Habakkuk

Homiletics                                   Study: Children of the Promise – Kingdom Divided                                

Lesson     28                                Passage:       Habakkuk

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Habakkuk complaint: injustice and God’s answer (Habakkuk 1:1-11) 1. Complaint – You don’t listen a. Cries for help, and “violence” but you don’t listen and save (1:1-2) b. Why must I look at injustice, destruction and violence with strife and abounding conflict (1:3) c. Law is paralyzed, injustice prevails and justice is perverted (1:16-22) 2. Lord’s Answer – I am going to act a. You will be utterly amazed and wouldn’t believe if I told you. (1:5) b. Lord is raising ruthless Babylonians to sweep across the earth. (1:6-8) c. Babylonians they are feared, swift and devour (1:9) d. They mock kings and laugh at fortified cities; their strength is their god (1:10-11)

Habakkuk complaint:  God’s toleration of treacherous, unjust, and wicked; God’s answer (Habakkuk 1:12-2:20) 1. Complaint – Toleration of Wicked a. Habakkuk describes God (1:12-13a) b Question of God’s toleration of the wicked who swallow up more righteous (1:13b-15) c. They destroy without mercy (1:17) d. Watching and waiting for an answer (2:1) 2. Lord’s answer – A revelation: God acts at appointed time with a declaration of the “Woes” (2:2-3) a. Enemy described: puffed up, arrogant, greedy (2:4-5) b. Enemy piles up stolen goods; it will come back at you (2:6-8) c. Enemy builds his house on unjust gain; it will bring shame and death (2:9-11) d. Enemy builds a city on bloodshed and injustice; worth nothing but fuel for fire (2:12-14) e. Enemy intoxicates neighbors see their nakedness; bringing shame rather than glory (2:15-16) f. Violence will be overwhelmed (2:17) g. Idols: can anyone trust their own creation; they are useless (2:18-19) h. Lord is in His temple; let the earth be silent before Him (2:20)

Habakkuk’s prayer of praise to God (Habakkuk 3) 1. Heard of fame and awe of deeds; do it again in our day (3:1-2) 2. God you are like the rising sun in splendor (3:3-4) 3. You are powerful using plagues, and earthquakes to punish (3:5-6) 4. Lord you display power in nature (3:7-10) 5. You threshed the nations (3:11-12) 6. You crushed the leader of wickedness (3:13-15) 7. I wait for your work the calamity of the invading nation (3:16) 8. I rejoice in God my Savior (3:17-18) 9. Lord is my strength and enables me (3:19)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Habakkuk complaint: injustice and God’s answer	Habakkuk 1:1-11
Habakkuk complaint: God’s toleration of treacherous, unjust and wicked; God’s answer	Habakkuk 1:12-2:20
Habakkuk’s prayer of praise to God	Habakkuk 3

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Habakkuk questions God wanting justice and punishment for wicked enemy

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT an active dialog with God can bring forward truth for our life situations.

Specific Application Questions

How do you depend on God when you experience injustice?

Where  are you impatient waiting for the Lord to act? What is your prayer at this time?

How do you remember God’s mighty works?

Principles to Remember                                                                                                                                           

God will amaze

God’s timing is not our own

God is our power and strength

Characteristic of God

Sovereign Lord

Theme

God is the righteous judge and can be our encouragement even with evil all around; he is sovereign in all things.

Lamentations

 Homiletics                                  Study: Children of the Promise – Kingdom Divided                                

Lesson     27                                Passage:       Lamentations

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Lamentations for Jerusalem’s Desolation and Painful Discipline (Lamentations 1,2) 1. Jerusalem is deserted, splendor has departed with destruction (1:1-7) 2. Jerusalem’s sinned greatly and has been made desolate (1:8-15) 3. Cause for weeping, torment and groaning; rebellion against Lord (1:16-22) 4. Lord’s fierce anger has withdrawn protection for Jacob (2:1-3) 5. Lord has swallowed up and destroyed Israel giving to hands of enemy (2:4-10) 6. Wounds are deep there is no comfort; enemies gloat without pity. (2:11-16) 7. Lord has done as planned; the enemy has destroyed (2:17-22)

Lamentations Hope for Suffering People (Lamentations 3,4) 1. Jeremiah has seen affliction, grown old… Splendor has gone with hopes in the Lord (3:1-18) 2. Jeremiah has hope because of Lords great love (3:19-39) - Compassions never fail – Faithfulness - Lord is good; place hope in Him. - No one is cast off forever – Compassion - God sees desiring justice 3. Examine and test ourselves and return to Lord (3:40-42) 4. Lord has insulated Himself from us and made us scrum to enemies (3:43-54) 5. Lord has heard my pleas and redeemed my life (3:55-58) 6. Request of Lord to pay back enemies (3:59-66) 7. Punishment Before and After contrasted 4:1-14) - lost luster, gold to clay, heartless, beggars, lie in ash heaps, black as soot, hungry 8. People scattered (4:15-20) 9. Edom will be punished for wickedness (4:21-22)

Lamentation Prayer for God’s Mercy (Lamentations 5) 1. Lord remember what has happened to us and see our disgrace (5:1-18) - Fatherless - Pursued - Ancestors sinned and are no more - Ruled over by slaves - Bread comes risk; hungry - Women violated, princes hung up by hands, heavy loads, - joy is gone and hearts are faint - Zion is desolate 2. Lord you’re forever, don’t forget us and restore us to yourself (5:19-22)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Lamentations for Jerusalem’s Desolation and Painful Discipline	Lamentations 1,2
Lamentations Hope for Suffering People	Lamentations 3,4
Lamentation Prayer for God’s Mercy	Lamentations 5

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Jeremiah laments Lord’s discipline it’s result and pleads for mercy.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT punishment comes as a result of our sin;  we are tarnished and we can be separated from the joy God desires for us.

Specific Application Questions

What wounds to you carry that take you away from God’s best?

How are you measuring up; are you wholly devoted to God in everything? What needs to change?

How do you praise God for redemption from your past?

Principles to Remember                                                                                                                                           

Sin has consequences

God has great love of those who trust Him

It is good to be held in the everlasting arms.

Characteristic of God

Righteous Judge

Theme

Our laments (trials) are the opportunity validate our relationship with our Holy Father

 

Jeremiah 30-33

 Homiletics                                  Study: Children of the Promise – Kingdom Divided                                

Lesson     26                                Passage:       Jeremiah 30-33

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Lord restores bringing Israel and Judah from Captivity (Jeremiah 30-31:29) 1. Promise to bring Israel and Judah back (30:1-3) 2. Lord hears children’s cries (30:4-9) 3. Lord will save from distant place (30:10-17) 4. Lord will restore, rebuild and punish oppressors (30:18-24) 5. At restoration, God will be God of all families of Israel and they will be His people (31:1-30) - Give rest to Israel (31:2-6) - Remnant’s joyous return (31:7-14) - There is hope; tears rewarded (31:15-22) - Back from captivity “Lord will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. (31:23-25) 6. Lord will watch over Israel and Judah… No sour grapes (31:26-30)

Lord promises New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-32:44) 1. New Covenant coming unlike covenant with ancestors (31:31-32) 2. New Covenant will be written on minds and hearts; be their God and His people (31:33) 3. They know me and God will forgive (31:34) 4. Israel will never cease from being a nation before the Lord (31:35-37) 5. The City of God will be rebuilt forever (31:38-40) 6. Field at Anathoth – vision, deed of purchase, placed in clay jar and meaning; return to land (32:1-15) 7. Prayer describing God’s covenant, the unfaithful children leading to disaster (32:16-25) 8. New everlasting Covenant, return and new heart (32:26-41) 9. Restoration of fortunes (32:42-44)

Compassionate Lord tells of Righteous Savior (Jeremiah 33) 1. Lord says call on Him and He will answer (33:1-5) 2. Cleansing and forgiveness of our sins (33:6-9) 3. From desolation to rejoicing in the Lord (33:10-13) 4. Branch from David will be “Lord our Righteous Savior” (33:14-16) 5. Promise of countless descendants (33:17-22). 6. God restores and has compassion (33:23-26)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Lord restores bringing Israel and Judah from Captivity	Jeremiah 30-31:29
Lord promises New Covenant	Jeremiah 31:31-32:44
Compassionate Lord tells of Righteous Savior	Jeremiah 33

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Jeremiah tells of return from captivity, everlasting covenant and savior.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT the new everlasting covenant restores through our righteous Savior in the line of David. He is our hope and brings joy.

Specific Application Questions

In what things do you need to further place your trust in God?

When disaster comes, where does your hope come from?

In what ways to do remember God’s provision? How do you rejoice in His saving restoration?

Principles to Remember                                                                                                                                           

God hears our cries

Salvation brings a new heart

God is compassionate as He lovingly restores.

Characteristic of God

Everlasting Savior

Theme

God hears our cries, provides our Savior and brings an everlasting covenant with us; His people.