Habakkuk 1:1-11
ICE BREAKER
If you could ask God one question, what would it be? If we gather all of the questions we as a church are currently asking, the focus probably has to do with our struggle with evil in the world or suffering.
We would be asking a question like, “Why is this happening to me and my family?”
Share with the group the question you are currently taking to God.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- In your current situation in life what are you waiting on and where do you need to trust God?
- At times we have to wait until the end of our life to have a struggle resolved. It is hard to wait. The waiting can really throw us. Is God really who He says He is? Suffering makes us question God many times. As a group spend some time listening and supporting those who are struggling with suffering. Consider reading Psalm 37 together as a group and praying for those in the group who are facing tough challenges at this time.
- Craig Groeschel says the following, “My prayer is that you would grow to have the Habakkuk kind of faith we see in chapter 3. But here’s the deal: you can’t have a chapter 3 type of faith until you’ve had a chapter 1 type of question and a chapter 2 kind of waiting. Because God often does more spiritually in the valley than he does on the mountaintop.” Share with the group which “chapter” you are in and explain your answer.
- The intentional practice of remembering God’s faithfulness is crucial. This practice sustains us in intense suffering. Have a few people share a time in their life when God proved Himself faithful even though the suffering was intense.
“God uses all events, good and bad, to work toward our good and His glory, but often we cannot see how it fits together.”
Consider reading Psalm 37 multiple times this coming week and talk to God about this Psalm through the week. It is a great reminder.
NOTES AND QUOTES
Habakkuk prophesied just before the fall of Judah to Babylon.
This book is unique in that he does not prophecy to the kings nor to the people of Judah. Rather, it is a talk between him and God.
The book reads like a court case. An accusation is on the table with God. Habakkuk has questions for God.
There is a false mindset that can creep into the church that says, “When we obey God and love God things will go well.”. This mentality is not good theology and it leads to disillusionment with God.
In Habakkuk 1:1 Habakkuk says, “Oh LORD, how long shall I cry for help? Why do You make me see iniquity, and why do You idly look at wrong?”
He is saying to God, “You don’t listen, You are not helping.”.
The context is that Habakkuk is looking at Judah. He observes that the people are not observing the laws of the Lord. So, justice is broken and the people are suffering.
At the same time there are people in Judah who are following God.
Truth #1:
The people of God consist of those trying and those who are not. Some who sincerely walk with God and others that do not. Habakkuk is lamenting this.
We are like this too. In fact, we go back and forth between being locked in and shut down in our walk with God.
Galatians 6:9 “Do not grow weary in doing good.” It is hard to continue to do good in the ups and downs.
God responds to Habakkuks’ question in 1:5, ” …I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” God says he is raising up the Babylonians who will seize dwellings not their own.
So, Judah’s bitter enemy will be used by God to crush you.
Truth #2
God uses all events, good and bad, to work toward our good and His glory, but often we cannot see how it fits together.
In 1:12-13 He replies to God, “….why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallow up the man more righteous than he?”
In other words, these people are worse than us, so why are You using them to punish us?
Truth #3
Our scale of relative righteousness is irrelevant. God is holy. His scale is His holiness.
We tend to use our own scale of righteousness. Think about a conflict with your spouse. Have you ever justified yourself by saying: “Well, you did this last week so what I did is not so bad.”.
2:20 “But the LORD is in HIs holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before HIm.”
There is a time for trust and a time to wait.
Truth #4 God is mercy, His mercy never obscures His holiness nor HIs sovereignty.
To continue to question God is to say we are more merciful or more righteous that He is. Pause and reflect on this.
In 3:2 he requests that God remembers mercy in His wrath. He is urging God to move fast and he is saying he trusts God.
Have you ever gone through suffering that makes you tremble? Have you ever lost sight of all but the suffering? Have you ever had it where you wake up and the only thing on your mind once again is the oppression?
Keyword: wait.
What are you waiting on today? What do you want the Lord to take care of? Is there a bad relationship that you want Him to make good? Is it a health situation?
It is about trust. He is who He says He is.
Two more stories of suffering: Job and John the Baptist:
Job…he loses all his kids, his health, his wealth. His friends conclude Job has sinned(which is not the cause of the suffering even though they believe it is.).
The story of John the Baptist reveals the difficulty of suffering as well. He is in prison for doing what was right.
John baptizes Jesus and at this time he has great certainty about Christ being the Messiah.
Yet, in his suffering he is confused and he questions whether Christ is the Messiah or not.
So, we all have our questions that we must bring to God.
Habakuk 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
