Habakkuk week 4: The grave reality
Habakkuk • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Same story lies behind movies we watch and books we read. from fairytale to fantasy to sci-fi.
Same story lies behind movies we watch and books we read. from fairytale to fantasy to sci-fi.
LoftheR to Lego movie. Marvel or DC.
LoftheR to Lego movie. Marvel or DC.
Same theme.
The battle between good and evil.
The battle between good and evil.
Message of most - good triumphs in the end, but for a long time it seems it might..
Habakkuk tension. Will wickedness win?
tempting for us to feel the same.
What do we see as we take quick look:
Relentless wickedness.
Read v12-17
How striking it is that that could be describing the world we see.
What do we see as look at world.
Violence. Wickedness. agression. evil.
Chatting with tradesman, why I’m a Christian - because only God can give hope to mess. He promises to make things right. “Well things can’t get much worse”
Russian troops and weapons ruthlessly unleased on Ukraine at will of Putin why?
The latest conflict between Israel and Palestine just another addition to the ever increasing civilian death count, including women and children and babies, killed either by missles, or more brutally by invading troops.
20 years - Congo war claimed 5.4m people - many as result of genocide
World war 2 calimed lives of 70 million, inc 50m civillians
WW1 18 million
just going back just over 100 years.
If you kept looking, as far back as you could, I suspect Every generation in history of world, there would be war somewehre
Closer to home. Stories of teenagers being stabbed in the street. mothers and their children suffering abuse at hands of violent fathers. stories of human trafficing and those forced into prostitution.
It can seem like a steam train with its firey breath that will just keep on going and nothing can get in its way. Like a jaugernaut - unstoppable.
What is God doing in face of such wickedness.
Magic eye
looks like sea of pixels. mess. random colours. But focus your eye. Look carefully, see clear picture.
Habakkuk we see some of that. As he looks around and sees chaos, struggles to see God clearly, God calls him to look carefully, with a clear focus, and see the sovereign God at work.
We must do similar thing if we are see Gods’ answer and trust him.
This morning asked to focus our eyes. look at the mess with a clear view and see clear picture.
This
THE WICKED DO NOT WIN.
THE WICKED DO NOT WIN.
Draw back the curtain this morning. See in light of scripture - as God answers Habakkuk.
Uses Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar as a case study of wickedness
Think of wickedness like steam train. v5 gives engine that drives it.
The engine of wickedness - insatiable desire
The engine of wickedness - insatiable desire
v5 - transition from general message v4 - the warning abaout danger of pride - a case study in wickedness as specific woes pronounced on Babylonians
Pride - and greed are engines that drives the beast forward. Insatiable desire for more.
“the arrogant man” personification of the Babylonian nation and of Nebuchadnezzae in particular example of pride described in v4.
indeed, wine betrays him;
he is arrogant and never at rest.
Because he is as greedy as the grave
and like death is never satisfied,
he gathers to himself all the nations
and takes captive all the peoples.
wine - strong drink - probably reference to addition to strong drink amoung the Babylonians - but also idea of being drunk on conquest.
As they extend their empire, victory goes to their head. Drunk with their own success - like a drug - the more the get the more they want.
Addicted to winning. - no such thing as enough.
“like death he has never enough”. (like death which never takes a holiday or is satisfied” - Babylonians wished to swallow up the whole world. Addicition by definition is never satisfied.
Look around world today and we see a world full of addicts. Insatiable desire. drink, sex, power, success, wealth. People live who lives driven by desire to be fulfilled and do all kinds of things to achieve that end. I can make it on my own.
“His greed is as wide as Sheol”
v5 is summary of 1v5-17
Let’s unpick woes. Case study. Woes describe actions of Babylon and it’s ruler, why 5 specific woes, but we’ll quickly see how true and relevent they are to world we see today - and so are implication.
first 4 woes are against those who exploit, injure or kill for their own gain. theme of violence.
First woe describes Violence to fuel greed. v6-8.
“Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,
“ ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods
and makes himself wealthy by extortion!
How long must this go on?’
Babylon “the hammer of the whole earth” (Je 50:23)
Describes how heap up debt, as they sweep through nations and take what is not theirs. They plunder and destroy. They carry off items and peopel. They get rich of others misery. They stripped nations of all their assets.
extortion - lit. “pledges v6 - double meaning - can mean “a dirt cloud” - refering to unclean nature of way wealth is gathered.
Second describes those who seek to security for themselves and their household,
“Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain,
setting his nest on high
to escape the clutches of ruin!
Third describes those who seek to build and empire - but really its a hunt for glory.
“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed
and establishes a town by injustice!
An inscription found in ancient Babylon under Neb:
“one of the chief purposes for strengthening the wall of Babylon was to make an everlasting name for his reign.”
progression: conquers a nation, secures it then rebuilds on it and renames it. All at cosrt of its inhabitants.
But all of them are gained through exploitation of others, and all are pathed with voilence.All of it gained at the price of someone elses suffering and misery. All taken.
Habakkuk 2:8 (NIV)
For you have shed human blood;
you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,
and your destruction of animals will terrify you.
For you have shed human blood;
you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
Not just people who suffer - but an assult on the earth.
Language of lebanon
v17: Lebanon - distinctive beuaty and luxury. Given to people of Israel by the Lord through Moses and Joshua. Renowned for magnificant cedars.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon,
with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
its top above the thick foliage.
But systematically plundered by Babylonians while also slaughtering large numbers of wild animals - boar, bear, lion. - all in the name of “progress” (conquest)
All so Nebuchadnezzar could enjoy the granduer of palace and fortified wall, and a city and empire and glory
v15-18 forth woe is against abuse of alcohol by irresponsible leaders - while people are suffering under their bad leadership, they are partying and wasting money on sex and boose
v15 - gets others drunk to gaze on their shame. (nakedness)
Fifth v19-20
- climactic attack on idolatry.
back to the train:
If insatiable desire is like engine: Idolatry is the fire behind the insatiable desire.
What we worship affects our choices and our lifestyles.
Babylonians had chosen idolatry, and their social and national life bore the trademarks. made money and power and national security their Gods offering allegience and all costs.
Violence to fuel greed. Violence to secure a future. Violence to make a name for oneself. violence for entertainment. Violence because Gos is not worshipped.
Violence and exploitation of man, beast and field.
And every where we look in history and today we see the same story. Ambitions achieved through exploitation, violence and blood. Insatiable desire - never satisfied.
What does it look like today? Don’t need to look far. A few examples.
We see it in Wars over land and power and politics
People are just collateral damage of leaders ambitions.
We see it in economy
Wealth gained in west throug conflict diamonds and gold and other products farmed by poor workers
War Lords getting rich through wars and through arms deals
locally pay day loans and loan sharks
Or the Gangs or groups that prey on locals for protection
See it in the busines world, Multinational companies get a monopoly and charge crazy prices for necessary goods.
Shell who in period of war in Ukraine, and despite the cost of living crisis raised their prices - and made highes profit in 115 years.
See in carelessness way we treat or world
IMpact of industrial revolution on the environment and climate change and wreckless deforestation
Manufacturing companies maximise profits by cutting corners with no concern for impact on oceans and ecosystems
- and we by it and throw it away the next year
See it in our culture
Those describe in 4th woes - is just descritption of typical student life.
Think of Belfast on Saturday night.
Rugby club intiation
Birmingham night out - drive by pick up
drinks spiked
Leaders who when everyone else was isolating - had a party in 10 downing street.
We see it in our worship
We were made to worship. Made to look to something else in which we find our fulment, identity, joy. When you make God’s that can’t speak, you make your own standards for a way of life.
“Idols have strange ability to ‘usurp the place of God in men’s lives, claiming a trust that belongs to him alone and giving guidanvce, (v19) that can come form him alone.’
Instead of trusting in God the idolator trusts in his own creation - oppostite of living by faith.
When we are led away from the true and self revealing God, everything becomes legitimate, particularly the appaling violence depicted. Suddenly can justify anything!
“Idolatry is the worship of that which we make, rather than our maker. Might be found in our possessions, a home, a career, an ambition, a family, or a multitude of other things. We ‘worship’ them when they become the focal point of our lives, that for which we live, and we will do anything to satify them. “
Theres woes. Woes against those who ruled by greed, ruled by security, ruled by glory, ruled by self gratification, those who are rule by worship of anything other than one true God. and wickedness that is born out of it.
Yet so often seems to go unchallenged. No accountability, no consequence. But as God speaks to Habakkuk he urges us to peel back the curtain. To focus our gaze. To see things from light of truth, of God’s sovereign rule.
In woes what we get is 5 reasons wicked do not win.
WHY THE WICKED DO NOT WIN
WHY THE WICKED DO NOT WIN
1) What they crave will never satisfy (restlessness)
1) What they crave will never satisfy (restlessness)
“the arrogant man is never at rest” v5. no place to settle. all their greed, arrogance, violence, intoxication with conquest and addiction to hoarding, brought them no rest and no resting place.
Just as an addict is never satisfied in their addition, so those who seek for satisfaction in greed, or power, or wealth or sex, or land, whatever it is - will never have enough.
Whatever shiny veneer we see of mansions, or palaces or fame. Won’t be satisfied.
Jack Higgens, author of such successful novels and The Eagle Has Landed, was asked what he would like to have known as a boy. His answer: “That when you get to the top, there’s nothing there.”
2) What they do condemns them (Shame)
2) What they do condemns them (Shame)
Easily see wickedness and think its winning, because we ignore the Spiritual reality.
You have plotted the ruin of many peoples,
shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.
“What it is to gain whole world but forfeit your soul” (v10)
illustrate - Lorax - Onceler. who for own wealth, cut down all the trees, and lives in dark outside city in shame.
Even if sin doesn’t burden the conscience - it will heap condemnation on the soul.
Far the most series - the eternal part of us. What makes us unique from rest of creation. Who we are at core of our being.
v11 - blood guilt will cry out from the walls and wood - constant reminders of those who have been plundered to build his house. Has to live with it. Continual reminder of his guilt. As if the walls were drenched in blood.
One commentator picks up Spiritual presence buildings can have and and example from Austria.
illustration - A castle in Austria was used in WW2 by Himmler as his headquaters; in it he conducted numerous appalling experiements on women and young girls. Brought in the 1960’s by Christians to use as a conference centre, there has been constant prayer to rid it of the ‘spiritual vibes’ of those evil years. As late as 1994, particulalrly sensitive Christian guests have been alerted in their spirits to the dark residue of spiritual forces in the casle
Human blood has a voice. When shed it speaks - cries out to God. God responds to human bloodshed with a curse on those he would rather bless. Unrepentent sin piles guilt on our souls, that left undealth with will destroy us.
3) What goes around comes around (Violence)
3) What goes around comes around (Violence)
Habakkuk 2:6 (NIV)
“Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying,
All those being scorned and laughed at will find tables turned, and themselves take up their taunt against him in scoffing and derision of him (v6)
“Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind”
Nations rise and nations fall.
Reversal will come suddenly (v7)
This was of course true for Babylon. We can read in Daniel.
Belchezzar, King shortly after Nebuchadnezzar, threw huge party for 1000s of his Lords. scoffing - drinking from sacred vessel that Neb had taken off Judah, while with wives and concubines worshipped falsle God’s. But then fingers of a mans hand appeared and wrote on plaster of the wall. Daniel was asked to explain meaning:
“This is the inscription that was written:
mene, mene, tekel, parsin
“Here is what these words mean:
Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL
Medes and persians some of the people plundered by the Babylonians v8 will come true.
That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
What we see in our world is cycle of violence because those who deal our violence sooner or later find it comes back on themselves or thier people.
Adn we see this too in violence toward the world. Issue we are facing with climate change, loss of beautiful nature, pollution and increase in realted illness. Humanity reaps what it has sown..
4) What they gain is nothing before God (Emptiness)
4) What they gain is nothing before God (Emptiness)
“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed
and establishes a town by injustice!
Has not the Lord Almighty determined
that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire,
that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
Others visiting see splendid buildings - but God sees bloodshed. issues decree - all will be consigned to fire and will prove empty.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
“Naught” v14
v14 - insignifiance of all above shown one day by earth being filled with knowledge of glory of the Lord. Why seek GLory that wont last.
as waters cover the sea - no room for anything else. all hostile to Gods glory must be destroyed.
5) What they face is his judgement (Judgement)
5) What they face is his judgement (Judgement)
All of these reasons find fulfilmet because there is something more.
You will be filled with shame instead of glory.
Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed!
The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you,
and disgrace will cover your glory.
Cup refers to God’s righteous and just judgement on all who oppose him.
ables will be turned - Babylonians will be forced to drink the cup of the Lords right hand - v16. Psalm 75:8
In the hand of the Lord is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.
A cup containing wrath - passed from one nation to another at discretion of the Lord. But there will be a final judgemet.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.
The worlds version of justice is vengence. Cycle of revenge. Eye for eye tooth for a tooh. Vilonce met with vilonce. To break cycle need one who will bring perfect justice and just judgement. Like the Medes and Persions, one day Jesus will return like a theif in the night, but in Glory and in judgement. What will the response of the wicked be then, whatever riches, splendor, glory, security. The same response as the while world.
The Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
What more is there to say. All we behold him and see him. There will be no more argument. No more boasting,
Sobering reality. Grave reality. Wickedness starts with a heart that does not worship God as it should, but makes ourselves centre. And in direction (whatever visible size or outworking) leads only one way. Unfulfilment, Death and judgement.
Why last week needed to ask: Are we any different?
Only as we view ourselves rightly can we recieve Gods justice rightly.
TONE: Not so much of doom and denunciation
Not tone of prideful boast as if to say ha you wait
temptation to gloat - especially when directly related to those who might have hurt us.
Rather as of deep sadness and lamentation. (Alas for…!)
The word remains devastatin as a declaraiton of divine judgement, - t
why last week need to see danger of self righteousness.
God himself does not gloat over destruction of arrogant and wicked. Rather OT and NT points to agondy at their refusal to listen and repent (Jesus words in Matthew, and on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”
“The heart of God is broken both by suffering of the violated and by the sinfulness of the violater. The woes are torn from the broken heart in holy indignation. It is our job, not to take the moral high ground, but to express the holy heart of God.
As we see ourselves throguh right lens. As those who by our own merit are their with the wicked. And as we see Holiness of God. Changes our perspective. Our focus shifts and we get a clear picture. Question no llonger - when will you deal with wicked, but Lord in your wrath show mercy. We ask instead.
Can the wicked be redeemed?
Can the cup of God’s wrath be taken?
Can insatiable desire be quenched?
Get their souls be cleaned?
Only by the blood of Jesus
as he takes our cup
Jesus took the cup in Gethesemane so we don’t have to. cup that contained sins of whole world and God’s Holy judgement on them. Jesus knew that the only way to bring salvation to corrupt and violent world was for him to drain the cup of the dregs. He drank, he drained. His blood, shed for the world, atones for the bloodshed in the world, by the world. Now he holds out the cup containing his own blood, the blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for manyu for the forgivneess of sins (Matt 26:28)
This cup is only alternative to cvup of God’s judgement- he invites us to drink from the cup of salvation.
as he dies our death
as he washed us by his blood
as he gives us a new life
as he satisfied our souls desire.
and as he promises to make all things new.
The only way to a truly wholesome, clean and healthy life and society: returning to the revealed will of God, depend on power of the Holy Spirit, trusting in Jesus as Saviour and Lord and his finished work. And it will only be finally realised when Jesus returns and take us to new creation.
Response
Silence: Chapter starts and ends with silence. Habakkuk starts being silent before God waiting to hear with humilty, and ends with silence of whole world before just judge.
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
Call to God to act now. Yet also wait on him patiently
Call to or God to show mercy to the world - particulalry those who hurt us.
corrie ten boom. prisoner in ccamps for hiding jews.sister killed, after war went around helping victims and then as missionary speaking on forgiveness. one day at an event recognised instantly.
concentration camp where we were sent. ...
"You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk," he was saying. "I was a guard in there." No, he did not remember me. But since that time," he went on, "I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein, ..." his hand came out, ... "will you forgive me?"
It could not have been many seconds that he stood there, hand held out, but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.
For I had to do it — I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. "If you do not forgive men their trespasses," Jesus says, "neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." ...
And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion — I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. "Jesus, help me!" I prayed silently. "I can lift my hand, I can do that much. You supply the feeling."
And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.
"I forgive you, brother!" I cried. "With all my heart!""
And I stood there — I whose sins had every day to be forgiven — and could not. Betsie had died in that place — could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?
Call to the world to turn from wickedness and find salvation in Jesus.
Call to each other to look to the cross and live by faith looking forward to His return.
Because here is how the story goes. In the end Jesus wins.
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