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From Remorse To Rejoicing
FROM FEAR TO FAITH (Lloyd-Jones) FROM WORRY TO WORSHIP (Wiersbe) FROM REMORSE TO REJOICING Habakkuk 3:17-19
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no meat; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls; Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD GOD is my strength, And he will make my feet like hinds feet, And he will make me walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
Introduction
There are many today who act as if God is at their errand runner. They think that just because they want something, or pray something, or do something, God is obligated to give it to them. Habakkuk found out that this was not so; that God’s ways are often different from our ways. He says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Though at times it may be that it is God’s will for us to suffer, to be chastened, and to suffer the loss of many material blessings, like Habakkuk we can still say “It is well with my soul.” “I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” Let us examine the context for the book of Habakkuk, a consideration to ponder, three concepts to grasp, three concerns of the prophet, and a conclusion in which we can rejoice.
I. The Context (1:1-11) The time of the book is during the days of Jeremiah in the 7th Century B.C. just prior to the 70 years Babylonian captivity for the children of Judah. A. The Prophet is disturbed by the sins of the people of Judah (vs.2-4) How long Lord will you let this go on? B. The Prophet is dismayed by the answer of the Lord (1:5-11) The nation will be overrun by the Babylonians a cruel and fierce people who will ravage the land, burn the cities, destroy the temple, and take many of the people into captivity. 1. God’s work is often misunderstood by his people (v. 5) 2. God’s work is often misunderstood by the world (v. 11)
II. The Consideration (1:12-13) Habakkuk was perplexed by the answer he received from the Lord. When we don’t understand what’s happening and why something is happening, we need to stop and think about our God. A. God is eternal (v. 12) “Art thou not from everlasting” You are before all things and know all things. B. God is self-existing (v.12) “O LORD” = JEHOVAH, the uncaused one, the self-sufficient one, the one for whom evolution has no answer, the covenant keeping one. The Great “I Am”. C. God is holy (v.12) “mine holy one” The one who is righteousness and always does right. D. God is unchanging (v. 12) “O mighty God” = O Rock, the one who is stable, secure and absolute strength, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. See Malachi 3:6. E. God is faithful (v.12) “we shall not die, thou has ordained them for judgment.” He will remember his covenants with Abraham and David and he will judge nations and individuals as He has said. F. God is loving and merciful (v. 13) “thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity.” What love and grace would have allowed his own Son to be made sin for us and to cry out “My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?” Who could ever doubt the love of God for sinners if He would bruise His own Son whom He loved fully and perfectly to save us.? (1 John 4:10-11; Psalms 22; Matthew 27:46)
III. The Concepts (2:1-20) A. The grace of God (2:4) Here is the central theme of the Bible. The cause of life and death is presented. Trust in God brings life. (Gal. 3:15; John 3:16; and Rom. 6:23); pride leads to death because it will not accept by faith the grace of God in Christ. This phrase is quoted three times in the New Testament. In Romans 1:17 it is associated with the proclamation of the gospel and the righteousness of God. Job asked “How can a man be just with God?” God’s answer is in Christ. Man has no righteousness of his own. He is a sinner and is an offense to a holy God. Paul in Gal. 3:11 quotes this verse to remind us “that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith”. The gospel tells us that our Savior Jesus Christ died the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God. The Father put our sin on Christ who bore our penalty and the Father credits to the account of the believing sinner the perfect righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews quotes this verse to remind us that salvation by grace through faith in Christ results in an eternal salvation. He writes “Now the just shall live by faith; Now if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Those who have been saved by God’s grace believe God’s word and are taught and guided by God’s Word. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” What the believer doesn’t understand the believer in Christ commits to the God of the Word knowing by faith who he is. He learns to walk by faith not by sight. As such by God’s grace a believer is eternally secure believing that He who began a good work in him will keep him until the day of Christ (Phil. 1:6). B. The glory of God (2:14) “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters that cover the sea.” God’s plans and purposes are not centered in us, but in His Son and His Kingdom. It’s not about our glory but His glory. This verse comes in the middle of six indictments of the people of Judah for their sins. God has seen their immorality, their covetousness, greed, violence, drunkenness, and their idolatry. He will judge their sins and fulfill his promises and purposes. The land promised to Abraham will be given to Israel. The king promised to David will reign. God’s people are on the winning side. Evil will be subdued and judged. All nations and people will bow before the exalted person of Jesus. The glory of God will be fully revealed as Jesus Christ rules and reigns over this earth. C. The government of God (2:20) “The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” The Sovereign of the universe sets on His throne and rules. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? He is absolutely holy. How dare any murmur and complain before him! If he gave us what we deserve we would all be cast into hell. Has He not by his grace chosen us in Christ? Did He not send His own Son to die for us? Did not Christ wash away our sins with His own blood? Is not Christ not now sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for us? Did He not promise that ALL things would work together for good to them that love the Lord? Did He not promise to go to prepare a place for us and come and take us to that place? Did not He promise to give believers a new body like our Savior’s? Did He not promise that at His right hand are pleasures forever more? Many more promises can the believer claim! Let us then keep silence before him, worshipping him, loving him, and yielding ourselves to him without murmuring, complaining, or doubting. He will judge and sustain his people; He will judge and destroy his enemies.
IV. The Concern (3:1-3 The prophet Habakkuk now expresses three concerns that burden him in relation to his God. A. The Word of God (3:2) “I have heard thy speech and was afraid.” Habakkuk heard the word of God and took it seriously. How we need to hear and heed the word of God. We are told to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in us the will and to do of his good pleasure.” What a privilege to hear the Word of God. What a responsibility it puts on us when we hear the Word of God. We shall give an account of ourselves to Him. We should receive the Bible as it is the Word of God. We should believe the Word of God because it is the infallible Word of God. We should obey the Word of God because it is life to us, the bread upon which our souls feed. We should study the Word of God. We should store the Word of God by memorizing it and meditating upon it. We should stand in it. We should rest all our doctrinal beliefs on the Word of God and we should be willing to defend these beliefs against the wiles of the devil and the ways of the world. B. The Work of God (3:2) “O LORD revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make know.” Habakkuk longs to see a revival of God’s work in the nation. The nation will be chastened, but Habakkuk longs for the people to return to the Lord. This should be the desire of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This should be the desire of every one of Christ’s churches. Yes, the sin in our land is great. Yes, the people are apathetic and lukewarm. But Lord, remember us. Work in your people a genuine renewal. Let II Chronicles 7:14 be the cry of our hearts and the path of our feet. “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Revival always begins with God’s people and then spreads to bring in new converts. It is always a work of God. We can plant, we can water, but only God can give the increase. May He move like he did in the “Great Awakening of 1734 in our land and the great revival among the Welch people in England in 1859. New methods won’t bring this revival. Only God can do it. Note: Could it be that we have all the revival that we really want? Could it be that sin is so entrenched in our lives that we don’t genuinely want a revival? Could it be that it would bring so much change to our life that we are not prepared for it? See James 4:2,8-10,and Isaiah 66:1-5. C. The Wrath of God (3:3) “in wrath remember mercy” 1. The wrath of God is real Jesus often spoke of wrath, judgment, and hell See Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:41-42; Luke 13:1-5;Luke 16; John 3:36 The Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures speak of the wrath of God. See Jeremiah 10:7-8; Isaiah 66; II Timothy 1:9; II Peter 3, Jude; Revelation 20.(this is only a few) 2. The mercy of God is great God takes no delight in the destruction of sinners. See also Ezekiel 33:11). Paul declared that “But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherein he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are you saved;) hath raised us up together and made us to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:4-9). Man cannot save himself. His good works before salvation are not acceptable to a holy God. He is a sinner and deserves God’s judgment. But God (the turning point in a person’s life) shows mercy through his Son Jesus Christ by placing our sin on his own Son who bore the penalty, the innocent in the place of the guilty, the innocent on behalf of the guilty for the guilty sinner so that God might bestow upon the believing sinner the perfect righteousness of Christ. This is a gift of God’s grace, an evidence of his mercy and it is received by faith. “He that believeth is not condemned but is passed from death unto life.” The Scripture says that God is near to those of a broken and contrite heart (Isa. 56:15) who like the publican can say “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.”(Luke 18:13). Jesus said that “No man can come to me except the Father draw him, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise case out.” He delights in mercy, his mercy is sure and abundant, and is from everlasting to everlasting upon those that fear him (Psalms 103:8; Isa.55:3, 1 Peter 1:3 and Psalm 89:28).
V. A Conclusion (3:4-19) A. God reveals himself to Habakkuk in his splendor (3:4-15) 1. His power 2. His glory 3. His holiness 4. His works a. Because of his greatness all nature trembles before Him b. Because of His greatness no nation can stand before Him c. Because of His greatness Israel was established as a nation and preserved. They will be chastened but restored. B. Habakkuk’s worship of God is special (3:16-19) Adversity often brings the most tender and close worship of our God. Such was the case for Habakkuk. The Bible tells us to “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” And again to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” We are to remember that the one who gives the blessing is to be loved more than the blessing. 1. He recognized his own sinfulness (3:16) a. “rottenness entered into my bones” b. A close encounter with a holy God reminds us of our sinfulness. This is present where there is real revival. 2. He rested in his Savior (3:16) He rested in his Savior in the day of trouble and waited patiently for Him. He believed he would still judge the Babylonians and preserve His people. 3. He rejoiced in the God of His Salvation (3:17-18) a. Even though he and the nation would suffer the loss of many temporal blessings he would still rejoice in the one who saved him and redeemed him. As believers we can rejoice that we have been delivered from the guilt and penalty of sin, that we are being delivered from the power of sin and taught to love righteousness and hate iniquity. b. Moreover, we can rejoice that one day we will be delivered from the presence of sin and confirmed in righteousness. We can rejoice that He will preserve us unto His eternal kingdom. 4. He relied on the strength of the Lord (3:19) a. “The LORD GOD is my strength” b. It is not in our strength, but in His strength, that we preserve and conqueror. Apart from Him we are nothing. c. He is the all powerful, all-knowing one who is sufficient for every need. 5. He responded with a Song of Faith (3:1.19) a. “the prophet upon Shigionoth” (v.1) b. Shigionoth speaks of an impassioned, triumphant song c. “to the chief singer on my stringed instruments” (v.19) d. The conclusion shows that Habakkuk closed his book with a song of praise and worship to God. In the end Habakkuk’s love for God, like that of any devoted believer is not based on what he expects God to give him. Even if God should send him suffering and loss he declares he will rejoice in the God of his salvation. Here is one of the strongest manifestations of faith in the Scriptures (New Scofield Bible). Habakkuk anticipated the great hymn by Horatio G. Spafford who after the loss of his six children in a shipwreck could write “It is Well with My Soul.”
Larry Windham
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