Why Doesn’t God Stop Evil? Lessons from Habakkuk
Why Doesn’t God Stop Evil? Lessons from Habakkuk
Setting the Stage Habakkuk to God: Why don’t You stop evil? God: You would be amazed at what I am doing Habakkuk: I can’t believe your ways God: Be patient, the righteous live by faith Habakkuk: I will be patient and rejoice in God How Then Should We Live Putting It All Together
Wicked King Jehoiakim Assyria fading, Babylon rising
Wicked King Jehoiakim Assyria fading, Babylon rising
“1:1. The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. 2. O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you Violence! And you will not save? 3. Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before them; strife and contention arise. 4. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous, so justice goes forth perverted.”
“1:5. Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. 6. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans that bitter and hasty nation who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own… swift to devour…they all come for violence….gather captives like sand….they laugh at every fortress…guilty men whose own might is their god!”
The Lord is not surprised by Habakkuk’s comments. The omniscient Lord knows exactly what it going on. Hebrews 4:13, Psalms 139 Our sovereign God has a plan and He is actively involved in making that plan reality For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back. Isaiah 14:27 My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish my purpose…I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass I have purposed, and I will do it. Isaiah 46:10-11
…He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to Him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:35 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. Ephesians 1:11 And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in the Day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 For who can know the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Romans 11:35
All authority comes from God For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Romans 13:1 [God] removes kings and sets up kings. Daniel 2:21 The plans of God may include the use of wicked people and nations
1:12 “Are you [God] not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them [Babylon] as judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. 13. You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? 14. You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. 15. He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet so he rejoices and is glad. 16. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. 17. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever? I will take my stand at the watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.”
“2:2 The Lord answered me; Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. 4. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. 5. Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough. He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples. 6. …Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own…. 9. Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house…. 12. Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity…. 15. Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink…. 19. Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake….
The events in God’s plan will most certainly happen, but at the perfect appointed time The Lord hates puffed up prideful people In contrast, the righteous are not about themselves but live by faith in God God will judge the wicked at the appointed time
The events in God’s plan will most certainly happen, but at the perfect appointed time The Lord hates puffed up prideful people In contrast, the righteous are not about themselves but live by faith in God God will judge the wicked at the appointed time
The events in God’s plan will most certainly happen, but at the perfect appointed time The Lord hates puffed up prideful people In contrast, the righteous are not about themselves but live by faith in God God will judge the wicked at the appointed time
Habakkuk 2:4 …the righteous shall live by his faith Romans 1:17 …as it is written, “the righteous [just] will live by faith.” Galatians 3:11 …for “the righteous shall live by faith.” Hebrews 10:38 but my righteous one shall live [endure] by faith
3:2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy…. 16. I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs trembles beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. 17. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…18. yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19. God, the Lord of my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s he makes me tread on my high places.
3:2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy…. 16. I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. 17. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…18. yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19. God, the Lord of my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s he makes me tread on my high places.
Live by faith Don’t worry, “be still and know that I am God” God loves us/cares for us and has a plan for our lives With respect to government: Obey; 1 Peter 2:13, Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities Pray; 1 Timothy 2:1-2 …I urge that…prayers…be made…. for kings and all those in high positions Pay taxes; Pay to all what is owed to them, taxes to whom taxes is due…Romans 13:7
Live by faith Don’t worry, “be still and know that I am God” God loves us/cares for us and has a plan for our lives With respect to government: Obey; 1 Peter 2:13, Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities Pray; 1 Timothy 2:1-2 …I urge that…prayers…be made…. for kings and all those in high positions Pay taxes; Pay to all what is owed to them, taxes to whom taxes is due…Romans 13:7
What should we know: The Lord has a plan for the ages God establishes and uses nations as He wishes Remember, who can know the mind of the Lord? Rest assured, all wickedness will be judged At the appointed time things will happen How should we live? Live by faith Because God loves us/cares for us and has a plan for our eternal lives Therefore, don’t worry, be patient, “be still and know that I am God” With respect to government; obey, pray and pay taxes
What should we know: The Lord has a plan for the ages God establishes and uses nations as He wishes Remember, who can know the mind of the Lord? Rest assured, all wickedness will be judged At the appointed time things will happen How then should we live? Live by faith Because God loves us/cares for us and has a plan for our eternal lives Therefore, don’t worry, be patient, “be still and know that I am God” With respect to government; obey, pray and pay taxes