A Perplexed and Puzzled Prophet
Introduction
Shakespeare’s MacBeth describes life as “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Does history merely go round and round in circles?
Habakkuk sought perspective on how God works through the events of history. Life boils down to two levels:
i. The personal level:
Who am I? Why am I here? What is the meaning of life?
ii. The historical level:
What is the meaning of history? Where is God in history? Why is there evil in history? Why doesn’t God do something? How can I believe in a loving God who allows bad things to happen?
Some folks never look beyond their own lives. They never deal with the philosophical or theological. Others deal with it, but they don’t do it biblically. It’s our responsibility as believers to wrestle with these issues. Habakkuk dug deep into the mysteries of God and asked hard questions that require more than pat answers.
Any Christian worth his salt will experience some degree of distress in his soul. There will be struggles with faith, wrestling with understanding. The key is to whom you address your doubts and problems. It’s not about venting to a grip group or pouring out your heart to the bartender. Habakkuk had doubts about what God was doing, but he took his doubts to God. If you turn from Him, throw out the Scriptures, and reject the counsel of the church and Christian friends, you’ll never get a handle on life. The key to doubt and dismay is how you handle them.
I. Habakkuk Understands (1:5-11)
God’s decision was irrevocable. He was bringing judgment, permitting evil, and utilizing the Chaldeans. The first problem, “How can God disregard Judah’s sin?” has been resolved. The Chaldeans are coming!
II. Habakkuk Is Confused (1:12-17)
But how in the world could God use the Chaldeans? Habakkuk didn’t question God’s existence, holiness, judgment, or righteousness. His question centered on God’s decision making ability.
At times we have problems with God’s ways. We don’t like the way He’s working, and we have a different agenda. We may blame Him for our problems and turn away from Him instead of to Him. We pout, pull back, withdraw, get angry, and renounce church.
Instead, we need to face the problems and follow proper procedure.
III. How we Should Deal with our Problems
A. Stop and Think (James 1:19).
Think first instead of speaking. Interpret events spiritually, in light of God’s revelation and not our opinions. The prophet may not have written a lengthy book, but obviously he thought a lot about what was going on around him.
B. Remember the Precepts
We never begin with the immediate. Remind yourself of the absolutes of Scripture. Search for the stones in the stream so you can cross to the other side. Go back to the eternal, absolute principles and precepts. In 1:12, Habakkuk went back to the basic attributes of God. Eternity is not time lengthened out; it is the realm of God.
Habakkuk remembered him as Lord Jehovah, the eternal I Am. He was self- existent, not dependent on any other. God was holy in person and in action. He was sovereign and controlled all the details of history. The Chaldeans didn’t just pop up on their own. God raised them up when He wanted to, where He wanted to, for as long as He wanted to.
God humbled His proud people by using sinful people to discipline them. He used the king of Egypt to discipline Abraham when he disobeyed. He used the Philistines and other pagans to judge Israel in the book of Judges (1 Chronicles 29:11, 12). God had given His word to Israel, and He would not go back on His promises.
C. Apply the Precepts to the Problem
Put your problem in a biblical context. We never deal with problems in isolation. If God is everlasting, then the Chaldean invasion is not His last word. He raised them up for Israel’s ultimate good. The remnant would remain, and Habakkuk didn’t lose his faith! If God is holy, the final outcome will not be evil. If God is sovereign, the invasion is not a mere chance happening. If God is faithful, then He has not abandoned us and we are still His people.
D. If You’re Still Perplexed, Commit the Problem to God by Faith
“Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they? Why have You made men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things without a ruler over them? The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook, drag them away with their net, and gather them together in their fishing net. Therefore they rejoice and are glad. Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net and burn incense to their fishing net; because through these things their catch is large, and their food is plentiful. Will they therefore empty their net and continually slay nations without sparing?” – Habakkuk 1:13-17
Our holy God hates sin and will deal with it. Sometimes He uses unexpected methods, but His judgment is sure.
Life was cheap to the Chaldeans. They delighted in cruelty. Though Habakkuk was stunned, not absolutely sure how this would glorify God, He accepted God’s ways above his own. At times we disbelieve what ought to make us believe.
The longer I know God and the more I learn about Him, the more I change my questions. I no longer question the issues of terrorism, abortion, rape, a failing economy, corrupt politicians, and so on. But rather, why does God spare us from judgment? In light of what we know and how little we live up to, our question needs to change from “Why?” to “Why not?”