MINOR MAJOR MISSION

Week Six : (Habakkuk 3)

OVERVIEW Habakkuk struggles to understand God's goodness in the midst of such evil and injustice in the world.

The book of Habakkuk is a compilation of the 's laments, not an accusation against and its sin or a message to the people on God's behalf like some of the other prophetic books. Instead, Habakkuk questions God's goodness because he sees so much injustice, evil and tragedy in the world. He's also concerned because God plans to send Babylon, an intensely evil nation, to judge Israel.

When will your justice be done? Throughout the book, we see that Babylon is an example of any nation that exalts itself above God and practices injustice, violence and idolatry. In the end, God reminds Habakkuk and every generation that God will deal with evil. We can continue to love and trust His timing and plan as we remain faithful to Him.

WATCH : The Bible Project Video ‘Overview: Habakkuk’ https://youtu.be/OPMaRqGJPUU

DISCUSS Discuss the video; - What have you learnt? Is there anything you didn’t know before that the video has cleared up? - Was there any particular imagery which you found impactful, clear, interesting? - Do you feel you understand the book of Habakkuk a little more as a whole now you’ve seen the video?

READ : Habakkuk 3:1-19 Our reading is the last chapter of Habakkuk. Habakkuk has put two complaints forward and received two replies from God. In this final chapter, we hear only from Habakkuk as he responds to the exchange.

1a. The book of Habakkuk details complaints which Habakkuk brings before God. What are the most common complaints you’ve heard Christians make about God today? 1b. Look back at Chapter 1:2-4, 12-13. How do those modern day problems compare with those made by Habakkuk? Habakkuk’s questions - Why does evil go unpunished? - How can an evil nation be used to punish Israel, how can God tolerate their evil?

2. God’s answers transform Habakkuk’s distress and doubts to hope and praise. What would have been the result had Habakkuk stayed silent? Would we have seen the change in heart that we do see?

St Mary’s Bible Study & Sermon Series January 2020

3a. At the start of chapter 3, Habakkuk declares he has ‘heard of [God’s] fame’. How/where/why/what do you think he has heard? (Psalm 78:3 and Psalm 44:1 may help) PSALM 78:1-3 - My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. PSALM 44:1 - We have heard it with our ears, O 2 I will open my mouth with a parable; God; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— our ancestors have told us 3 things we have heard and known, what you did in their days, things our ancestors have told us. in days long ago.

HOW – through the Scripture , people around him talking about God’s fame, through people telling him directly of what God has done for them/their family WHERE – in places of worship, the temple, at home, whilst travelling WHY would he have heard? – Because he was exposed to it, people didn’t keep quiet or expect someone else to talk about God and what he had done, part of legend, stories handed down through generations WHAT – Stories from his family, of how God has acted in their lives, Scripture revealing God’s nature and character, supported by people who had seen and experienced God personally

3b. How/when do you think people hear of God’s fame today? Is it in the same way as Habakkuk would have heard? If you asked someone on the street what they knew about God’s fame and deeds what would they say? What would you say if you were asked?

3c. A study performed by Care for the Family found that 90% of Anglican families thought it was important to teach their children about faith and 29% thought it was their responsibility. Discuss these figures, what should be our response as a church? Whose responsibility is it to teach children about faith? How can we best support those who currently do/those who don’t know how?

4a. What references to the history of Israel can you find in our passage? Verse 3 – Mount Sinai, the Exodus Verse 5 – the plagues of Egypt Verse 11 – 10:13; ‘So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.’ Verse 13 – Exodus, God’s words to the serpent (Genesis 3:15) Verse 14 – ‘With his own spear you pierced his head’- and Goliath’s sword, ’s accusers thrown into the lion’s den, hung on the gallows he built for Mordecai

4b. Habakkuk opened this chapter by saying ‘I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD, in our time make them known’. What do you think he meant by this, what was he asking God to do? Remind people of what has been done, so others too will stand in awe of God’s deeds? Come again as he did on Mount Sinai to show his power? Send plagues again to punish people? Remind the people of who he is and what he does? What would be the result of all these things? Faithfulness in people, knowledge of who God is, awe and reverence for God, wake people up to their indifference and wrongdoing

4c. What do these references and his plea tell us about Habakkuk?

St Mary’s Bible Study & Sermon Series January 2020

Strong knowledge of the history of God’s people. How might his knowledge of the history of Israel changed the way he approached God? Lived by faith? Would you say that Habakkuk’s plea was informed or unreasonable?

5a. Look at verse 16-18. Habakkuk states he will wait patiently for the day of calamity. Is this our response when God reveals his plans to us, to wait patiently until his timing? Or do we rush, wanting whatever is planned, good or bad to come quickly/be over and done with? Do we continue to pray and perhaps hope for a new plan, a different plan?

5b. Read 13:15 and Luke 22:42 alongside verses 16-18. What are the similarities between the verses? “AND YET”

5c. Each person, build your own ‘and yet’ statement. Find something which is weighing heavily on you and write down how you hope to respond. You may want to write it in the form of a poem or song or prayer. e.g. My family is in crisis and I can’t see a way out AND YET I trust in the God of love and restoration, who can rebuild relationships. I am anxious about the future and scared of what is unknown AND YET I know God leads me beside still waters and restores my soul, he will tend and guide me as I trust in him.

6a. In Chapter 2:4, God states ‘the righteous person will live by faithfulness’. What can we see in Habakkuk which might point towards the fact that he is living by faith by the end of chapter 3? Verse 2 – Stands in awe of God and what he has done. Knows of God’s character, knows that although God is just and feels wrath towards evil, he is still merciful Verse 5, 13, 14 – Knows the history of God’s people and the way God has acted Verse 16 – Though his earthly condition is weak, afraid and imperfect, though he trembles at the thought of the judgement that Israel faces, he still trusts God and will wait patiently for it Verses 17-18 – The faith and trust he expresses despite earthly circumstance, the joy he has in God despite the desolation of the land around him Verse 19 – the confidence he has in God, huge change from the way he was questioning God at the start of the book

6b. What markers would show that someone lives by faith today? Would there be physical signs as well spiritual? Ability to trust him the face of diversity, in trouble or struggles, peace that surpasses all understanding

7a. Look at verse 19. What do you think the image of ‘[his] feet like the feet of a deer’ is meant to portray? Confidence, surefootedness, being steady and sure, assured

7b. As a deer leaps and bounds amongst the high places/heights, it is sure footed and steady, with an innate assurance of its ability to move across plains and mountainsides. Are there any areas in your life where you can relate to that feeling of assurance and confidence? Perhaps at work, within family relationships, your marriage, a friendship, your knowledge of a specific area, an ability

St Mary’s Bible Study & Sermon Series January 2020

7c. What kind of thing prevents us from feeling assured and sure-footed? Perhaps at work, within family relationships, your marriage, a friendship, your knowledge of a specific area, an ability

8a. What do we use to distinguish God’s presence in our lives? What do we, or others, look for to see His presence? Do we look to God’s blessings to mark his presence or do we believe and trust in him in the absence of blessing? Perhaps we see people who seem to have a happy marriage, an amazing life, are confident and well-presented and assumed that God is with them because of all these things.

8b. Habakkuk committed to rejoicing and being joyful in the LORD despite the fact that his surroundings were bleak, despite not seeing the blessings of God in his surroundings. How can we hope to achieve the same outlook? What practical advice would you give to someone who was struggling to do so?

CLOSE Think back over your AND YET statement. You may want to share them with the group, or with one other person in the group. Habakkuk praises God, acknowledging that He is his strength. In those areas where you do not feel surefooted and confidence, pray that God will ‘make [your] feet like the feet of a deer’ as you look to him to be your strength.

A Prayer for Hope

Heavenly Father, I am your humble servant, I come before you now in need of hope. There are times when I feel helpless, There are times when I feel weak. I pray for hope; Hope for a brighter future. Hope for assurance. I need hope for love and kindness.

Thank you that I can find these things in you.

In the times when all seems dark, barren and desolate, Shine your light, Lord, in every place.

May I look to a future beyond this moment, beyond this time. To the time when your justice will reign, your goodness will abound and your glory shine. Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith today.

AMEN