WEBVTT 00:00:00.460 --> 00:00:08.980 I am really excited. Habakkuk is a, I'll let you have like 10 minutes to find it because it's a little one of the minor prophets stuck there in the middle, so keep turning. 00:00:11.060 --> 00:00:22.019 Habakkuk is a sober book. It's a surprising book. It's kind of a puzzling book. It requires some thought, but the payoff is awesome. 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:30.839 And I can't wait to go through step by step with you. Today is going to be sweet. And so let's begin. 00:00:32.420 --> 00:00:41.859 I bet some of you all can relate to something like this. One of the hardest questions I'm asked is a question that I'm asked probably several times a day. 00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:48.960 Are you ready for it? Hey, how are you? Is that a hard question to answer sometimes? 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:54.820 It is for me because normally we answer by saying, fine, good, because that's normal small talk. 00:00:54.939 --> 00:01:02.480 But if you're an overly introspective person like me, then you might think, well, I'm not really doing that fine, so I should be honest. 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:07.599 And then you're like, well, actually, I'm not really that fine. I really, I'm going through some rough stuff. 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:15.520 I had a rough week or whatever. So, but today I'm not going to be very nice to you because I'm going to ask you that question. 00:01:15.640 --> 00:01:18.299 You don't have to answer out loud, but I'm going to give you three options. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:23.199 A, B, or C. So you don't have to answer out loud. Just say it in your head. 00:01:24.199 --> 00:01:28.780 Pick between these three options, or you can go between the middle of two of them if you want to. 00:01:29.299 --> 00:01:34.539 So first option, if I ask you how are you, and you would say, A, I really am fine. 00:01:34.699 --> 00:01:39.759 Like, life is good. I feel good. There's lots of good stuff going on. Fine. That's A. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:51.460 B is not fine, but eh. I'm all right. Not great. I'm kind of stressed out. My kids are going crazy. 00:01:52.620 --> 00:01:58.820 Life is, work is hard. It's not terrible, but I could be better. You're eh. 00:01:58.819 --> 00:02:08.879 But maybe you're not A or B. Maybe you're C, and you're ouch. Maybe you're feeling the ouch of life. 00:02:10.819 --> 00:02:17.280 Maybe you got, you're just feeling sad. Maybe you got, physically you don't feel great. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:22.479 Maybe you're dealing with some depression. Maybe some severe disappointment. 00:02:24.140 --> 00:02:26.659 Well, I'm not sure where you're at right now. 00:02:29.080 --> 00:02:35.860 We probably cycle through these different experiences on a weekly basis, right? 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:38.860 We're either at a fine or an eh or an ouch. 00:02:38.860 --> 00:02:43.840 Maybe on a weekly basis. Maybe on a daily basis we cycle through those three. 00:02:45.540 --> 00:02:48.220 But I want to ask the question, where's God in all that? 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:53.080 Where's God in how we're doing with life? 00:02:53.420 --> 00:02:54.760 The daily ins and outs. 00:02:55.500 --> 00:03:00.300 The hard circumstances, the eh circumstances, the good circumstances. 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:02.760 Where's God in all that? 00:03:02.759 --> 00:03:10.560 Sometimes if we're in the eh, and especially if we're in the ouch kind of times of our lives, or days, 00:03:11.399 --> 00:03:16.479 we might be tempted to ask the question, where is God in all this? 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:18.299 Does He care? 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:21.259 Why isn't He making this better? 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:24.299 Is it even fair that I'm going through this right now? 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:27.219 Sometimes we voice these questions to Him. 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:28.419 Sometimes we voice it to others. 00:03:28.959 --> 00:03:30.680 Oftentimes we go internal. 00:03:30.979 --> 00:03:32.359 I don't know about you, but this is what I do. 00:03:33.359 --> 00:03:37.939 Sometimes I go internal, and I get a little cynical. 00:03:39.699 --> 00:03:43.560 It might even be that it's a very small little voice in my head 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:46.419 that when things aren't going the way I want them to go, 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:49.719 I might tell myself, 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:53.319 man, a guy might be there way up there, but he's pretty distant. 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:55.959 And to be honest, for all practical purposes, you're on your own, Billy. 00:03:57.560 --> 00:03:58.959 You just got to muddle through this. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:01.120 You just got to do the best you can with what you got. 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:07.340 God might be there, distant, but He isn't really looking out for you. 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:10.500 And you kind of need to look out for yourself. 00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:15.000 I don't know about you, but that's what I tend to do. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:22.500 Regardless of our responses, sometimes life just forces us into a situation 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:25.779 where we have to reconcile two things. 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:29.620 We have to reconcile, especially if we're a believer in God. 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:32.379 We have to reconcile the God that we know. 00:04:32.899 --> 00:04:34.339 The God that we know He's there. 00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:36.199 The God that we've been taught about. 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:37.240 He's good. 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:38.259 He's faithful. 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:39.079 He's just. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:40.100 He's loving. 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:44.280 Sometimes we have to reconcile this God with our reality. 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:47.780 The reality of disappointment. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:51.360 The reality of unfulfilled desires. 00:04:51.840 --> 00:04:52.879 Unexpected outcomes. 00:04:53.900 --> 00:04:55.540 The reality of broken relationships. 00:04:56.700 --> 00:04:58.180 The reality of depression. 00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:00.900 The reality of wayward children. 00:05:01.840 --> 00:05:03.760 The reality of abusive parents. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:07.719 And we're all facing this at some point or another. 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:09.000 The reality of sickness. 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:10.719 Or disability. 00:05:11.599 --> 00:05:12.459 Or death. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:17.000 That's why I'm really glad Habakkuk is in the Bible. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:21.360 Because Habakkuk was asking those questions too. 00:05:22.279 --> 00:05:24.319 And we get to ask those questions along with him. 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:30.579 The book of Habakkuk was written for the express purpose of helping us to answer this question. 00:05:30.579 --> 00:05:38.680 How do God's people respond when God brings circumstances that make him seem distant? 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:41.680 Or maybe not even just. 00:05:42.579 --> 00:05:43.919 Maybe not even loving. 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:52.899 How do God's people respond when God brings circumstances into our lives that make God seem distant? 00:05:53.719 --> 00:05:54.919 Or even just. 00:05:55.099 --> 00:05:55.639 Not unjust. 00:05:56.019 --> 00:05:57.740 Or maybe not even loving. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:05:58.180 So. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:01.379 If you're in Habakkuk. 00:06:02.699 --> 00:06:03.780 Hopefully you found it. 00:06:05.500 --> 00:06:06.879 Let's look at it. 00:06:06.960 --> 00:06:07.280 And just. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:10.960 Get a feel for what this book might have to offer us. 00:06:11.100 --> 00:06:12.040 If you look at it. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:13.400 Especially chapter 1. 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:14.560 Into chapter 2. 00:06:15.220 --> 00:06:17.319 You might notice a couple of things. 00:06:18.420 --> 00:06:19.040 First of all. 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:22.400 You might notice that it's not a typical prophetic book. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:23.900 When you open to the prophetic books. 00:06:23.900 --> 00:06:25.220 Like Isaiah or Jeremiah. 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:29.880 It's generally God speaking to his people through a prophet. 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:31.400 But this is different. 00:06:32.020 --> 00:06:35.120 This is God's prophet speaking to God about God's people. 00:06:35.580 --> 00:06:36.800 It's a little bit different. 00:06:36.900 --> 00:06:38.720 It's a conversational book. 00:06:39.260 --> 00:06:41.040 And I like this about Habakkuk. 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:42.880 Because I like to have conversations. 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:43.700 I don't know about you. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:45.280 But this helps me. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:48.360 It helps me realize I can have a conversation with God. 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:49.860 Just like Habakkuk is. 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:53.100 And we can just jump right into relating to this. 00:06:53.540 --> 00:06:56.960 So your Bible might have some headings. 00:06:56.960 --> 00:06:58.900 That say something like Habakkuk's complaint. 00:06:59.420 --> 00:07:00.439 The Lord's answer. 00:07:00.960 --> 00:07:02.199 Habakkuk's second complaint. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:03.540 The Lord's answer. 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:03.920 Etc. 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:04.259 Etc. 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:06.960 So that's how the book of Habakkuk is kind of arranged. 00:07:07.540 --> 00:07:11.139 And so we're going to look at the first part of the conversation this morning. 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:15.160 Next week we'll look at God's extended answer to Habakkuk. 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:23.780 And then the week after that is chapter 3 when Habakkuk responds back to God with a psalm-like prayer. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:26.860 But for right now, let's just jump in. 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:30.860 Raise your hand if you send text messages. 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:33.060 Okay. 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:38.620 If you send text messages, you're probably used to seeing a little bubble pop up with your text. 00:07:39.020 --> 00:07:39.160 Right? 00:07:39.420 --> 00:07:39.640 Bloop. 00:07:39.960 --> 00:07:40.640 There's your thing. 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:42.260 And then the other person's bubble. 00:07:42.440 --> 00:07:42.680 Bloop. 00:07:43.080 --> 00:07:43.740 And then your bubble. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:44.160 Bloop. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:44.240 Bloop. 00:07:44.320 --> 00:07:44.740 And then, okay. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:45.620 So that's what we're going to do. 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:47.620 I'm going to give us little bloops. 00:07:47.880 --> 00:07:51.980 Little text messages that will kind of help us anchor to this passage. 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:56.240 And it'll give us a quick way to walk through it. 00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:57.700 There are four little messages. 00:07:58.280 --> 00:07:58.480 Bloop. 00:07:58.520 --> 00:07:58.680 Bloop. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:07:58.900 Bloop. 00:07:58.940 --> 00:07:59.120 Bloop. 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:00.400 That we're going to look through. 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:03.320 Habakkuk is going to ask a question. 00:08:03.580 --> 00:08:03.820 Bloop. 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:05.160 God's going to answer. 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:05.620 Bloop. 00:08:06.220 --> 00:08:08.320 Thanks for dealing with my sound effects. 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:08.960 I appreciate it. 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:11.340 Then Habakkuk is going to ask a second question. 00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:11.780 Bloop. 00:08:11.780 --> 00:08:13.600 And then God's going to respond. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:14.520 Bloop. 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:15.780 You guys got it. 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:16.560 Well done. 00:08:17.200 --> 00:08:20.240 So, we're going to read the first four verses. 00:08:20.780 --> 00:08:22.640 And I'll give you the first message. 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:24.160 Habakkuk's first question. 00:08:24.320 --> 00:08:24.700 Here we go. 00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:28.519 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.599 Oh, Lord. 00:08:32.220 --> 00:08:34.700 How long shall I cry for help? 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:36.500 And you will not hear. 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:39.100 Or cry to you, violence! 00:08:39.980 --> 00:08:41.360 And you will not save. 00:08:41.939 --> 00:08:44.480 Why do you make me see iniquity? 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:48.179 And why do you idly look at wrong? 00:08:48.179 --> 00:08:51.599 Destruction and violence are before me. 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:54.239 Strife and contention arise. 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:56.699 So, the law is paralyzed. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.299 And justice never goes forth. 00:08:59.819 --> 00:09:02.259 For the wicked surround the righteous. 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.099 So, justice goes forth perverted. 00:09:06.100 --> 00:09:10.279 So, first, bloop. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:14.840 Habakkuk says, God, how long until you make things right? 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:19.879 How long until you make things right? 00:09:19.879 --> 00:09:25.820 From what we can tell in this text, there's a whole lot of bad stuff going on around Habakkuk. 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:28.100 And it seems like God's just letting it happen. 00:09:29.779 --> 00:09:35.220 The prophet's reality is remarkably inconsistent with the God that he knows. 00:09:35.320 --> 00:09:37.080 And it's affecting him very personally. 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:39.840 So, what was all this bad stuff? 00:09:40.179 --> 00:09:41.500 Well, basically, it's this. 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:48.360 God's nation, Israel, specifically Judah, the southern kingdom, was falling apart at the seams. 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:50.720 This is God's holy people. 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:53.759 The only nation in the ancient world that knew God. 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:55.659 That God had revealed himself to. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:58.240 And they were completely ignoring him. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:09:59.980 And they were doing their own thing. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:01.620 And it was a disaster. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:07.519 Verse 4 tells us that wicked people are surrounding the righteous people. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:12.980 We see that there's no justice in verse 4. 00:10:14.420 --> 00:10:16.700 God's law is powerless, paralyzed. 00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:19.180 God's given the law, but the people are ignoring it. 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:19.860 So, it's paralyzed. 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:22.560 It can do nothing while the people are ignoring it. 00:10:23.920 --> 00:10:26.020 God's nation was running headlong away from him. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.140 And it was full. 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:29.000 This nation was full of evil. 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:32.160 But it's not just that. 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:35.160 It's not just that God's people were off the tracks. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:39.040 It's that Habakkuk has been asking God to make things right. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:40.940 And it seems like he's been doing it for a while. 00:10:41.040 --> 00:10:42.820 And it seems like God is not doing anything. 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:45.440 It seems like God is silent. 00:10:45.580 --> 00:10:46.520 It seems like he doesn't care. 00:10:47.780 --> 00:10:49.200 Look at verses 2 and 3. 00:10:49.580 --> 00:10:51.800 How long shall I cry for help? 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:53.540 And you will not hear. 00:10:54.140 --> 00:10:56.280 How long shall I cry to you violence? 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:57.720 And you will not save. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.620 Don't you care that things are falling apart, God? 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:06.320 Don't you care that this blatant evil is going on? 00:11:06.400 --> 00:11:07.320 And you're doing nothing? 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:07.440 Don't you care that this is going on? 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:12.020 Whoever Habakkuk was, we know he was a prophet. 00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:14.040 But we also know he really cared about righteousness. 00:11:14.300 --> 00:11:15.660 And he really cared about truth. 00:11:16.260 --> 00:11:17.340 And he cared about justice. 00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:20.760 And he saw that all around him there was perverted justice. 00:11:21.280 --> 00:11:22.360 Bribes were going on. 00:11:22.660 --> 00:11:23.180 Idolatry. 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:25.140 Godlessness and wickedness. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:31.340 If you flip back to the story of Israel in 2 Kings or in 2 Chronicles, 00:11:31.420 --> 00:11:34.080 you get a picture of what that looked like. 00:11:34.180 --> 00:11:35.560 It was blatant evil. 00:11:35.559 --> 00:11:38.559 Again and again, generation after generation. 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:40.359 And it was coming to a head. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.799 Sin and sin's effects were all around Habakkuk. 00:11:43.839 --> 00:11:45.000 And he was torn up about it. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:47.299 And it seemed that God was doing nothing. 00:11:48.959 --> 00:11:50.079 Anybody ever been there? 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:54.239 Felt like stuff was falling apart? 00:11:55.099 --> 00:11:55.979 God was doing nothing? 00:11:57.339 --> 00:11:58.639 Well, let's see how God answers. 00:11:59.599 --> 00:12:00.439 So the first bloop, 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:02.519 God, when are you going to make things right? 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:06.399 And then here's God's answer. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:07.120 Let's read it. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.319 And then I'll give you the bloop. 00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:10.819 Let's read verses 5 through 11. 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:14.660 Look among the nations and see. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:16.840 Wonder and be astounded. 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:20.800 For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.740 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:26.860 that bitter and hasty nation 00:12:26.860 --> 00:12:31.260 who march through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. 00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:33.419 They are dreaded and fearsome. 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:36.600 Their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:39.659 Their horses are swifter than leopards, 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:41.539 more fierce than the evening wolves. 00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:43.679 Their horsemen press proudly on. 00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:45.700 Their horsemen come from afar. 00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:47.840 They fly like an eagle, swift to devour. 00:12:48.319 --> 00:12:49.659 They all come for violence. 00:12:49.819 --> 00:12:51.039 All their faces are forward. 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:53.360 They gather captives like sand. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:55.480 At kings, they scoff. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.379 At rulers, they laugh. 00:12:57.379 --> 00:12:59.659 They laugh at every fortress, 00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:01.500 for they pile up earth and take it. 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:03.779 Then they sweep by like the wind, 00:13:03.820 --> 00:13:04.460 and they go on. 00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:07.100 Guilty men whose own might is their God. 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:10.720 So here's God's bloop. 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:14.000 God, how long till you make things right? 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:15.240 Bloop. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:16.480 Not long. 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.840 I'm going to make it right. 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:22.419 I'm going to judge evil with evil. 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.019 Whew. 00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.740 God listens to his prophet, 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:30.259 and God agrees with his prophet. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:33.860 God doesn't rebuke Habakkuk for his bold question, 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:36.980 even though it was pretty honest and bold. 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:39.840 He tells his prophet exactly what he's going to do 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:42.080 about all the wickedness of his people. 00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:42.919 He's going to make it right. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.220 He's going to address it head on. 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:47.679 And the solution is grim. 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:49.799 And it isn't far away. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.659 How's he going to do it? 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.320 What's he going to do? 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:54.820 He's going to pour out his wrath. 00:13:54.820 --> 00:13:57.540 He is going to judge evil with evil. 00:13:58.920 --> 00:14:00.600 His people had turned against him, 00:14:01.260 --> 00:14:03.640 and now a final stroke of dreadful judgment 00:14:03.640 --> 00:14:07.960 after centuries of patience was going to come. 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:10.300 It was the only thing that was going to get their attention 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:13.720 and satisfy God's justice in one blow. 00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:16.680 The Chaldeans, who are these guys? 00:14:16.760 --> 00:14:18.320 Well, they're also known as the Babylonians. 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.760 They were a brutal pagan nation. 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:24.620 They were the rising superpower of the East at the time. 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:28.379 They were feared, and they were already on the move. 00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:32.300 They had already been building their empire with blistering speed. 00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:34.440 But notice, notice verse 6. 00:14:36.400 --> 00:14:39.500 I am raising up the Chaldeans. 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:44.299 This is not just ancient world politics. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.100 This is God's sovereign hand in history, 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:50.580 bringing judgment, raising up nations, putting down nations. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.399 God is the sovereign God of all. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.700 He is not a tame lion. 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.580 Within a short period of time, 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:00.580 the Chaldeans would brutally invade Israel. 00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:02.019 They would destroy their cities, 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:06.539 and they would cart the survivors off to Babylon in captivity. 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:10.259 In case you didn't notice, let's just check out the character of these guys. 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.219 They're not very nice. 00:15:11.339 --> 00:15:12.159 Look at verse 6. 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:14.500 It says, look at the words used to describe them. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:14.980 They're bitter. 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:15.839 They're hasty. 00:15:16.419 --> 00:15:18.000 They seize dwellings not their own. 00:15:18.079 --> 00:15:18.559 They're greedy. 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:20.019 They're dreaded. 00:15:20.099 --> 00:15:20.679 They're fearsome. 00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.559 Verse 7. 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:25.179 Defining their own justice and dignity. 00:15:25.439 --> 00:15:25.860 Verse 8. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:27.659 They're swift, and they're fierce. 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:30.179 They're proud, and they're devouring. 00:15:30.839 --> 00:15:31.439 Verse 9. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:32.179 They're violent. 00:15:32.719 --> 00:15:34.740 They're gathering captives like sand. 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:35.959 They're quite powerful. 00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:37.219 Verse 10. 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:40.079 They laugh and scoff at fortresses. 00:15:40.459 --> 00:15:41.079 Verse 11. 00:15:41.699 --> 00:15:42.719 This gets at the heart of it. 00:15:43.219 --> 00:15:46.039 They are guilty men whose own might is their God. 00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:49.759 And by the way, we're going to look at what their guilt was from next week. 00:15:50.899 --> 00:15:51.899 So yikes. 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.639 Any Israelite reading this, 00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:56.799 any Habakkuk seeing God's bloop, 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:59.099 they would be horror-stricken. 00:15:59.699 --> 00:16:01.240 That spelled disaster. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.860 This is their worst nightmare. 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:09.720 Their nation is coming to an end at the hands of a vicious, godless nation. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:13.180 And this was not just a temporary punishment. 00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:18.840 This, like the book of Judges, that cycle of punishments that happened over and over. 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:24.200 This is the full onslaught of God's judgment that he promised back in Deuteronomy 28 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:28.080 when he outlined the blessings and curses of the covenant where he said, 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:31.820 Israel, if you obey my commands, it will be good for you in this land. 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:35.340 But if you disobey my commands and disregard what I say, 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:39.620 these curses will come upon you, and you will be plucked out of your land. 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:41.220 And that's what is going to be happening here. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:44.040 So Habakkuk responds to this. 00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:47.120 And let's see what he says. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:50.759 We'll see his little bloop, our third bloop, 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:56.019 after we read from verse 12 through chapter 2, verse 1. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:17:02.740 Are you not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:05.000 We shall not die. 00:17:06.139 --> 00:17:08.759 O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:11.759 and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:16.460 You are who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong. 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:18.879 Why do you idly look at traitors 00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:23.019 and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:26.240 You made mankind like the fish of the sea, 00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:28.059 like crawling things that have no ruler. 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:30.240 He, that's the Babylonian guy, 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:32.980 he brings them all up out with a hook. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:34.879 He drags them out with his net. 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:36.700 He gathers them in his dragnet, 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.359 so he rejoices and is glad. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.819 Therefore, he sacrifices to his net 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.539 and makes offerings for his dragnet. 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:44.700 For by them he lives in luxury, 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:46.039 and his food is rich. 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:49.660 Is he then to keep on emptying his net 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:52.059 and mercilessly killing nations forever? 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:55.879 I will take my stand at the watch post 00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:58.319 and station myself on the tower 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:01.139 and look out to see what he will say to me 00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:04.079 and what I will answer concerning my complaint. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:10.259 So here's Habakkuk's bloop in response. 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.539 It's two parts. 00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:18.160 God, how can you use evil to accomplish your good purposes? 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:23.160 How can you use evil to accomplish your good purposes? 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:26.300 And the second part, 00:18:26.920 --> 00:18:30.080 will there ever be an end to this evil? 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:34.940 Will there ever be an end to this evil? 00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:42.660 Habakkuk sees what God's saying, 00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:44.880 and he is perplexed. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:47.840 He knows that God is pure and holy. 00:18:48.040 --> 00:18:48.920 Look at verse 13. 00:18:49.300 --> 00:18:51.560 You who are of pure eyes than to see evil 00:18:51.560 --> 00:18:52.680 and cannot look at wrong, 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:55.560 why do you idly look at traitors 00:18:55.560 --> 00:18:56.900 and are silent when the wicked 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:59.020 swallows up the man more righteous than he? 00:18:59.840 --> 00:19:00.700 He's basically saying, 00:19:00.760 --> 00:19:01.920 God, don't you see how evil 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:03.740 these Babylonians are? 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:10.779 They go and they grab your image bearers 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.620 out of the sea. 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:15.200 They're like a fisherman who just fishes for sport, 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.500 doesn't even eat the fish, 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.819 just tosses them in a trash can 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:18.759 after he plucks them out. 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:21.819 He just likes to be violent for violence's sake. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.819 And this guy, 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:27.339 he likes to just keep on doing this destruction forever. 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:28.019 He's greedy, 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:30.160 he's as fat as Jabba the Hutt, 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:30.920 and he doesn't care. 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.180 He just keeps going. 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:35.220 He just likes to watch the forest burn. 00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:36.680 He's like Joker and Batman. 00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:39.740 He's such a bad dude. 00:19:39.840 --> 00:19:42.320 Why are you going to let him take us out? 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.340 I mean, yeah, we're bad, 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.200 but he's worse. 00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:46.080 Why don't you take him out first? 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:51.759 You can't see how God can use this evil 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:54.779 to accomplish his good purposes 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:58.820 of bringing justice to the nation of Israel. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:01.940 I imagine some of us have asked this question too. 00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:03.840 How can God use evil 00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:05.820 to accomplish his good purposes? 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.680 Isn't he just? 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.220 Isn't he loving? 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:11.320 And is there ever going to be an end 00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:12.660 to all this? 00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:15.000 But before we move on, 00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:17.240 did you notice how Isaiah started in verse 12? 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:19.080 Look back to verse 12 with me. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.680 He's upset. 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:21.480 He's confused. 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:22.160 He's perplexed. 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:23.980 But he's upset and confused for a reason. 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:26.140 And it's a God-centered reason. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:31.019 Are you not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? 00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:32.620 We shall not die. 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.120 O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:38.720 and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:41.240 So he's saying, God, I hear you. 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.160 We need judgment. 00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.620 We need correction. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:48.140 But I know that you can't totally turn your back on your people. 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:52.660 We shall not die because you are from everlasting, 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.960 and the one who is from everlasting 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.480 doesn't give up on his promises. 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.759 You see, Habakkuk knew his Bible. 00:20:59.820 --> 00:21:01.380 He knew that God's covenant promises 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:03.860 that he had made over millennia, 00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:06.920 they were going to still come true, 00:21:07.040 --> 00:21:11.019 even in the face of all of things coming undone. 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:15.100 He knew that God had promised to do good to his people 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:18.100 and to redeem a fallen humanity, 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.019 and God couldn't go back on his word. 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.580 He couldn't do it. 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:24.700 And he also knew that this God, 00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:27.360 not just on a whole nation of Israel, 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:29.340 God's people basis, but on a personal basis. 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.700 He said, God, you're my God. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:33.779 You've made certain promises to me 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:35.680 through your covenant of grace, 00:21:36.040 --> 00:21:38.140 and I know you can't go back on them. 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.660 You are my God. 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.660 You are from everlasting. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.360 I trust in you that even though you are doing things 00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:45.680 that I don't understand right now, 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.720 that you are still good, 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.220 and you can't go back on your word. 00:21:49.320 --> 00:21:51.680 So Habakkuk asked God some hard questions here, 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:53.580 but he does so faith-filled. 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:57.080 He does so expectant that God will keep his promises, 00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:59.500 dependent and trusting. 00:22:01.600 --> 00:22:03.320 Habakkuk trusts God that he'll make it right, 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.660 that he'll bring about some good, 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:07.380 but he just can't see how God can use this evil 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:09.820 and whether God's going to ever put an end to it. 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:13.539 So now Habakkuk has asked the question. 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.480 So in chapter 2, verse 1, 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.839 he gets up into a wash tower, 00:22:17.419 --> 00:22:19.720 and he waits to see what God's going to say 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:22.359 because he feels like he might have crossed a line. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:24.399 He's questioning the Almighty. 00:22:26.419 --> 00:22:28.379 But he's doing so in a faith-filled way, 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:31.980 and so God's comeback is very interesting. 00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:34.779 So let's see. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.200 Does God answer? 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:38.240 Yes, he does. 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:42.480 Let me read chapter 2, verse 2 through verse 4. 00:22:42.480 --> 00:23:08.220 Behold, his soul is puffed up. 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:10.720 That's referring back to the Babylonian in chapter 1. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:13.360 It is not upright within him, 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:18.000 but the righteous shall live by his faith. 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:23.299 So what is the final bloop? 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:29.559 God, how can you use evil for your good purposes? 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:34.579 Is there ever going to be an end to this evil? 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.640 And what does God say? 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:40.100 I will give life to all who trust in me, 00:23:40.099 --> 00:23:42.339 even in the midst of judgment. 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:46.319 I will give life to all who trust in me, 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:48.779 even in the midst of judgment. 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:52.319 Instead of rebuking Habakkuk, 00:23:52.399 --> 00:23:54.059 God answers his prophet gently. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.879 Isn't that cool? 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:58.019 Bold questions, yet faith-filled, 00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:59.359 are met with a gentle answer. 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.679 God has pretty thick skin. 00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.719 He can handle our questions. 00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.799 He has broad shoulders. 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:07.919 So instead of a rebuke, 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:10.339 God gives the prophet a vision to write down. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:14.019 We'll learn more about that vision next week. 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:18.940 But now, right before he gives the particulars of that vision, 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:22.159 he gives Habakkuk a massive promise. 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:27.759 I will give life to those who confidently trust in me, 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:30.360 even in the midst of judgment. 00:24:31.320 --> 00:24:32.140 Verse 4, 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.900 But the righteous will live. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:39.200 How will they live and not die? 00:24:40.080 --> 00:24:44.040 God just said that death and destruction is on its way in the form of judgment. 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:48.099 How are they going to live and not die? 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:50.440 By their faith. 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:53.639 God says, 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.180 Those who trust in me will live. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:56.960 They'll survive the judgment to come. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:59.500 They're going to ride the wave of my wrath. 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:03.119 They're going to be sustained by trusting in me. 00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:07.259 They will come out of the judgment unharmed. 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.240 And by the way, 00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:11.599 God was faithful to this promise in history. 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:12.680 A remnant, 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.820 a small remnant, 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:17.500 did survive the evil invasion of the Babylonians. 00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:19.680 They were carted off for 70 years. 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:21.779 And they did wind up coming back, 00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:22.660 they and their descendants. 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:24.660 And they rebuilt Jerusalem. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:29.700 And they got their civilization going again by God's grace. 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:31.880 You can read about it in the book of Ezra and Nehemiah. 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:35.220 But you might be saying, 00:25:35.560 --> 00:25:36.340 Billy, wait a minute. 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:37.519 Sorry. 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.779 You started talking to us about 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:42.019 how we were feeling. 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:44.599 And our eh and our ouch. 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:45.740 And where was God and all that. 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:48.579 I don't have Babylonians breathing down my neck. 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.980 This is the 21st century. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.339 All that 00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:55.059 nasty 00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.599 armies coming stuff. 00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:58.460 That's all gone and in the past. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:58.740 Right? 00:25:58.799 --> 00:25:58.940 I mean, 00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:02.099 I'm just trying to get through the rough patches of 21st century life. 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.940 What does that have to do with me? 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:05.660 Good question. 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:07.600 Thanks for asking. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:14.540 Let me answer that question by putting Habakkuk's questions in our own mouths. 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:19.500 God, how long until you make things right? 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:24.039 I'm so tired of seeing all this bad stuff all around me. 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:26.960 I'm so tired of being weighted down by my own sin. 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:32.240 I'm so tired of being sinned against by this person or these people. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:41.380 I'm so enraged at the brokenness I see around me in my family, in my neighborhood, in my country, in the world, myself. 00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:45.300 I'm just done with this disappointing world, God. 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:47.460 Aren't you going to do something about it? 00:26:48.760 --> 00:26:50.220 Anybody ask questions like that? 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:54.080 And then here's Habakkuk's second question. 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.280 Let's put it in our mouths. 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:59.640 God, how can these bad things accomplish your good purposes? 00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:03.420 Are you just going to let this bad stuff keep happening? 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:06.060 How are you going to redeem it? 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:09.540 Is there going to be an end to it someday? 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:14.799 I imagine we have all asked these questions. 00:27:14.899 --> 00:27:22.220 Maybe not in so many words, but we've all felt the pinch of living in a world where evil just keeps happening. 00:27:22.379 --> 00:27:23.359 Happening to you. 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.879 Happening around you. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.299 Happening in you. 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:28.159 Happening through you. 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:32.039 So what's God's bloops? 00:27:32.899 --> 00:27:35.339 What's his responses to these questions of ours? 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.799 He tells us very clearly. 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:40.419 Yes, I am going to do something about it. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:43.519 In fact, I've already started doing something about it. 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:49.180 And one day I will bring full and complete justice through judgment. 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.839 Just like in Habakkuk's day. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:53.059 The answer is still the same for us. 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:58.259 You see, just as Israel's sin demanded God's justice, God's judgment, 00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:03.960 the sin of our day, our sin, yours and mine, also requires justice and judgment. 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:08.539 Part of the judgment is living in a world that is broken and cursed. 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:16.460 When we told God back in the garden through our ancestors and we ourselves tell God, 00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:19.100 I want things my way, not your way. 00:28:19.600 --> 00:28:21.180 He said, okay, have it your way. 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:22.799 And he gave us what we wanted. 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:23.980 A world without him. 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:31.299 A cursed world that mirrors our own broken relationship with our good creator and king. 00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:37.659 We live in a world where there is so much evil because we have turned away from the God of all goodness. 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.379 But that's not all. 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:45.899 We do, that's part of the judgment is living here in this broken world. 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:54.780 But the evil that we experience now in this broken world is meant to get us to ask questions to God like Habakkuk did. 00:28:55.900 --> 00:29:01.180 And God has been very kind to warn us like he did Habakkuk that there is a final judgment coming. 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:07.500 A judgment much like the judgment he sent on Israel through the Babylonians. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:12.220 Swift, devastating, and just. 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:15.740 God will use evil to judge evil. 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:19.140 One day, and it may be very soon, 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:24.420 God will accomplish his good justice through terrible judgment. 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:27.160 Because it's what our sin deserves. 00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:33.299 We know this is not the last word, but please just hang out there for a second, okay? 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:35.559 Please listen to this. 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:38.160 Whether you're a Christian or you're not a Christian. 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:40.220 There's good news that's coming. 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:42.339 And bad news is never the last word. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:50.660 But don't let that bad news slip in one ear and out the other without letting it stay for a minute and making you a little bit uncomfortable. 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:57.900 Even if you are a believer and you know you're saved from the wrath to come, let it stick for a second. 00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:06.360 Your sin and my sin is deserving of a judgment like the judgment that Israel was going to receive, only far worse. 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:08.559 This is a physical judgment. 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.940 Ours is an eternal judgment. 00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.220 Ours is an eternal judgment. 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.220 Ours is an eternal judgment. 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:13.220 Ours is an eternal judgment. 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.220 Ours is an eternal judgment. 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:25.480 If you have not recognized your part in this evil world before your maker and judge, please know that just as the Israelites were in extreme danger, we are too. 00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:30.480 It doesn't seem like it on beautiful spring and summer days. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.620 But it's true. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:45.880 The sadness and disappointment and evil that you experience in this life is just a drop in the ocean of sadness and disappointment and misery that you will experience through eternal separation from God. 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.880 Verse 4 warned us. 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:48.880 Verse 4 warned us. 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:51.880 Don't let your soul be puffed up in pride. 00:30:51.880 --> 00:31:00.880 But instead, humble yourself before the God who is fierce in justice but tender in mercy. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:07.440 And on that note, we know this is not the last thing that God said in this passage to us. 00:31:09.640 --> 00:31:11.660 There's something else that God wants to tell us. 00:31:11.820 --> 00:31:12.380 It's this. 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:19.800 I will give life to all who trust in me even in the midst of judgment. 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:25.000 The righteous shall live. 00:31:25.780 --> 00:31:26.380 How? 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.980 By their faith. 00:31:30.260 --> 00:31:33.820 The righteous will survive the judgment by trusting in God. 00:31:34.100 --> 00:31:36.680 Did you know that this verse is quoted three times in the New Testament? 00:31:37.780 --> 00:31:40.860 Romans 1, Galatians 3, and Hebrews 10. 00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:44.759 Check them out when you go home this afternoon. 00:31:45.459 --> 00:31:47.959 Did you know that this verse is basically the thesis statement? 00:31:48.459 --> 00:31:52.939 The entire theme, the book of Romans can be summed up in this one verse. 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:58.439 The righteous shall live by his faith. 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.159 Why? 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.859 How is that possible? 00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.779 How does that have to do with us? 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:13.619 Because the God who pours out judgment on the guilty is also the God who poured out judgment on his innocent son on behalf of the guilty. 00:32:14.879 --> 00:32:18.259 God judges justly, but he also saves mightily. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:30.279 And he saves by pouring out his wrath on the innocent son of God who substituted himself for us so that we might become righteous and live by putting our faith in him. 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:44.480 He gives life to all those who trust in God the son who live by faith in his perfect sacrifice for sin who have become righteous through his righteousness, not through our own. 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:49.059 And the beautiful thing is it's not just that, right? 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:51.279 Just that, being saved from eternal judgment. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.559 It's not just that. 00:32:53.200 --> 00:33:00.940 Part of that package is that he gives eternal life by empowering us to live lives now. 00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:13.059 Live lives that are full of deep, warm trust in our Father as we pass even through the valley of the shadow of death. 00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:25.980 Even as we experience the evil of this world that we're walking in right now, sadness and disappointment and stress, frustration, even sickness and death. 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:35.200 We are able to live not only through the eternal judgment that he has put on Jesus. 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:37.519 We're able to live because of that. 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:46.279 We are now able, empowered by his spirit, to trust him that he's going to turn that evil into good for us. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.500 Romans 8.28 is true. 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:57.140 All things, good and evil, work together for our good as we put our trust in him. 00:33:58.039 --> 00:34:06.940 And so, even as we walk through this hard, difficult world and we experience the prickliness of the judgment of living in a cursed world, 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:10.739 God turns those judgments into blessings like we were singing about earlier. 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:14.119 God turns those deserts into springs of water. 00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:15.119 God turns those deserts into hell. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:16.119 God turns those deserts into hell. 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:25.960 Just like Joseph's brothers that Ben told us about earlier, his brothers intended that for evil, but God turned that evil, and not just turned it, but he meant it for good. 00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:31.739 We know that we can have life both now and forever. 00:34:32.759 --> 00:34:35.980 So, how do God's people respond? 00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:45.079 When God puts circumstances that are hard and that make him seem far away, how do we respond to that? 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:50.679 God's answer for us is clear here in this first part of Habakkuk. 00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:56.240 We are to respond by maintaining honest and unwavering faith. 00:34:58.699 --> 00:34:59.880 So, how do we do that? 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:03.139 Let's conclude with just three points of application. 00:35:03.139 --> 00:35:12.079 First, and most importantly, as you find yourself in hard, maybe even unfair circumstances, 00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:18.139 I want to encourage you to dwell on the unfairness of the gospel. 00:35:19.819 --> 00:35:22.480 Jesus asked the same question we did. 00:35:22.980 --> 00:35:24.879 Why have you forsaken me? 00:35:24.880 --> 00:35:33.800 Only his why was far more painful and undeserved than our why. 00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:36.840 He took your judgment on himself. 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:39.820 It was far worse than the Babylonian invasion. 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.800 It was so unfair. 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:45.380 The cross is so unfair. 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:48.900 The innocent one punished for the guilty. 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:56.079 But we know that it was done out of love for the guilty like us. 00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:04.160 And so, as you experience and walk through the prickly, hard stuff of this life that causes pain, 00:36:04.700 --> 00:36:05.840 and we want to say, why? 00:36:06.660 --> 00:36:08.079 Cry, why? 00:36:08.220 --> 00:36:09.619 But cry it with Jesus. 00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:12.619 Why have you forsaken me? 00:36:12.700 --> 00:36:13.900 Oh, yes, that's right. 00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:18.099 You forsook your own son for my sake. 00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:22.220 That makes me know that you're intending these hard circumstances for my good. 00:36:22.660 --> 00:36:23.500 Help me to see it. 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:26.639 Secondly, on the same nine, 00:36:28.180 --> 00:36:34.480 maintain warm and persistent trust in a heavenly father who cares for you. 00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:39.659 God tells us that he is near to those who call upon him in truth. 00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:42.559 So, as 1 Peter 5, 7 tells us, 00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:46.260 cast your anxieties on him because he cares for you. 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:51.820 You know that he cares for you because he has given you life as you've trusted in him. 00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:53.960 So, how do you do that? 00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.840 Let me encourage you. 00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:58.059 Sometimes our prayer lives are cold. 00:36:59.300 --> 00:37:00.579 Sometimes they are not warm. 00:37:00.579 --> 00:37:05.380 But that way to maintain trust is through prayer. 00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:11.759 And that comes by remembering that you have a heavenly father who cares for you in the midst of your trouble. 00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:16.219 He is the God who is your God. 00:37:17.579 --> 00:37:20.940 And lastly, on the line of prayer, 00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:25.920 model the honest confidence of Habakkuk's prayers. 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:29.139 Habakkuk complained to God. 00:37:29.139 --> 00:37:32.420 He asked some hard questions of God. 00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:36.619 He never questioned God's character, accused him of wrongdoing, 00:37:36.739 --> 00:37:38.359 but he asked some hard questions. 00:37:40.359 --> 00:37:44.539 And he asked them because on the basis of a personal relationship. 00:37:45.859 --> 00:37:46.579 My God. 00:37:46.779 --> 00:37:47.900 My Holy One. 00:37:49.239 --> 00:37:52.639 The Sovereign Lord of History is also your God and he has broad shoulders. 00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:56.719 He can listen to your problems and he wants you to come to him. 00:37:56.719 --> 00:38:03.699 So, let prayers like Habakkuk's, honest, warm, arise from your heart and your soul. 00:38:03.879 --> 00:38:07.039 Let God bear the brunt of your grief and your sorrow and your pain. 00:38:07.699 --> 00:38:08.799 He's big enough to handle it. 00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:10.219 He is our rock. 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.480 He is from everlasting. 00:38:11.819 --> 00:38:12.839 He is our Holy One. 00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:14.680 Let me pray. 00:38:14.680 --> 00:38:14.720 Let me pray. 00:38:19.720 --> 00:38:23.079 We thank you, God, that you are from everlasting 00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:27.120 and that you give life to those who confidently trust in you. 00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:29.720 You steer us through the judgment, Father, 00:38:30.620 --> 00:38:32.720 by putting the judgment on Jesus for us. 00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:35.339 Thank you, God, for sparing us. 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:41.659 Father, I pray for those in this room who have not come to Jesus by faith 00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:45.099 and asked to be spared the judgment. 00:38:45.279 --> 00:38:48.919 I pray, God, that you would warm their hearts to you. 00:38:49.619 --> 00:38:51.419 I pray, Father, for those who have, 00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:56.000 that you would remind them of the goodness of grace. 00:38:56.000 --> 00:39:04.059 Father, would you cause our church to be a church that calls out to you in the midst of our pain. 00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:08.300 And I pray that you would guide us, give us life 00:39:08.300 --> 00:39:11.179 as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:13.480 In Christ's name we pray. 00:39:13.679 --> 00:39:13.940 Amen. 00:39:13.940 --> 00:39:14.059 Amen.