The Righteous will Live by Faith
Habakkuk – Chapter 2
Review
- What did we talk about in Chapter 1?
- H. is frustrated, mad about Israel and asks God for action. The first time, he’s a little less than reverent. The second, he’s much better.
- God IS involved. We may not always understand or agree with what He chooses to do.
Introduction
- How did you all do this week reading Habakkuk?
- What’s your opinion of Habakkuk (thus far)? Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc?
- What is your opinion of this chapter? Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
- Interesting to hear H.’s reaction. I see this reaction as an understanding of God’s plan (inasmuch that he accepts it), a resolve of God’s instructions to him (be watching, in wonder, etc), and his role as prophet (how he can reply).
- God’s answer has a lot of stuff in it (as most of His answers do) and it can be difficult to sort it all out until one gives it a few reads.
- How do you respond when you understand a plan that God has pointed out? It could be a new direction by the church, a new ministry opportunity for you, a new job, etc. Do you think “Oh, I hate change”? Maybe “Are you sure, God?” Or, “I’ll pray about it.”
If we know a will for our lives or a plan God has for us, there’s no need to pray about it, is there? He’s already told us. Our job is to accept it and figure out how we’re to be involved. This is what H. does, and while it’s the smallest of pieces of Chapter two, I think it’s critical and integral to the key verse (v 4).
Lesson
- vv. 1 [READ – Hab 2:1]
- H’s response:
i. I will stand on my guard post
ii. [I will] station myself on the rampart
iii. I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me
iv. [I will prepare] how I may reply
1. not IF I am reproved, WHEN.
2. Define “reproved” – proof, correction, argument, etc. Ie, given proof or the ability to argue a point, even defend it.
- Why does H. state that he’ll do these things? What are his motivation(s)?
i. For the first three, He’s told to watch, be astonished, and be in wonder for what God’s plan is because it’ll happen in his (H.’s) days.
ii. For the last one, H knows he’s a prophet (as exemplified by Hab 1:1). As such, it seems reasonable that he knows that it’s his job to tell people about God, what He plans, etc. He knows he’ll have to give an answer on this.
- How does this dovetail with the end of Chapter 1?
i. H is going through his round of more reasonable questions now. He asks whether the Babylonians will be allowed to continue without stopping and whether God will allow “the wicked [to] swallow up those more righteous”. I don’t think these are rhetorical questions, but I don’t think H’ expects an answer because he follows those questions up with “I’ll just do what I’m told, watch and see what happens.”
ii. Surprise! God answers H again.
- vv. 2-3 [READ – Hab 2:2-3] “the Vision”
- What vision? The vision from Ch 1 about the Babylonians or the vision in Ch 2 (that we’re not to yet) about what will happen TO the Babylonians?
i. I think it refers to the vision about the discipline of Israel described in Ch 1. I think the second vision describing what will happen to the Babylonians is separate. It’s JUST MY OPINION at this point. However the “so that the one who reads is may run” comment could mean that it’s for the Babylonians to heed. But I really don’t think so.
- What is H to do with the Vision?
i. Record it
ii. Inscribe it on tablets
iii. Wait for it
- Why?
i. So that the one who reads it may run.
1. Huh? Run? Why? Where?
2. Nobody is sure what this phrase, “that the one who reads it may run” means. It could mean, write it big “on a sign” so someone hurrying by could read it. It could mean - write it simply so someone reading it fast could understand. It might mean - write it down so those who read it can run tell others. One might think it is saying - write it down so those who read it may flee the Babylonians. But we know from Jeremiah that they were not supposed to flee the Babylonians. Those who fled, died. Those who stayed and took their discipline, lived. Anyway, this is just another one of those inscrutable sayings. Maybe it just means - write it down so that, when the time comes, you will know that the judgment is from God, not just fate. - Hampton Keathley IV , Th.M., Bible.org (http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=975)
or… “so that the herald sent to proclaim the message can read it and announce it even while he runs” (NIV interprets this verse this way)
ii. Though it tarries, it will certainly come. It will not delay.
- What other characteristics do we know or can we infer about the vision?
i. It’s certain enough to happen that H. should write it down.
ii. It has an appointed time
iii. It hastens towards the goal.
iv. It will not fail.
v. It will certainly come.
vi. It will not delay
- vv. 4-20 [READ – Hab 1:12-17]
- The Righteous
i. Live by his faith (v 4)
- The Proud / Haughty One (Babylonians)
i. Their Actions
1. The soul is not right within him (v 4)
2. Betrayed by wine (v 5)
3. Insatiable greed (like death) (v 5)
4. Never satisfied (v 5)
5. Gathers all people; all nations (v 5)
6. Loot(ed) many nations (v 8)
7. Inflict human bloodshed and violence (v 8)
8. Gets evil gain for his house (v 9)
9. Puts his nest on high so as to be delivered from calamity (v 9)
10. Devised a shameful thing for your house (v 10)
11. Cut off many people (v 10)
12. The Lord makes their toil be for vanity, nothing (v 13)
13. devastation to beasts, human bloodshed, and violence to land, town and inhabitants (v 17)
14. Fashions (speechless) idols (v 18)
15. Trust in their own handiwork (v 18)
ii. Their Reward
1. Takes up taunts, mockery, and insinuations against them (v 6)
2. Woe to him…
a. with loans (v 6)
b. gets evil gains (v 9)
c. build a city with bloodshed (v 12)
d. founds a town with violence (v 12)
e. who makes your neighbors drink (v 15)
f. who mix in your venom to make them drunk (to look on their nakedness)
g. who says to a piece of wood, “Awake!” to a mute stone “Arise!”
h.
3. Creditors will rise up. (v 7)
4. Will become plunder for them (creditors) (v 7)
5. Will be looted by the people (v 8)
6. Sinning against yourself (v 10)
7. your (physical) house will rebuke/revolt against you – the stone will cry out from the wall, the rafter will answer from the framework (v 11)
8. You will be filled with disgrace (rather than honor) (v16)
9. The Lord’s right hand and cup will come to you. (v 16)
10. Utter disgrace will come to you(r glory) (v 16)
11. The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you (v 17)
12.
iii. The Lord’s role
1. the whole plan, of course, but specifically…
2. Makes people toil for fire, and grow weary for nothing (v 13)
3. Makes the knowledge of Him flood the world. (v 14)
4. His cup in His right hand will come to the Babylonians and cause utter disgrace on them. (v 16)
iv. What is our role in exacting this measure against the Babylonians?
1. Nothing, zip, nada, zero, zilch, bupkiss…get it?
2. It’s God’s plan. He gets to make the rules, play it out, and do what He wants. We’re to sit back, pay attention, and be amazed, remember?
3. Be silent (before Lord God) (v 20)
Summary
- What’s your key verse?
- v 4
- How can our position in life affect how we hear God? Can the same message be heard by different people and heard differently? How would someone other than H. hear (and react to) this message?
- Are we like H? Let me count the ways:
- Question / Argue with God.
- Want to intervene or “help” with God’s judgment. Or better yet, want to exact our own. (H. considered the Babylonians unworthy to punish his people)
- Do we toil in vain, work for nothing because it’s not for the Lord?
- …but that can’t be true if it’s “church work”, right? :)
- How do you know if it’s for the Lord? Does the lack of fruit (by our eyes) mean it’s not for the Lord?
i. No. It’s a matter of knowing that we’re in God’s will. We may not see the fruit or reap the benefits of our work. But they’re not our benefits to reap. They’re God’s. If they’re not God’s benefits to reap, then we’re working for the wrong reason and it’s in vain.
- What are some possible reactions, good and bad, that you’ve had or could have about learning about a will/plan for you?
- “Are you sure, God?”
- “I’m too busy.”
- “That’s not my gift.”
- “Someone else would be better.”
- “It’s scary.”
- “Well, I don’t know how, but OK.”
- Etc, etc. etc.