Gods Ways Not Mans Habakkuk Nahum 660 B

God’s Ways – Not Man’s Habakkuk Nahum – 660 B. C. ; Nineveh destroyed, 612 B. C. Habakkuk – 607 B. C. First Babylonian captivity - 606 B. C.

Habakkuk’s Message § § § Most proclaimed Divine judgment Hab. – pled for it against Judah (1: 1 -4) He did not conclude there was no God because of the evil – but expressed himself to the One who could answer. § He was not afraid to wrestle with issues that tested faith – The more he knew about the Planner, the more he would know about the plans.

God’s Answer, 1: 5 -11 § God was working something good from something evil – He used the Assyrians against Israel, not the Babylonians against Judah (1: 5, 6). § Habakkuk did not think it was fair, 1: 12 -17 § He wanted to get his thinking in line with God’s (2: 1).

Men’s thinking is often Wrong § § Naaman (2 Kgs. 5: 11, 12) A rich man (Lk. 12: 13 -21) Saul of Tarsus (Acts 26: 9) The proper use of reason is to use it to understand God’s thoughts. § “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts” (Ps. 10: 4; cp. Is. 55: 8, 9).

God’s Second Response § § § Told him to be faithful, 2: 2 -4. “Behold the proud…not upright” Chaldean “But the just shall live by faith” – Rom. 1: 17; Gal. 3: 11; Heb. 10: 37 -39 § Gulf between professing faith and “living by faith. ”

What does it mean to be faithful? § “If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed” (Jn. 8: 31). § Faith comes from persuasion (Acts 26: 28) § Abraham was fully convinced (Rom. 4: 20, 21). How does your faith compare to Abraham’s? § Faith – glorifies God (1 Pet. 4: 16). Would we put God before a camping trip?

Habakkuk’s Response, 3: 17 -19 § 3: 1 -16 is a review of God’s dealings with His people and their enemies. § 3: 17 -19 is “one of the greatest expressions of faith to be found anywhere…(he) includes all means or resources of food and declares that though all fail, he will trust in Jehovah…Here the peak of faith is reached; here is the faith by which men live” (Hailey).

In Modern Language § “Though my job goes and my health fails, and the forces of evil seem to have things their way; and even though the economy doesn’t work the way I want it to, and the election didn’t turn out like I wanted, and I’m not appreciated by my friends, I won’t resent You nor turn from You. I won’t stop questioning, but neither will I stop rejoicing in You. ”

Conclusion § Habakkuk began with questions and complaints – ended with affirmations and confidence. § Are you waiting on God? § Are you remaining faithful? § Are you trusting God even when you do not have all the answers? § “The just shall live by faith” (2: 4)