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Worshipping While Wrestling

November 2, 2014 Speaker: Ken Ramey Series: The Minor Prophets

Topic: Prophets Passage: Habakkuk 1–3

Sunday Service

Habakkuk 1-3

As the prophet Habakkuk observed the violence and injustice of Judah, he wondered why God was not dealing with the wickedness of the nation. God told him He was going to use the Babylonians as His rod of judgment upon Judah. This perplexed Habakkuk further and he asked God how He could judge His own people with a nation that was even more wicked than they were. God patiently instructed Habakkuk until at last he was able to praise and trust God even though his beloved nation would be destroyed and even though he didn’t fully understand God’s mysterious ways.

God’s instruction to Habakkuk prompted several responses on the prophet’s part:

1. WRESTLING (Ch. 1)
Habakkuk first had a problem with God’s lack of response to the wickedness of His people. But God was fully aware of his people’s sinfulness and rebellion and had already planned to use the nation of Babylon to carry out His punishment for them. Habakkuk’s second complaint was why God had decided to use a nation that was even more wicked and rebellious to bring about His judgment on His own people. This seemed to be inconsistent with God’s character in the eyes of Habakkuk.

2. WATCHING/WAITING (Ch. 2)
Habakkuk decided to watch and wait to see if God would rebuke him for questioning His motives and methods. But God commanded Habakkuk to record with written words the vision of the destruction of Babylon. This demonstrated that even though judgement would be brought about by the Babylonians, God was well aware of their wickedness and in His righteousness would one day punish them even more severely for their sinfulness and rebellion. Just 50 years later, the Medes and Persians would bring total destruction to Babylon.

3. WORSHIPPING (Ch. 3)
Habakkuk praised God for the ways that He had demonstrated His grace and mercy to many peoples and nations over the centuries following His judgements and demonstrations of power in the midst of men and their sinfulness. He has always been faithful to deliver His people, even after disciplining them severely for their rebellion. Habakkuk put his faith and trust in God even though he was afraid and did not fully understand God’s ways or His methods.

Thank God for regularly pushing you out of your comfort zone to remind you that you cannot and will not find comfort in anyone or anything but Him. Ask Him to grant you the faith to trust Him in the midst of the frightening and confusing circumstances you are facing or will face in life.

More in The Minor Prophets

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God's Absolute Primacy