Habakkuk

Habakkuk asked God. How long shall I cry for help? Why do you make me see iniquity? Why must I look at injustice? (Hab. 1:1)

The Lord answered I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people

• they are a feared and dreaded people.
• they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.
• they are never satisfied, gathering unto themselves all the nations and taking captive all the peoples.

After Babylon has done the Lord’s work, nations and people nearby will taunt Israel saying: (Hab. 2:6-19)

• Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion.
• Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!
• Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime!
• Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors till they are drunk to gaze on their naked bodies.
• Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up! 'Can it give guidance? "Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." (Hab. 2:20)

Habakkuk prays again; “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” (Hab. 3:2)

Key Point from Habakkuk ➢ The righteous seek justice. ➢ God uses evil nations to accomplish His purposes. ➢ People outside God’s kingdom recognize the sins of His people and ridicule them. ➢ God is always merciful even when chastising His people to encourage them to repent and return.