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.