LORD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND

Text: Habakkuk 1:1-5 & 2:20

I. Habakkuk began with a question most of us have asked at some time. "Oh, God, I don't understand what's happening?" He lived in a turbulent world where increasing violence frightened him. Wrong seemed to thrive and justice was perverted. Does that sound familiar?

He complained to God of the wrongs of his nation and its consequences. "And thou wilt not hear" (1:2). The continuance of evil unchecked is an anomaly in the prophet's eye. "Even cry I unto thee of violence (being wronged)" Habakkuk speaks as if the wrong was done him. Rightfully so. If you love your country, then when you see wrong being done, it hurts you like it was being done unto you personally.

He was grieved at the wickedness he saw around him. "Why dost thou show me iniquity,.."(1:3) daily with my own eyes. Such "causes me to behold grievance".

Violence was wide spread. "Spoiling and violence are before me" (1:3). Spoiling is plundering and robbery that causes desolation. Violence is conduct that wrongs one's neighbor.

Iniquity abounded. "There are those who raise up strife and contention" (1:3).

The laws of God had fallen into disrespect. "Judgment doth never go forth" (1:4). Right is powerless. Justice never shows itself. Those who are doing right are "surrounded" by those who do wrong.

Human justice was perverted. "Justice goes forth perverted" (1:4). Wrong judgment proceeds. Right or what is so called, when it does come forth is distorted, so as to be right no more.

Do we not live in a country where violence and evil abound?

Do we not see that laws are powerless to stop the wrongs?

Do we not see wrong being called good?

Is not what is called justice perverted?

Is not what passes for right distorted?

Do we not feel sad for the state of affairs?

Do we not feel that it is a hopeless situation?

II. Do we not feel like Habakkuk when he seemed to think that since God had not interfered to put an end to this iniquity, that He never would. But, God will not disregard the evil that is rife among His people. He never has and He never will. God is always in control and involved with mankind. God's problem isn't the ungodly, but it is with His own people.

Why does God permit the wicked to oppose the righteous?

Why does God allow injustice and corruption to continue?

Why does God apparently do nothing?

No righteous (Godly) person can be utterly indifferent to the moral and spiritual character of the age in which they live. That is why what is happening in nations capitals speaks so loudly to the world. When the people of a land will give their leader good marks for leadership while at the same time confess they know he lies, cheats, and isn't trust worthy says something that ought to cause us all to go on our knees before God. Why is lying wrong? Why is adultery wrong? There are reasons!

Righteous (Godly) people should bear the highest interests of their country before God upon their hearts in prayer. Habakkuk was burdened for his nation and his people. People of God in America are burdened for the direction our nation is headed. For we understand that the end result of this direction is God's removal of His hand and blessing. That should grieve our hearts and cause us to earnestly pray, even if we think there is no hope.

God gave Habakkuk a half the answer, "I am doing work in your day. You may not see it, but My purposes are being fulfilled just as they should be" (1:5). Yes, God was about to use a heathen nation, an ungodly people, as His instrument to chastise the sinners in Judea. God was going to send the Babylonians to punish the Hebrews.

They were a feared people (verse 7)

They were a mighty people (verse 8)

They were a violent people (verse 9)

They mocked authority (verse 10)

Their god was might (verse 11)

What is God going to do in our time? Are we not in the same place as Judea? I believe God is telling us the same thing. "Look around, and be utterly astounded. For I will work a work in your days which you will not believe, though it were told you."

What will that work be? What will God do that we have been told about already? What will happen that when it happens we will not believe? How has God promised to intervene and bring to an end all evil once and for all?

He will send His Son, Jesus to remove the church and bring divine wrath upon the unjust. But until that day shall come we will see things grow worse and it will be harder and harder for us to walk in the faith.

III. Habakkuk was struggling with his faith. Who of us hasn't? Habakkuk found that it was hard to live in the midst of such violence and ungodliness and practice living a faithful life. Don't we find the same thing?

Have you ever received and answer to your prayers that you didn't want? Sure you have. Every time God says "no". God's answer wasn't what Habakkuk wanted to hear. Habakkuk is now worried that God will totally destroy them (1:12-2:1). So, he goes back to God in prayer and then waits for God to correct him.

The central theme of the Bible is found here (2:4). "The just shall live by faith".

The pivotal point of the book is God's second affirmation -- "the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him" (2:20).

This knowledge caused Habakkuk to remain faithful and hopeful. We today need to understand this same truth. Why? So we too can remain faithful and hopeful.

"Do not I fill heaven and earth? Saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:24).

"The Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands" but in that which His own hands have fashioned, our heart. (Acts 17:24).

God "fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:23).

God is "the I AM" (Exodus 3:14).

We, as His children are always before God, in His presence, beneath His eye, before His throne, and at His footstool. God's worshipers should strive to realize the immediate presence of Him whom they worship. It becomes all to adore such a God in solemn and profound silence. Thus, our devotion should be "silence". Silence? Why silence?

Silence that is expressive of reverence before His majesty. What can we say before a Holy God? "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him" (Psalm 89:7).

"Thou did cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth" (Psalm 76:8-9).

Silence of submission beneath His authority. Silence shows our humbleness. "Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me" (Psalm 31:2).

Silence of trust in His mercy. Silence reveals our trust. "I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope" (Psalm 130:5).

Silence of expectant waiting for His utterance whether of commandment or promise. Silence shouts our expectation and assurance that God will keep His promises. "I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: but let them not turn again to folly" (Psalm 85:8).

The result of such worship is that our perplexity gives way to peace through praise. The whole attitude changes from complaining, to prayer and praise.

So that by the end of the book we see Habakkuk is jumping for joy. "I will spin around for delight in God" (3:18). The final verse reads, "He (God) will make my feet like deer (hind) feet," (3:19). This is the same person that was complaining that God was slow and he feels hopeless. What caused the difference? Things still weren't good, but whatever happened Habakkuk was going to praise God (3:17).

Worshiping and praising God gets our eyes off us and on Jesus.

JESUS PRAISE

Who is the One Who saves you by His blood?

Who pleads for you before God?

Who is He that walks at your side in the dark valley?

What's His name?

Say it again.

In whose name are we given a new nature?

In whose name do we have access to God's throne?

Who took your place on the cross?

Who?

Say it again.

In whose name is all power in heaven and earth invested?

At whose name is irrevocable truth recognized?

Who's name has all authority?

What's His name?

Say it again.

At whose name will every knee bow?

At whose name will every tongue confess?

At whose name do demons tremble and flee?

Who?

Say it again.

Who loves you more than life itself?

Who do you love more than life itself?

Whose blood washes away your sins?

What's His name?

Say it again.

Who is it that has forgiven you of your sins?

What is the name God calls His only begotten Son?

Who bought you with His blood?

Who?

Say it again.

These final verses are an expression of Habakkuk's love for God. It is a strong manifestation of faith in God. When we turn to God and express our love to Him, He will bring joy to our hearts even in the midst of hopeless situations.

Righteous (Godly) people should never lose faith in two things:

1. That God is on the side of righteousness. God will never leave the side of the righteous. He will bring about His plan. He has already won the victory.

2. That God hears the prayers of the righteous, even when He delays to answer or appears to deny them. His timing isn't ours. His plan isn't ours.

Illustration - WHERE DO YOU RUN?

A true story of something that happened while on a hunting trip in the wilds of Oregon.

Cradling his rifle in the crook of his arm, the hunter was following an old logging road nearly overgrown by the encroaching forest. It was early evening, and he was just thinking about returning to camp when a noise exploded in the brush nearby. Before he even had a chance to lift his rifle, a small blur of brown and white came shooting up the road straight for him.

It all happened so fast, the hunter hardly had time to think. He looked down and there was a little brown cottontail - utterly spent - crowded up against his legs between his boots. The little thing was trembling all over, but it just sat there and didn't budge.

Now this was really strange. Wild rabbits are frightened of people, and it's not that often you'd ever actually see one - let alone have one come and sit at your feet.

While the hunter was puzzling over this, another player entered the scene. Down the road - maybe twenty yards away - a weasel burst out of the bush. When it saw the hunter - and its intended prey sitting at his feet - the predator froze in its tracks, its mouth panting - its eyes glowing red.

It was then that the hunter understood he had stepped into a little life-and-death drama of the forest. The cottontail, exhausted by the chase, was only moments from death. The hunter was its last hope of refuge. Forgetting its natural fear and caution, the little animal instinctively crowded up against him for protection from the sharp teeth of its relentless enemy.

The hunter did not disappoint. He raised his powerful rifle and deliberately shot into the ground just underneath the weasel. The animal seemed to leap almost straight into the air a couple of feet and then rocketed back into the forest as fast as its legs could move.

For a while, the little rabbit didn't stir. It just sat there, huddled at the man's feet in the gathering twilight while he spoke gently to it. "Where did it go, little one? I don't think he'll be bothering you for a while. Looks like you're off the hook tonight." Soon the rabbit hopped away from its protector into the forest.

Point: Where do you run in time of need?

Where do you run when the predators of trouble, worry, and fear pursue you?

Where do you hide when your past pursues you like a relentless wolf, seeking your destruction?

Where do you seek protection when the weasels of temptation, corruption, and evil threaten to overtake you?

Where do you turn when your energy is spent . . . when weakness saps you and you feel you cannot run away any longer?

Do you turn to your protector, the One who stands with arms open wide, waiting for you to come and huddle in the security of all He is?

When we praise God, positive things happen.

When your life seems hopeless and you have no where to turn, turn to God in prayer and praise. Good things will happen.

When you are hurting and no one seems to care, turn to God in prayer and praise. Healing will be given.

When you feel confused and uncertain, turn to God in prayer and praise. Comfort and assurance will be granted.

"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:66-69).

Do we believe the same? Are we putting our trust in Jesus?

God's law is: Sin must issue in destruction and faith invariably leads to spiritual life.