1. The LORD Answers…But Do We Wanna Hear?
Habakkuk 1:5-11

2. Habakkuk 1:5-6
5 "Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-- You would not believe if you were told. 6 "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.

3. Habakkuk 1:7-9
7 "They are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves. 8 "Their horses are swifter than leopards And keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping, Their horsemen come from afar; They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour. 9 "All of them come for violence. Their horde of faces moves forward. They collect captives like sand.

4. Habakkuk 1:10-11
10 "They mock at kings And rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress And heap up rubble to capture it. 11 "Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god."

5. Outline
The Who (vv. 5-6)
The What (vv. 7-11)

6. Habakkuk 1:5-11
Purpose: (1) Almighty God is always at work and (2) sometimes when we go to Him in prayer in times of need, His answer may be perplexing.

7. I. The Who (vv. 5-6) Inspection Advised (v.5)
Four imperatives given here as God’s response.
God states: I am already doing something.
God states: I am doing something unbelievable!

8. I. The Who (vv. 5-6) Intense & Impetuous Adversary (v.6)
Chaldeans = a ruling class of Semites located in Southern Mesopotamia
Chaldeans = descendants of Kesed, the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor (Genesis 22:22)
Merodach-Baladan (2 Kings 20:12-19)
Nabopolassar conquers Assyrian with help from Medes & Scythians in 626 B.C.

9. I. The Who (vv. 5-6) Intense & Impetuous Adversary (v.6)
Nabopolassar’s son = Nebuchadnezzar II
God’s description: a “fierce” and “impetuous” people

10. II. The What (vv. 7-11) International & Independent Reputation (v.7)
Incomparable Raiders (v.8)
Insatiable Ravenousness (v.9)
Incompetence Ridiculed (v.10)
Incessant Rush & Ignorant Religion (v.11)

11. Conclusions
God’s workings in human history & in the lives of individuals is at times: astonishing, mysterious, perplexing!
Take God’s Word in its totality.
Understand the difference between God’s permissive will and God’s declarative will.
God does answer the prayers of His people.
God’s modern day chastisement?