THE MESSAGE OF HABAKKUK In September 1939, American preacher, Don’t be troubled! Children will be left or- Donald Grey Barnhouse, was invited to speak at phans. Don’t be troubled!” On and on he a church in Ireland. Earlier that week Hitler had went. invaded Poland, and the British prime minister, The tension in the room mounted. Neville Chamberlain, gave him an ultimatum. Finally Barnhouse looked to heaven and Unless he withdraw by Sunday morning at shouted, “Don’t be troubled? These words are 11:00, England would declare war on Germany. either the words of a madman or God. How Just as Barnhouse arose from his seat to can these words be spoken to men who have preach he was handed a note, “No reply from hearts that can weep…? Unless Jesus is God Hitler. The Prime Minister has declared war.” He has no right to tell us, don’t be troubled!” The pastor of the church told him, “I hope you Then Barnhouse went on to explain that Je- have a good sermon today. It may be the last sus is God. that some of the men will ever hear.” Wow, talk He is the God of history. Jesus is in about preaching under pressure. charge of every circumstance. All of life flows Barnhouse used as his text, Matthew 24:6, through a channel cut by God. Man’s sin “You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see causes the horrors of war, but God still con- that you be not troubled…” He went on to de- trols human affairs. He uses even our evil for scribe the horrors of war, and after each state- His glory. Jesus is God, and He does not go ment he added the words, “Don’t be troubled.”… to sleep… even in horrible times – like times “Millions of homes will be broken up. Don’t of war. be troubled! Children will be torn from their Such is the message of Habakkuk’s mothers. Don’t be troubled! Husbands and prophecy. Even in the face of calamity and brothers will perish in the field of battle. Don’t tragedy God is still in control. And the just, be troubled! Innocent blood will flow like a river. those who trust God, will live by faith. Devotion Box - When God’s Work AN OUTLINE OF Doesn’t Make Sense HABAKKUK God tells Habakkuk in 1:5, "Look among the nations and watch - be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you. Habakkuk... For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to In chapter 1 possess dwelling places that are not theirs.” he’s wondering and wrestling. Habakkuk had assumed God was inactive. But God was In chapter 2 at work. God says, “Look at what I’m doing in the earth” But he’s watching and waiting. God is working in a way Habakkuk would’ve never imagined. In chapter 3 he’s worshipping and witnessing. Habakkuk knew it was time for Judah to be judged, but why the Babylonians? Why is God executing that judgment In chapter 1 with a nation more wicked than the people being judged? Yes, he begins in the valley. Judah had sinned, but compared to the Babylonians they were In chapter 2 saints. It doesn’t seem fair, or right, to Habakkuk. He’s think- he climbs into the tower. ing, “God may be at work in the world, but to me His ways In chapter 3 don’t make sense.” he ascends up the mountain. This is our problem. We too make assumptions. We want God to work, but in our way, at our time, according to our In chapter 1 plan, to carry out our agenda. And when He doesn’t, our faith he sighs. is tested… Do we trust God and His wisdom, or do we trust in In chapter 2 our wisdom... our version of what He should or should not do? he seeks. Oswald Chambers puts it, “Faith is the deliberate confi- In chapter 3 dence in the character of God whose ways you may not under- he sings. stand at the time.” Faith is not always privy to God’s means – nor does it even have to like them - but it trusts in God’s mo- In chapter 1 tive. Never in a million years would Habakkuk have thought he starts in turmoil. God would use a vile, idolatrous people like the Chaldeans In chapter 2 (Babylon). It threw a wrench in how he thought God oper- he learns trust. ated. But God’s goal is always our good and His glory. Does In chapter 3 Habakkuk still trust in God’s motive despite God’s means? he sings of triumph. Devotion Box - Jump Or Climb ? TOWER POWER Chapter 2 begins, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.” Here’s a vital In 2:1 Habakkuk ascends into the tower to wait on God. question, “What do you do when life doesn’t make sense? His attitude in doing so unleashes the power of God in his When life goes haywire? When all your conclusions end in life. Here are four vital attitudes in Habakkuk’s approach: confusion? When you can’t square horrible circumstances 1) determination, 2) isolation, 3) expectation, 4) humiliation. with the hand and plan of a loving God? Notice his determination, “I will stand my watch and set You have a choice… You can jump to wrong conclu- myself on the rampart”. The implication is, he’s not coming sions – “God has abandoned me.” “God doesn’t care.” “God down until he hears from the Lord. is powerless in the face of life’s circumstances.” “His hands are Recall Moses fasted for 40 days before God spoke to him. tied.” Or you can climb to the right perspective. You can as- Daniel prayed for 3 weeks before the angel broke through, cend to the tower at the top of the wall, and climb above and victory was won. We pray for 5 minutes and if there’s no your circumstances. You can sit on the ramparts, and seek answer we turn on the television, or call a friend. When it the Lord. You can humble yourself. Admit that there’s much comes to seeking the Lord we need some determination. about God you don’t understand, but that doesn’t make Him any less God. You can wait on God to work in your Waiting on God also involves isolation. Habakkuk climbs heart, and teach you lessons you wouldn’t otherwise learn. to the tower - away from the hustle and bustle in the streets. When life throws you a curve you can jump or climb - He ditches the distractions and gets alone with God. jump to faulty conclusions, or climb into a conversation with I’ve been on the ramparts of Jerusalem. I’ve walked the God. Habakkuk climbs to his knees (and that’s the highest walls, and it’s a place that promotes serenity and quiet. In climb a man can make) - and he seeks God’s perspective. the background you hear noise in the streets, but on the What about you? When life gets tough do you fold your walls you’re above it all. There’s nothing between you and faith and give up on God - or do you fortify your faith, and God. It’s a place to quiet your soul and listen to what God grow in God? Habakkuk chose the latter, literally the lad- might want to speak to you. der… he climbs into the tower to wait on a word from God. Once a native American left the reservation to visit New York City. He and a friend were walking the streets when he stopped, and said, “I hear a cricket.” His buddy responded, Devotion Box - Fulfilling A Vision “That’s impossible with all the shouts, and buses, and cars, and ambulances, and pedestrians.” But he was insistent, “I Habakkuk ascends to the tower to wait on God - and he hear a cricket.” The Indian walked over to a planter, dug into doesn’t have to wait long. In 2:2 he writes, “Then the LORD the dirt, and pulled out a cricket. answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain His friend was impressed, “How did you hear a cricket in on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet the midst of all this noise?” The Indian answered, “It’s all in for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it how you train your ear. Watch this...” He pulled from his will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely pocket a fist full of nickels and dimes and quarters and come, it will not tarry.” What God tells him will come to pass, dropped them on the pavement. Instantly, everyone within a but it’ll take a while. You don’t reap the same season you block stopped what they were doing, and turned in their di- sow. We need faith and patience to inherit God’s promises. rection. Everyone recognized the sound. The Indian was right; we hear what we train our ears to This is the case with the vision God gives us.