HABAKKUK - (Chapter 1) - Fathom Church Sermon [Pastor Nathan Deisem]

HABAKKUK – Week 1 - Fathom Church Sermon
Habakkuk 1:1-2:4; Galatians 3:11; Romans 1:16-17; Isaiah 55:8-9

• INTRODUCTION: Hard Questions!
o Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?
o Why do fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing?
o Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?
o If nothing ever sticks to Teflon, how do they make Teflon stick to the pan?
o Why is it that when you transport something by car, it's called a shipment, but when you transport something by ship, it's called cargo?

• WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?
o If God is infinitely powerful and infinitely good why is there so much evil in the world?
o Why do the wicked often prosper?

• That brings us to HABAKKUK:
o Who: Who is He?
 Very little is known about him. (Apocryphal and Traditional Ideas).
 Minor Prophet – Name means “Embrace” – Not mentioned by other prophets – Doesn’t begin his book in the typical prophetic declaration “Thus saith the Lord”
o What: What did he write?
 This prophetic book is a passionate prayerful conversation with God.
o When: When was this written?
 Right around 605 BC (Assyria 732 – Egypt [Pharoh Necho – King Josiah] – Neo Babylonian Empire)
o Where: Where was this written? (what was the context?)
 Southern Kingdom of “Judah” (Divided kingdoms in 930 BC)
o Why: Why are we taking three weeks to study this book?
 While we are not Judah and the Neo-Babylonian Empire is long gone, we have frequent occasion to ask God some of the same questions Habakkuk did, and God’s answers then give us insight into his nature and character to help us understand our questions even now!

COMMENTARY
• HABAKKUK’S FIRST COMPLAINT
o God, there is evil and it doesn’t look like you are doing anything or that you care?
o Abortion? Racism? Violence? Looting? Dishonesty? Corruption? Lies? Persecution?
• THE LORD’S FIRST ANSWER
o I’ve Got a plan … But you’re not going to like it …
o Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do UNFATHOMABLY more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work WITHIN US, to him be glory in the CHURCH and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! AMEN.”
• HABAKKUK’S SECOND COMPLAINT
o Who can that be your plan?!?!? – The Chaldeans [Babylonians] worse that we are!
o Everyone thinks they know what it is like to be OMNIPOTENT … No one can even pretend to know what it’s like to be OMNISCIENT! (Bruce Almighty)
• THE LORD SAYS ‘WRITE THIS DOWN’
o Write this down! Because what I say will come to pass!
o “The Righteous Shall Live By His Faith” [Also Hebrews 10:38]
 Galatians 3:11 “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
 Romans 1:16-17 “16 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
• Genesis 15:6 --- Romans 4:9; Romans 4:22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23

APPLICATION – “So What?”
1. The application to the reader of Habakkuk is that it is permissible to question what God is doing, although with respect and reverence.
A. Sometimes it is not evident to us what is going on, especially if we are thrown into suffering for a period of time
B. Or if it seems our enemies are prospering while we are barely getting by.
2. The Book of Habakkuk affirms that God is a sovereign, omnipotent God who has all things under control.
A. He is who He says He is and does keep His promises. He will punish the wicked. Even when we cannot see it, He is still on the throne of the universe.

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