I hope that all of you are doing well in this new year. With the new year, we are going to start on a new sermon series. Also starting next week, I will do my best to have a book or film review each week.
Today, we are starting a new sermon series on the book of Habakkuk. I believe that I have mentioned on the blog in the past that I did extensive study on what are known as the Minor Prophets when I was in Bible college. I have always felt that many of these smaller prophetic books are often ignored in preaching and teaching, and one of the things that I've tried to do from time to time is to go through some of the books of the Minor Prophets to see what they have to teach us today.
Before we get into the book of Habakkuk let me give you a little history that leads us up to the content of this book. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became the new king. Right away, he faced a challenge to his leadership. He was not wise as was his father, and due to a bad decision on Rehoboam's part, the Kingdom of Israel was divided. The ten tribes in the north followed a man named Jeroboam, and he became the king of Israel which is also called Samaria in the Old Testament. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal to the House of David. They became known as the Kingdom of Judah.
The Kingdom of Israel only had evil kings. No matter how many prophets the Lord sent to the north, they never truly turned their hearts back to the Lord. This land would be conquered by the Assyrians. Judah remained for a few more years. However, the land was experiencing great difficulties. The Babylonians were a growing threat to such a small nation.
Habakkuk wrote his prophecy in the time just before the fall of Jerusalem. It was a time when the people had fallen away from the Lord, and the nation was ruled by kings who did not want to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Lord sent many prophets to the people including Isaiah and Jeremiah, but the people would not listen.
Not much is known about the man Habakkuk. Many Bible scholars believe that he may have been a Temple prophet. Part of their job was to compose music, and the final chapter of Habakkuk is a Psalm.
As the book of Habakkuk opens, we find the prophet telling the Lord about the distress that he is feeling due to the fact that the people are wicked, violent and they do not follow the law nor the ways of justice. Habakkuk asks, "How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?" In other words, Habakkuk wanted to know when the Lord was going to do something about all of the sin and evil that was going on. Habakkuk was tired of what was going on in his world, and he wanted the Lord to do something about it.
I definitely understand where Habakkuk is coming from. I look at the world today, and I see many of the same things going on that were going on in the days of this prophet. In my country at least, the majority of the people have decided that they do not want to follow the law of God. They don't want to follow the way of Jesus. Even those who call themselves followers of Jesus preach a Jesus that has little resemblance to the Jesus of Scripture. Their Jesus is not the Jesus who preaches the way of peace and compassion. The Jesus they preach is not the Jesus who gave us the great teachings of the Sermon on the Mount.
All around the world there is injustice and oppression. The poor are taken advantage of by the rich and powerful. The world is full of exploitation. Like the prophet, I ask when the Lord will come and do something about it.
In the verses that follow, the Lord responds to Habakkuk. The Lord has responded in our day. We have the promise of the Lord Jesus that things will not always be the way that they are now. One day Jesus will come and restore all things to the way that existed before the Fall. He will bring justice and righteousness and peace to this earth. In the meantime, we are to work to bring justice, healing and hope to the nations by sharing the message of Jesus.
It is easy to get frustrated when we look at the state of this world. However, we can have hope in the Lord Jesus. He will come again, and in this we have hope. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for the people in Colorado who suffered due to the terrible fires. I know someone who lives in Louisville. Thanks be to God, they were not hurt, and their house did not catch on fire. Many are suffering. Let us pray that they will receive the aid that they need.
Let us also pray for those in the Southeast part of the US who are recovering from the storms that destroyed much in that region.
Continue to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. Get your vaccination and booster please. Pray for doctors and nurses who are overwhelmed right now. Pray that the sick will recover quickly.
We need to pray for peace in the world. Please remember to pray for peace in Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia and Afghanistan.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Iran and Chad. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue our series in Habakkuk. I will post the verses on Monday, and a review midweek. May God bless you all.
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