Latest / Dwelling Place: The Bible for Moms / #166. Habakkuk: Faith When You Can't See the Fruit | Biblical Encouragement for Moms

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#166. Habakkuk: Faith When You Can't See the Fruit | Biblical Encouragement for Moms · Dwelling Place: The Bible for Moms

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  This is The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries.
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  I'm Stephanie Hickox.
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  Today we'll be looking at the Book of Habakkuk You may notice that it's similar to the Book of Job.
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  Habakkuk questions how a good and righteous God can stand by allowing evil to reign.
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  Throughout Habakkuk's questioning of the Lord His faith deepens, and as he learns to look to God's power and strength, he's reminded to worship not because of blessings or circumstances, but because of who God is Habakkuk needed to hear
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  it over 2,000 years ago, and you and I need that reminder to cling to God's goodness as well This minor prophet is unique from the others.
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  Instead of God giving a message for Habakkuk to deliver to the people, this book invites us into a series of exchanges between God and Habakkuk that point us to perseverance and endurance in our faith Like many of the
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  minor prophets, we don't have a lot of details about him, But because of some of the musical notations within the text, it's possible that he was a Levitical musician Habakkuk means to embrace or one who embraces.
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  And at the beginning of this book, it certainly doesn't seem like Habakkuk wants to embrace God's plans for the people.
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  But his honesty and the relatability of his questions is what makes his surrender at the end so powerful Jeremiah and Ezekiel were Habakkuk's contemporaries, which means he also wrote about the time that the Chaldeans were attacking Judah And
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  just keep in mind that the Chaldeans are the same as the Babylonians at this point in history.
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  This minor prophet is unique because God didn't send him to speak directly to a people instead, these exchanges with the Lord were most likely shared so he could encourage anyone in Judah whose heart was still devoted to the
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  Lord The main themes in this book are God's sovereignty and justice how He requires believers to live by faith, and how He provides salvation for His people Remarkably, there is one verse in Habakkuk that is quoted three times
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  in the New Testament.
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  We'll dig into which verse it was and why the New Testament writers understood Why it was such a crucial element in the believer's life the first of the three chapters begin with Habakkuk's complaint before the Lord.
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  You might find the phrasing similar to Psalms that we've studied together It begins, "The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw."
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  O Lord, how long shall I cry for help and you not hear?
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  Or cry to you, "Violence," and you will not save?
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  Why do you make me see iniquity?
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  And why do you idly look at wrong?
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  Destruction and violence are before me.
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  Strife and contention arise.
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  So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth.
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  For the wicked surround the righteous, so justice goes forth perverted just what exactly were the iniquities?
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  It feels as though We've been reading for months about the idolatry and child sacrifices arrogance and abominations the nations of Judah and Israel were committing We don't know if Habakkuk was seeing these in person or if God was
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  giving him visions like we'll encounter in the Book of Ezekiel But Habakkuk is burdened that God isn't intervening When injustice and wickedness is prevailing Those are strong words that the law is paralyzed and justice is perverted And in
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  contrast to the Book of Job where we wait almost 40 chapters for God's response, right away in chapter one, God begins to correct Habakkuk's perspective Look among the nations and see.
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  Wonder and be astounded, for I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.
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  For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and nasty nation who march through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own Perhaps you're familiar with that verse, "I am doing a work in your
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  days you would not believe if told."
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  And many times people point to it as an inspiring, hopeful verse.
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  But that's not the tone of God's words here.
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  The work that God is doing is to bring the Chaldeans as His tool for discipline and judgment upon Judah.
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  But Habakkuk knows how truly wicked the Babylonians are And he questions how God can use such wicked people to judge a nation more righteous than they.
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  in 1:12 and 13 The prophet questions the Lord, Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One?
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  We shall not die.
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  O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.
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  You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?
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  It's a complex reality that our God is completely pure and no evil dwells within Him, yet He is fully aware of every sin that occurs on the earth.
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  Michael Rydelnik explains that this verse is sometimes incorrectly cited to state that the Father turned away from the Son at the crucifixion, a more faithful interpretation is to understand it to mean that God does not approve of evil.
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  The Godhead could not be separated And God the Father was faithful To allow Jesus to lay himself down as the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins Habakkuk says he will wait for the Lord to answer because he can't
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  comprehend how God could use such evil people to judge Judah, even if they are acting wickedly Most of chapter two is God's response.
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  He tells Habakkuk to be patient, that his plans will not be thwarted, and that the Chaldeans will one day be judged as well as God compares the prideful man to the righteous man, He proclaims, the righteous shall live
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  by his faith this powerful phrase is quoted in Hebrews, Romans, and Galatians.
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  Let's read it in context in each of those portions So we can understand the necessity of this truth and its relevance for our lives Beginning in Hebrews, For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done
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  the will of God, you may receive what is promised.
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  For yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay.
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  But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
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  But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
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  here we're reminded That God is coming, and He will help us endure well for Him But were strongly warned if we don't walk in faith God will not be pleased with us.
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  In Romans 1:16 and 17, Paul writes, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
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  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith.
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  As it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"
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  Paul is confident of the gospel message for all who call upon Christ Because he's aware that faith is the requirement for salvation, not works and in Galatians three he writes again, For all who rely on works of the
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  law are under a curse.
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  For it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the Book of the Law and do them.'
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  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for the righteous shall live by faith."
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  Consider God's part in bringing you salvation and how all that's required of you Is faith.
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  It's incredible So when God calls His people to patient obedience, we can trust what He's doing and stand firm, no matter how devastating circumstances are around us, Because he's also the God that laid down His Son for us.
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  Of course, Habakkuk wasn't offered that clarity that we now have but he's reassured as God explains to him why the Chaldean- why the Chaldeans will be judged.
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  There are five woes issued, and each of them contains three verses and five stanzas The format of this is in part what may point to him being a musician.
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  Should you and I really care about why God wanted to judge an ancient people thousands of years ago?
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  Absolutely.
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  We want to know exactly what honors God and what He abhors Their patterns of sin and the goals of their wickedness may be rightfully convicting for us today.
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  The first woe is because they were oppressing and harming people in order to make themselves rich.
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  Secondly, they were guilty of coveting.
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  Third, they used forced labor, even killing, so they could live in extravagant homes Fourthly, they forced others to become poisoned or drunk so they could easily become their victims And finally, they worshiped idols, After God explains that Habakkuk
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  just needs to be patient, judgment is coming, In chapter three, Habakkuk gives a lengthy prayer recounting the power of the Lord And I'm going to read it in its entirety because it reminds me of that phrase that might
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  sound a little cliche but is full of wisdom.
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  Don't tell God how big your problem is.
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  Tell your problem how big your God is."
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  Habakkuk rightfully declares the power and might of the Lord.
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  And even though at the end of the chapter he is physically and emotionally terrified, he commits to walk by faith regardless of his circumstances We're told this prayer is a shigiyonoth.
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  This word is only used one other time in scripture, and it's in Psalm 7.
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  The Moody Commentary says that it was a musical notation, and that it likely meant an energetic, passionate song with rapid changes of rhythm.
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  O Lord, I have heard the report of you and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
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  In the midst of the years revive it.
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  In the midst of the years make it known.
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  In wrath remember mercy.
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  God came from Teman, from the Holy One from Mount Paran.
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  His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
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  His brightness was like the light.
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  Rays flashed from his hand, and there he veiled his power Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.
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  He stood, and measured the earth: he looked, and shook the nations: then the eternal mountains were scattered, the everlasting hills sank low.
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  His were the everlasting ways.
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  I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
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  Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord?
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  was your anger against the rivers, or your indignation against the sea, when you rode on your chariot of salvation?
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  You stripped the sheath from your bow, calling for many arrows.
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  You split the earth with rivers.
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  The mountains saw you and writhed.
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  The raging waters swept on.
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  The deep gave forth its voice.
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  It lifted its hands on high.
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  The sun and moon stood still in their place at the light of your arrows as they sped, at the flash of your glittering spear.
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  You marched through the earth in fury.
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  You threshed the nations in anger.
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  You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed.
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  You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck you pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, rejoicing as if to
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  devour the poor in secret.
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  You trampled the sea with your horses, the surging of mighty waters.
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  I hear and my body trembles.
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  My lips quiver at the sound.
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  Rottenness enters into my bones.
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  My legs tremble beneath me.
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  Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail, and the fields yield
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  no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord.
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  I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
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  God the Lord is my strength.
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  He makes my feet like the deer's.
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  He makes me tread on my high places Even when there is no evidence of what God is doing, even when you are working diligently and faithfully for your family, and it just doesn't seem to be making a difference,
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  you can rejoice in the Lord.
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  You can take joy in the God of your salvation.
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  He is your strength.
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  As Galatians tells us, Do not grow weary, for in time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up."
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  And you may have never wanted anyone to tell you you could be like a deer, but Habakkuk wasn't referring to just any deer, but most likely to the remarkable Nubian ibex.
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  These creatures were created to need the minerals from the salt that forms on the side of cliffs when water hits them because God specially designed the underside of their hooves to have these incredible suction cups, they're able to
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  scale astounding, staggeringly steep heights.
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  I encourage you to search out that phrase, hinds feet on high places, or search for the Alpine or the Nubian So you can see this incredible display of what Habakkuk was referring to when he said That God can
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  make our feet like the feet of a deer.
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  It's nearly impossible to watch the clips without thinking, How are they doing this?"
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  And that's exactly how radical we want our faithful endurance to be in the Lord.
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  We want others to look in and say, "How are they doing this?"
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  Because we know it has nothing to do with us, but everything to do with the strength we receive from dwelling with the Lord.
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  this weekend I had to travel out of state, and I had the blessing of catching up with one of my dearest friends.
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  The circumstances the Lord has called her to be faithful in are ongoing and relentless.
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  There are so many things she'd love to do for her family, but the Lord has ordered her days and her time To be filled with caregiving But as I look at her life, I am inspired.
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  I see how God is making her strong.
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  She's accomplishing something through Him that she could never have done in her own strength.
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  and just like as I watch these deer, I could say of my friend, How is she doing this?"
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  Her faithfulness is a testimony to how Christ transforms us to walk in sacrificial love.
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  And I'm sure that if I watched your life, I could say the same of you, because motherhood is a call to constant faithfulness.
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  It's a call to be consistent even when we don't see fruit Whether it's potty training or just trying to get our child to stay seated in the chair at the table for dinner Just cooking the 19,000 meals that
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  are required before a child reaches 18, this is constant faithfulness.
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  Whether it's physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, we are making constant deposits into our children And like Habakkuk, God is asking us to walk in faith that He's going to produce something through it But in all of it, we must
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  cling to God, the Lord, our strength and our salvation.
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  if you feel discouraged that your life really doesn't look like an agile deer Proudly leaping from height to height.
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  you might be encouraged by an allegorical novel by Hannah Hurnard called Hind's Feet on High Places.
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  It's been a very long time since I read it, But I remember this unique story, which is based on the verses we just read, being really encouraging.
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  It Might be a refreshing read for you And one final note about these verses that are so beautiful, revealing Habakkuk's choice to walk in unwavering faith even when there's no visible evidence to show how God is moving I
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  wanted to say the people aren't receiving the covenant blessings that God had promised in Deuteronomy He told them that the land would be fruitful for them if they honored God This lack of fruitfulness has come about because of
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  their sin.
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  And now the enemy is going to come and carry them away just as God forewarned.
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  But even in the midst of their sin, God is faithfully working to bring good for His people and this also encourages me in my parenting and persevering Because I can trust God to be working in my own sinfulness
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  and in the stubbornness and strong wills of my kids That regardless of the cause of the lack of the harvest we can trust in the God who entrusted our children to us.
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  Heavenly Father, we come before you grateful that you are so mysterious and incredible, and always working in ways we cannot understand or see, but that you're also so committed to reveal yourself to us.
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  Lord, your Word says that the righteous shall live by faith, and we long to have faith in all circumstances We thank you that you are the God that gives us strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow it's
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  our desire that the watching world would look upon us and wonder how we're doing what we're doing.
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  It's not for our glory, But that we would have an avenue to point them to the love of our Savior help us to be diligently to lovingly discipline and direct our kids to live lives of perseverance To understand
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  that the Christian life isn't one of quick yeses and easy answers, but a life of being refined and purified as we wait upon you.
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  We pray against the temptation for instant gratification, and instead that our families would be characterized by holiness, selflessness, and faithful endurance.
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  Jesus, thank you for the opportunity to honor you with our faith.
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  It's in your name we pray.
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  Amen