06/10/2023

What is the answer to your happiness? Some think it’s financial security, power, friends, a house, children, getting married, sex, material items. The list goes on. The truth of the matter is that none of these things ultimately satisfy. Whatever stage of life you are in doesn’t determine your happiness. Happiness is a choice. Trials can be hard. People lose loved ones, dreams are dashed, financial crisis occurs, and marriages collapse. But it is the Godly man and Godly woman who trusts in the Lord no matter what God brings with great joy. Today we will be looking at the book of Habakkuk and how men of the Bible trusted in our great God despite the ever going trials of life.

The book of Habakkuk occurs just before the Babylonian invasion of Judah, just around 600 B.C. Nothing is really known of Habakkuk. Habakkuk is atypical in that it doesn’t challenge a specific group of people but is a dialogue between Habakkuk and God. The essential questions of Habakkuk are the following:

Why does God allow evil to exist?

If God is sovereign, why do the evil prosper?

Is it a sin to question God? It’s not a sin but may show our child-like understanding of who God is. We see people questioning God all throughout the Bible. In Isaiah 55:8-9 we see this- “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares Yahweh. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God can do whatever he wants when he wants. His ways are not always what we think He should do. We don’t always understand. But we trust Him no matter what and praise him no matter what comes. A lack of trust is really not trusting in the Character of God. God is good and sovereign- Complaining about what He is doing is really saying I know better. I want to be God. My way is better. I want what I want regardless of what you want. Cater to my desires. They are more important.

Throughout the Bible we see many men questioning God and what He is doing . We see Moses called out of Midian to confront Pharaoh and ask him to release the Egyptians. Pharaoh responds by taking away the straw; the glue that holds the bricks together. The slaves have to work harder now. In Exodus 5:22 we see Moses asking questions like “Why have you sent me?” He has acknowledged that the people have not yet been delivered yet and the people are in more hardship. Moses doesn’t understand.

In Jeremiah 12:1 we see Jeremiah questioning God’s judgments. He says Righteous are you, O Yahweh, when I would plead my case with You; Indeed i would speak matters of justice with you: Why has the way of the wicked succeeded? Why are all those who deal in treachery complacent? You have planted them; they have also taken root. Jeremiah is questioning the justice of God and wondering why the Wicked succeed.

In Psalm 10:1 we see the Psalmist asking why do you stand far off? Why do you hide in times of trouble? And is Psalm 44:24- Why do you hide your face and forget our affliction?

There are many, many examples. Job is so distraught that he asks God, “Why did I not perish at birth and die as I came from the womb? “Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure?” (Job 3:20-21) “What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention?” (Job 7:17)”Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?” (Job 7:20)”Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more.” (Job 7:21)”Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?” (Job 13:24)

We have many, many questions about God. Back to Habbakuk, we see a shift. We see what God is doing through the evil nation of the Chaldeans or Babylonians (Same nation). God says- “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans…..” What is God raising up the Chaldeans for? To discipline the nation of Judah. Ironically, the Chaldeans think their own God is giving them success “They whose power is their god” – Little g. The Chaldean’s god and not the God of the Bible. The real reason they are successful is becasue they are the instrument of God’s discipline.

The second question of Habakkuk- “You are going to use the Babylonians to correct a people more righteous than they?” Habakkuk is comparing the nations. He can’t understand why a more wicked nation would correct a less wicked nation who is “more righteous.” However, we are all wicked. Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (Isaiah:66)

So how do we live when life doesn’t make sense? When we don’t understand what God is doing? Habakkuk 2:2-2 “But the righteous will live by faith.” This verse is quoted 3 times in the New Testament referring to salvation (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 10:37) But in context, it’s talking about how to live when times are difficult. The same faith that requires trusting in God when times are difficult is the same faith that is required for salvation. Faith is an every day process trusting in the Character of God and what He is doing knowing that it is good and for His purposes (Romans 8:28).

So what do we see? We see a transition from Questioning God to Trusting God to Rejoicing in God. In Psalm 5:11, we see the correlation between trust and rejoicing. “But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, that those who love your name may exult you.” We don’t necessarily rejoice in the circumstance but in the Lord who gives us Salvation. In the Lord who is Sovereign and knows all things.

What is Habakkuk’s attitude at the end of the Book? At the end of the book Habakkuk chooses to rejoice in God despite the trials of life. He says that even though the fig tree should not blossom, no produce on the vines, the yield of the olive should fail, the fields yield no food, the flock is cut off from the fold, no cattle in the stalls, He will still exult in Yahweh. He will rejoice in the God of my salvation! What a Godly Perspective! Are we like Habakkuk in the trials of life rejoicing no matter what God brings? Are we like Job who confesses His Ignorance of Yahweh’s ways in Job:42. In fact, lets go to Job:42-

How does Job respond? “Then Job answered Yahweh and said, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too marvelous for me, which I did not know. Hear, now and I will speak; I will ask You, and You make me know. I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees you; therefore I reject myself and I repent in dust and ashes.

Job now understands that He must repent and embrace God’s ways. He is sovereign and in control.

Prayer for today- Yahweh, I want to repent of trying to control my own life. You are sovereign and we are responsible. We try but trust in you for all of the results of life. I pray that we can be like Habakkuk who moves from questioning to trusting to rejoicing in the trials of life. He rejoices no matter what God give Him throughout life. Lets be like Job and repent of questioning God and being angry at God- we want to acknowledge who you are and that you are in control. We know people are going through financial hardship, marriage hardships, desiring a wife, wanting to be in control, death of loved ones, cancer, medical issues. May we have the perspective of Habakkuk and Job through the trials of life and embrace who God is. May we be the righteous who live by faith. The same faith that saved us and continues on in our daily lives. Because we know who you are. We know that you are sovereign. You are in control. May we rejoice in who you are despite the trials of life. Give us the grace to have this perspective. We can’t do it ourselves. Yahweh, you are great and we can praise you no matter what you bring. Praise the Lord!