A PROTESTING PROPHET, A REASSURING GOD (2 OF 5)
Scripture: Habakkuk 1:12, Habakkuk 2:5
This content is part of a series.
A Protesting Prophet, A Reassuring God (2 of 5)
Series: Lament, Protest, and Trust: The Book of Habakkuk
Wyman Richardson
Habakkuk 1:12-2:5
Read Habakkuk 1:12-2:5
The phrase ''Be careful what you ask for!'' has a great deal of merit. Sometimes it feels like life has a way of responding to our wishes in ways not only that we could not have foreseen but in ways that sometimes seem downright worse than the way things were before! It is possible that Habakkuk the prophet felt that way after hearing God's initial response to his voiced complaint in the beginning of the book. Habakkuk had complained about rampant injustice and wickedness in his own land. James Montgomery Boice notes that Habakkuk had seen a period of great national revival only to see it collapse into national godlessness. So Habakkuk complained to God about what he perceived to be God's inactivity. ''Why are you silent? Why will you not do something to right these wrongs?'' Habakkuk had asked.
And God had responded.
God told Habakkuk in chapter 1 that He in fact knew what He was doing. He revealed that He was going to use another people to discipline His own rebellious people. The only problem was that the people God was going to use to accomplish His desires was the Babylonians! This was shocking for a couple of reasons, the second worse than the first. First of all, it was shocking because the Assyrians, not the Babylonians, were at that time the dominant power. It was unlikely by any human reckoning that the Babylonians would become a dominant world power. Secondly, it was shocking because the Babylonians were worse than the Jews whom God was seeking to discipline!
Habakkuk, to put it mildly, was flabbergasted. Thus, he complains again...and God answers again. We see this exchange unfolding in Habakkuk 1:12 and following.
Habakkuk offers worship that is still mingled with protest.
We begin with Habakkuk's response to God's revelation of His plan.
Habakkuk 1
12 Are you ...
Series: Lament, Protest, and Trust: The Book of Habakkuk
Wyman Richardson
Habakkuk 1:12-2:5
Read Habakkuk 1:12-2:5
The phrase ''Be careful what you ask for!'' has a great deal of merit. Sometimes it feels like life has a way of responding to our wishes in ways not only that we could not have foreseen but in ways that sometimes seem downright worse than the way things were before! It is possible that Habakkuk the prophet felt that way after hearing God's initial response to his voiced complaint in the beginning of the book. Habakkuk had complained about rampant injustice and wickedness in his own land. James Montgomery Boice notes that Habakkuk had seen a period of great national revival only to see it collapse into national godlessness. So Habakkuk complained to God about what he perceived to be God's inactivity. ''Why are you silent? Why will you not do something to right these wrongs?'' Habakkuk had asked.
And God had responded.
God told Habakkuk in chapter 1 that He in fact knew what He was doing. He revealed that He was going to use another people to discipline His own rebellious people. The only problem was that the people God was going to use to accomplish His desires was the Babylonians! This was shocking for a couple of reasons, the second worse than the first. First of all, it was shocking because the Assyrians, not the Babylonians, were at that time the dominant power. It was unlikely by any human reckoning that the Babylonians would become a dominant world power. Secondly, it was shocking because the Babylonians were worse than the Jews whom God was seeking to discipline!
Habakkuk, to put it mildly, was flabbergasted. Thus, he complains again...and God answers again. We see this exchange unfolding in Habakkuk 1:12 and following.
Habakkuk offers worship that is still mingled with protest.
We begin with Habakkuk's response to God's revelation of His plan.
Habakkuk 1
12 Are you ...
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