MPC
24th September 2017.September 24 - Habakkuk 1, 2 - "Trust Me"
MPC
24th September 2017.
Ryan Holmes
Last week I was amazed. In my rush to put a load of clothes in the washing machine my phone slipped in as well. And mid cycle. My wife, Sarah and I realised what had happened. I was ready to give up on it. But Sarah said, trust me. Put your phone in a bag of rice and try turning it on later. And a day or so later I tried turning it on again, but with no signs of life, I was content to accept defeat, but not Sarah. Once more she said trust me. Leave it a little longer. And a week later, to my amazement it turned on. A resurrected phone.
Whether it's an experience with a busted phone or something else. We've all had crisis-moments in life where things looked hopeless. Where the odds were stacked against us. But in unexpected ways things turned around. amazing moments. Awe inspiring moments.
And this is one of those crisis-moments in Habakkuk. The situation is hopeless. Things aren't going well. In fact the haven't been going well for some time...
If you remember back to our series on the Book of Exodus a few months ago. You'll remember that we saw the beginning of Israel as a nation.
In Habakkuk, we're at the other end of the Israel's story. Or almost. Israel have gone from a bunch of slaves in Egypt. Into a kingdom. With land, a temple, and a line of kings. But by the time we get to Habakkuk - things aren't going so well. There's been civil war; the nation splits. Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Who Habakkuk's talking to. And there's corruption everywhere. And to top it all off unfaithfulness to their covenant God. Which God warned them from the beginning would put everything else at risk.
And this is what one of the last Kings of Judah, King Josiah, realised. 2 Kings chapter 22 he said: "Great is the Lord's anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they haven't acted in accordance with what is written concerning us." And this is where we are now in the story of the Bible. And God's going to use the prophet Habakkuk. To speak directly to the people of Judah.
But Habakkuk... Well he's in over his head with the problems of Judah. He's spent his life seeking Judah's flourishing. But now all he's seeing is Judah's ruin. And it's all caused by Judah's own unfaithfulness to God. And if anyone should know better it's them - they're God's people. So it's in this mess that God works in a surprising and an awe inspiring way - in a terrifying kind of way.
So confronted with the state of Judah, Habakkuk cries out.
He blows up. He rants to God. He goes to God with a prayer of complaint:
Take a look at chapter 1 verses 1 to 4:
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you don't listen? Or cry out to you, "violence!" but you don't save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralysed, and justice never prevails.
Now you might think that sounds like a Saturday night in Fortitude Valley.
The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. But the problem is, he's talking about Judah. The Israelites. The people of God. And the problem for Habakkuk is that he knows that God is good and just. So why does he let it keep going?
The people of God shouldn't be like this. Which is why Habakkuk is complaining to God - why don't you do something? Where are you? Why are you letting this happen?
And in chapter 1 verse 5 God answers Habakkuk - You're going to see something you'll hardly believe." Look with me at verse 5:
Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you wouldn't believe, even if you were told.
There are just some things which you never thought would happen.
Like the Cowboys being beaten by the Rooster.
Like Donald Trump for President.
You just wouldn't believe it if I told you.
And what ever God is going to do, it's going to be one of those moments for Habakkuk and Judah. It's going to astound them.
Take a look at what God goes on to say in verse 6. "Habakkuk. I'm not absent here. I'm not silent. I'm raising up the Chaldeans. I'm rising up Babylon."
Now if you know anything about the unfolding story of the bible, Judah's history didn't just end with them going backwards. But it also ended with them being conquered and captured by Babylon. And here's where the rise of Babylon begins. In fact, in verses 6 to 11 it's as though God is reading out Babylon's resume. Or to put it another way, why Babylon are God's choice instrument for judging and punishing the evil going on in Judah.
There are just times where the right tool fits the job.
Like that morning coffee for the commute to work.
Like that sharp chisel for notching out joins in timber.
Like that spatula that bends to just the right curve to scrape out all the cake mix.
They're right tools for the job.
In Judah's case. Babylon is that perfect instrument for dealing with what's going on.
God says to Habakkuk, "Trust me. I am bigger than this. I am bigger than the mess of Judah. I know what you're seeing is shocking. I know you're feeling out of your depth here. I've got the right tool for the job. trust me."
Pick up as Habakkuk responds to God in verse 12:
Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my holy One? You will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them - you've appointed [Babylon] - to execute judgement; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
And just notice again how Habakkuk gets who God is. He gets that God is eternal and unchanging. That God has always been who he is. And God will continue to be who is.
He gets that God is holy, pure, and righteous. He gets that God is their personal God. My Rock. Who's not letting the mess within Judah go unchecked.
God won't. He can't ignore it.
Just like a loving father who wants his son to stop self-destructive behaviour. He disciplines him. A loving father's limited and measured discipline. God's going to do the same with His people, Judah.
God will bring a limited judgement and a measured punishment. And yet at the same time, Habakkuk, doesn't believe what he's hearing. Which is what says next. "Babylon? Really!? Come on!They're worse than we are! And you're a Holy God - how long will you tolerate them? How long will you tolerate their evil?"
See verse 13:
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous [Babylon]? Why are you silent while the wicked [Babylon] swallow up those - Judah - more righteous than themselves?
In other words, we were bad. But they're worse!
Like a billboard on Samford Road.
And God goes on to answer Habakkuk in chapter 2 verse 2. God tells Habakkuk to make this vision He's going to show him, clear and direct. Write this in big letters.
Pick it up with me in verses 3 and 4:
The revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright - the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.
Or in other words, if it looks like the bad guys are winning - keep trusting me. Stay faithful.
Because in verses 5 to 20, God says, don't worry. They'll get their justice as well.
Because for God's enemies. In verses 5 to 20. God's going to bring five guilty verdicts. Five woes against those who are unfaithful, full of pride, bent towards evil, and inflict suffering - which is embodied by Babylon.
He says, I know how bad they are. I know the suffering they cause. I know they're full of pride. And they'll be punished. No matter who they are.
Whether it's you... or the Babylonians.
Verse 20 puts everything in perspective: "The lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."
So Habakkuk. Stop complaining.
So... God's first message to Judah is - I'm bigger than your mess, I'm sending Babylon to discipline you - but trust me. And God's second message to Judah is - keep trusting me. I'm bigger than Babylon. In fact I'm bigger than the messiness of the world. Trust me.
I want to step you forward in your minds around 500 years. To another point in history. That's awe inspiring.
It's another one of those moments where "The wicked hem in the righteous."
And where it appears that "justice is perverted." Another situation of extreme bloodshed, wrongdoing, shame, and rejection of God.
I'm talking about the cross. The brutal execution of the one who claimed to be the son of God. And backed his claims with actions.
And because of that, was executed by crucifixion on a cross. At the hands of Rome and with the help of the Jews.
He was despised and rejected. By his own people.
He was a man of sorrows and knew what grief was.
He was a man who people didn't value.
He was wrongly oppressed and afflicted; yet he didn't open his mouth.
He was beaten beyond human appearance.
He was a man who had done no wrong.
But He was a man who was struck down and afflicted by God. Or so it seemed.
It might look hopeless. It might look like evil is winning! But God is doing something utterly amazing here.
Later on, in the book of Acts, Paul's preaching about that. To a bunch of Jews in the Synagogue in Acts chapter 13. And as he comes to a climax, he's going to quote words directly from Habakkuk.
Because again... God's turned things around. In the resurrection. And again, God's bringing ultimate justice... from an ugly situation. And again, those on the wrong side of him... are going to face the consequences.
Take a look at Paul's words from verse 39:
Therefore, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said doesn't happen to you: 'look, wonder, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'
What Paul means is this. God's bigger than this. That on the cross Jesus stands in the place of sinful people and takes upon himself the judgement and punishment for their sin. Jesus didn't receive any limited and measured judgement. He received God's total judgement and punishment. Which then justifies everyone who believes in him. Sets us free from every sin. In a way Israel's law never could.
There is peace with God through Jesus. There is forgiveness through Jesus. There is a righteous standing before God through Jesus. There is justification, for you through Jesus.
This is how God both judges and saves. And we are spared judgement and given salvation when believe and go on believing in Jesus. Because when we live by faith - we live trusting Jesus. Then we'll live.
The whole unfolding story of the bible, which Habakkuk is part of, is a foreshadowing of what God would ultimately do in Jesus - through Jesus' life, death, resurrection, he delivers us from and defeats our greatest enemies - Satan, sin and death.
God's message to us is - trust me. In the mess and crisis of life keep trusting me. I'm bigger than your sin. I'm bigger than your suffering. Trust me.
Now I'm not sure of the particular sins and suffering you've had. Or have. Or will have in life. But I am deeply persuaded of two things. That sin and suffering have invaded your life. And will always be there this side of Heaven. Also that at some time or another you've wanted to cry out to God like Habakkuk. And say, where are you? Why are you letting this happen? It just doesn't make sense.
And God says to us at that point, look at the death and resurrection of Jesus. Look for your answers there. Look and wonder at the way that I am bigger than all your sin and suffering. trust me.
Because in Jesus, God became a man, he become like one of us. And he experienced life like we do. Jesus become like you, in every way, so that he could heal you in every way. And we see this when we look at his life and death - he joins us in our suffering:
Jesus was deeply misunderstood by his parents, brothers and sisters, and closest friends.
Lies were spread about him and shamed his reputation.
People tried to use him for their own ends.
He suffered the attempts of Satan to question his identity as God's beloved Son.
He suffered physical abuse.
He suffered humiliation as he was stripped naked and hung on public display.
He suffered the spiritual torment of having all of God's anger fall upon him - experiencing suffering we can only scarcely imagine.
And yet, none of this kept him down. None of this ruined him. None of this had the last word. Jesus rose from death. he is alive. He shows that the suffering we experience is wrong and it's not ok and that he overcomes it. So if your with Jesus, it will not have the last word in your life. And when Jesus comes back those who have caused unjust suffering will get justice.
Because of this relationship let's be honest with God with what we're really feeling.
Let's let the sadness, fear and anger leak out of our hearts to God. Knowing that he is there and knowing that he has done something about it. And is doing something about it.
I don't know your exact circumstances; but maybe, God's telling you something unbelievable today. Something amazing and awe inspiring - that He himself has dealt with your sin and suffering once and for all... through Jesus, dying and rising for you. So will you trust that? And keep trusting?
God said to Habakkuk, "I'm bigger than your sin. I'm bigger than your enemies. So keep trusting me."
At the cross we see the same God. Saying to us: "I'm bigger than your suffering. I'm bigger than your sin. I'm bigger than the greatest enemy of all. So trust me."