contain 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.340 all things necessary 00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:30.820 for any human being, 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.080 regardless of their background, 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.640 regardless of their ethnicity, 00:26:34.460 --> 00:26:35.640 to be reconciled 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.620 to the creator God 00:26:36.620 --> 00:26:37.440 of the universe. 00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:38.940 So yes, Habakkuk, 00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:42.400 I'll try to answer 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.040 your question. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:45.659 But even if I laid 00:26:45.659 --> 00:26:46.680 all of it out for you, 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.440 you wouldn't believe me. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.720 You wouldn't believe me. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.500 You wouldn't understand. 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:55.139 But here's the thing, Habakkuk. 00:26:57.359 --> 00:26:58.839 It starts with exile. 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:03.019 It's going to be hard. 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.319 Trust me. 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.819 Trust me. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:14.480 So this is the choice, 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:14.779 I think, 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.420 that we have to make 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.240 on a daily basis. 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.259 Because just like Habakkuk, 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.799 I think that we live lives 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:22.139 where there's a disconnect 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:25.240 between what God has said 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:27.480 and who he says he is 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:29.839 and then what our lives look like 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.299 on a daily basis. 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.700 And it doesn't seem 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.420 to fit together. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.440 Right? 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.039 On the one hand, 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:37.579 God promises to be our God, 00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:38.500 to work all things 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:39.019 for our good, 00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:40.339 to never stop loving us. 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.359 And yet, 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:41.960 on the other hand, 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.879 our lives are sometimes 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.640 full of struggle 00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.560 and hardship 00:27:44.560 --> 00:27:45.500 and it seems like 00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.080 God is nowhere. 00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:48.380 So this core question 00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:49.100 is put to us 00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:50.120 just as it was him. 00:27:51.020 --> 00:27:52.320 Are you going to trust 00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:53.860 only what you see 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.800 with your eyes? 00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:57.060 Or are you going to trust 00:27:57.060 --> 00:27:59.120 the words of God 00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:00.860 to shape your ultimate 00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:02.040 understanding of reality? 00:28:03.040 --> 00:28:04.380 Where do you put your faith? 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:07.600 Do I trust that God's promises 00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:08.380 might be unfolding 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.300 even in the midst 00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.300 of my pain? 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.720 Paul saw the promise 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.659 in the pain 00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:14.200 and the question 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.039 is presented to us. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.480 Can we have eyes 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.899 to see the promise 00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:18.799 unfolding 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.599 even in the midst 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.919 of our pain? 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.599 The world's groaning 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.139 in pain. 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:25.480 You know, 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:28.680 in our northeast congregation, 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.299 our pediatrician, 00:28:30.259 --> 00:28:31.680 Dr. Reese, 00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.299 you know, 00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.180 Kristen Reese Hall, 00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:34.839 she's our boys pediatrician 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:36.419 and she's a wonderful woman 00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:37.599 and wonderful doctor. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.919 But every so often 00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:40.000 we have to take our boys 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:41.359 to see her 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.199 and we have to break 00:28:42.199 --> 00:28:42.879 the news to them 00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:43.759 in the car 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:45.759 that when we get there 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.259 you're going to have 00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:46.899 to get a shot. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.279 And they freak out 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.519 because that's what kids do, 00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:50.879 right? 00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:52.959 And then there ensues 00:28:52.959 --> 00:28:54.359 a kind of theological debate, 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.179 right? 00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:56.299 Well, 00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.240 if Dr. Reese 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.819 is all-knowing 00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:00.859 and if she's good 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:02.379 and if she's loving 00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:04.199 and she wants the best 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:04.740 for us 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:05.900 then how 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:07.180 when this random nurse 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.840 comes in 00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:09.279 and sticks a piece 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:10.539 of metal in my leg 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.539 why does she sit 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.299 idly by? 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.319 Why does she not 00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:15.440 hear our cries? 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:16.580 Right? 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.580 Why does she do nothing? 00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:17.980 And we say 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.960 everybody can hear 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.519 your cries. 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:22.539 That's not the problem, 00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:23.140 right? 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.640 And we say, 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:24.819 you know, 00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:25.480 we could try 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.720 to explain it to them 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.819 but they can't really 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:29.080 understand immunizations 00:29:29.080 --> 00:29:29.640 and all that 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.900 because they're five, 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:31.900 right? 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.500 And seven. 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:34.240 And so at the end 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:34.500 of the day 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.700 we say trust us. 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.559 Now this is nowhere 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.980 near the scale 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.539 that we're dealing 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.339 with in Habakkuk 00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:40.880 but it's a, 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.440 it's at the core 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.579 of it the same question, 00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.299 right? 00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.940 Are you going to trust me 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.140 that this is ultimately 00:29:47.140 --> 00:29:47.779 going to turn out 00:29:47.779 --> 00:29:48.380 for your good? 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.460 Are you going to trust 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.039 me with this? 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:51.960 You know, 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:52.720 some of you know 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.640 the story of, 00:29:54.119 --> 00:29:54.420 you know, 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.200 my wife and I, 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.740 we met years ago 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.420 in 1999 00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:59.839 and we got, 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:01.059 fell in love 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:01.920 and got engaged 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.800 and everything 00:30:02.800 --> 00:30:03.400 was great 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:04.360 and then as we 00:30:04.360 --> 00:30:04.920 got engaged 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:06.100 and started approaching 00:30:06.100 --> 00:30:06.600 the wedding 00:30:06.600 --> 00:30:07.600 I just began 00:30:07.600 --> 00:30:08.420 to lock down 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.840 and I can't really 00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:10.420 explain it 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:10.940 but essentially 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:12.660 I can only describe it 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.900 as a kind of profound 00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:14.860 emotional, 00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:15.519 spiritual, 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.900 psychological block 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:18.960 where I just could not 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.600 move forward. 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:21.200 I was utterly terrified 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:23.480 and this resulted 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.160 in us having to 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.799 call off our engagement 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.539 and it was bad 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.100 because it was only 00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.620 a few months 00:30:27.620 --> 00:30:28.259 before the wedding 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:29.080 so we're talking 00:30:29.080 --> 00:30:30.840 thousands and thousands 00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:31.420 of dollars 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:32.819 of deposits lost, 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.360 trying to sell 00:30:34.360 --> 00:30:35.319 bridesmaids dresses 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.940 on eBay, 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.080 you know, 00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:38.080 the whole nine yards. 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:39.720 Laura was utterly 00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.400 devastated, 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.480 you know, 00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:43.220 I was so devastated 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:43.779 and depressed 00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.559 that I started taking 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.299 antidepressants 00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.080 and going to counseling 00:30:46.080 --> 00:30:46.880 and trying to figure out 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.720 what's wrong with me. 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:48.980 I felt like I was 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.980 a massive failure 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:52.240 and we were apart 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.200 for five years 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:56.019 and much of that early time, 00:30:56.140 --> 00:30:57.779 first two or three years 00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:58.740 was just wrestling 00:30:58.740 --> 00:30:59.400 with God 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.700 over what happened, 00:31:00.900 --> 00:31:01.019 what, 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:03.240 I felt so called to this 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.160 and she felt so called 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:04.380 to this 00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:05.240 and it all seemed right, 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:06.420 what happened to me? 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.200 You know, 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.700 and it's weird 00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:08.339 when there's something 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.579 in your own soul 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.579 that you can't understand. 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:11.559 There's a part of you 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.279 that's doing something 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:13.160 that you can't even 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:13.839 make sense of. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.579 You feel like 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.839 you've betrayed yourself, 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.500 at least I did. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.319 And then through 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:20.140 this whole series 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:20.640 of events, 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.740 five years later, 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.420 we reconnect, 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:25.519 we realize we're more 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.360 in love than ever, 00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.860 we get back together, 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.600 we get engaged, 00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.240 we get married 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.019 and now we've been 00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:30.880 married for ten years, 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:32.000 we have three beautiful kids 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.180 and I may be biased 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:33.779 but I think we have 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:34.960 one of the best marriages around. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.980 I'm absolutely crazy 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.460 about her 00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:39.000 and she likes me okay 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.460 as well 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:41.000 and it works great. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:42.220 And you know, 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:42.900 the funny thing 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:44.100 about that story is, 00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:44.400 again, 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.579 it's just a small example, 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:47.059 it's nothing like Habakkuk, 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:48.440 but the funny thing 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:49.299 is that two things 00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:50.500 are simultaneously true 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.119 that don't really 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:51.940 seem to fit together. 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:53.139 On the one hand, 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.059 would I wish that 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:54.819 on anyone? 00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.319 Absolutely not. 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.599 Absolutely not. 00:31:58.139 --> 00:31:58.940 It was a dark night 00:31:58.940 --> 00:31:59.379 of the soul 00:31:59.379 --> 00:32:00.179 for both of us. 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:01.819 And yet on the other hand, 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:02.700 when I ask her, 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:03.359 and this comes up 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:03.919 every now and then, 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:06.079 would you change anything? 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.119 If you could, 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.480 would you change it? 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.500 She says, 00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:10.480 absolutely not. 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.259 And that's a weird 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.940 thing to say. 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:14.539 But when we look at that, 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:16.259 somehow that is a part 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:17.559 of who we are as people 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.620 and it's a part, 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.080 I think, 00:32:19.100 --> 00:32:20.100 of why our marriage 00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:21.299 is so strong now. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.080 Now, 00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:22.539 if you had tried 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:23.900 to tell me any of that 00:32:23.900 --> 00:32:25.860 in 2002, 00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:27.640 I would have laughed 00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:28.480 you out of my house. 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.620 I don't even want 00:32:29.620 --> 00:32:30.320 to hear that. 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.180 But now, 00:32:33.340 --> 00:32:33.940 looking back, 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:36.220 God was somehow 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.900 mysteriously at work. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:38.680 Now, 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.240 I don't understand 00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.059 everything about it. 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.140 I certainly have 00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:41.880 a lot of questions. 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:42.780 I can't wait 00:32:42.780 --> 00:32:43.940 to ask God about it. 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.740 A lot of other stuff 00:32:44.740 --> 00:32:45.180 in life. 00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:46.740 But I can tell you 00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.380 that we see 00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:48.560 God's goodness in it. 00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:50.420 In other words, 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.120 we're able to see 00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:52.780 the promise in the pain. 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:55.000 God's will unfolding 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:57.260 in some amazing way 00:32:57.260 --> 00:32:58.540 that we wouldn't even believe 00:32:58.540 --> 00:32:59.800 even if he told us. 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.580 Right? 00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.780 So the most amazing thing 00:33:02.780 --> 00:33:03.580 about Habakkuk, 00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:04.180 and this is where 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.220 we need to stop 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:06.600 for this week, 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.620 the most amazing thing 00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:08.300 about Habakkuk 00:33:08.300 --> 00:33:09.380 is that Habakkuk 00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:09.980 doesn't have 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.320 any of this perspective 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:12.539 bear in mind. 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:14.079 He doesn't know 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:15.599 what's on the other 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.299 side of exile. 00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:17.099 He doesn't know 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:17.559 anything about 00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:18.259 the coming of Jesus. 00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:18.740 He doesn't know 00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:19.419 any of that. 00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.700 All he knows 00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.960 is he's staring exile 00:33:21.960 --> 00:33:22.960 in the face 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:23.819 like looking down 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.679 the barrel of a gun. 00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:26.619 And yet, 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.700 even without 00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.619 that perspective, 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:30.859 he trusts God. 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:32.259 And he falls 00:33:32.259 --> 00:33:32.919 into his arms. 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.679 So how much more 00:33:34.679 --> 00:33:36.500 then can we 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.339 who have the 00:33:37.339 --> 00:33:38.099 perspective of 00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:38.919 Jesus Christ 00:33:38.919 --> 00:33:40.500 trust God? 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:42.079 even if things 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.400 are hard 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:43.240 and don't make sense. 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:44.819 Because we're able 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.680 to look at the cross 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.859 and see the promise 00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:47.880 in the pain 00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:48.619 that the greatest 00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:49.500 pain and suffering 00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.519 ever experienced 00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:51.779 by a human being 00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:53.220 could produce 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:54.079 the greatest hope 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:55.039 the world has ever 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.279 known. 00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.480 In the name of the 00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.259 Father and the Son 00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:58.960 and the Holy Spirit. 00:33:59.519 --> 00:33:59.740 Amen.