Here is a sermon I'm giving in class tomorrow that I'm really excited about. Its from the Old Testament book of Habakkuk. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sorry that it is a little long but it is only a 15 minute sermon:
In case you haven't noticed, this world just isn't right. There are many evil people who do their wicked deeds and they prosper, while the righteous and innocent are abused. There are children sold as sex slaves, injustices are rampant, the poor are abused by the rich. Voice of the Martyrs has a story out about the 3 worst crimes in North Korea. Number one is speaking out against the country, two is trying to leave the country, and number 3 is being a Christian and preaching the gospel. But you might say that's in the world, so we expect that, but what about even in churches? We may rejoice in the upswing of biblical teaching in churches across the nation and world, but do you know that Joel Olsten (a preacher of the prosperity gospel) has 40,000 weekly attendees just at his church, not to mention the television show. These post modern books such as the novel the shack which teaches some heretical ideas thru its story, are selling to Christians in the millions. And how many TMS grads have gone onto churches only have to have entire leadership and people turn against them within a short amount of time?
Warren Wiersbe asks "Have you ever looked out upon this world with its injustice and violence, and asked the question: "Why doesn't God do something?" It looks like the wicked are prospering and the righteous are suffering. Godly people pray, but it seems as though their prayers do no good." The truth is that we all often have trouble understanding how evil can exists when God is good. Turn with me to the book of Habakkuk, to see that this prophet dealt with just that issue.
Habakkuk is writing probably in Jerusalem or somewhere in Judah after the death of King Josiah, the last good king of Judah who brought major reforms to the nation, but as soon as he died, they returned to their wickedness. So in Chapter 1, verse 2 thru 4, Habakkuk questions why the situation in Israel exists as it did. He says that there was violence all around, that people were doing wrong, the law was paralyzed, and "wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted." He asked God, why do you know hear, why don't you do anything for your people? And in verses 5-11 we see god's answer. He said that he was sending the Chaldeans, and describes them in Habakkuk 1:6-7-as ""For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people ….. "They are dreaded and feared; Their justice and authority originate with themselves."And this brings us to our text today where Habakkuk expresses his confusion and questions how God can uses this evil people against his own chosen people. Scripture is so cool, because it doesn't ignore the difficulties of life, it is very open about the truth of our problems and sufferings.
So here we see four principles for when you question God following Habakkuk's example.
First and probably the most important, always remember God's character. In verse 12 and 13, Habakkuk says, "are you from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? He realizes that God is a rock, unchanging and he has always been that way. God hadn't changed from the time of Josiah, David, or Moses. God was still the good God who made his promises to them. This is why Habakkuk can say that "we shall not die." He knew God's promises would stand no matter what the circumstances looked like. He also says, "you who are purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong." God is so good and there is not even the smallest amount of corruption within him. But this is hard for us to sometimes understanding considering this next truth:
Second, when we question God we should always recognize God's providence? Habakkuk says in verse 12.. "you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof." He didn't say that God just was going to let this happen, or that he couldn't stop it, but he was the cause behind it. "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Proverbs 21:1). Anything that happens God is ultimately caused by Him.
And that is exactly what Habakkuk asks the question that he does. He knows God is too good to approve evil, but he is sending evil people against Israel, and Habakkuk doesn't understand how these two truths go together. He says, "why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? There is a gap in our understanding sometimes over how these things can be ordained by God when we know his attributes. But Habakkuk gives us an example of how to deal with these questions.
Thirdly, we must always remain patient and search for an answer. In 2:1, Habakkuk says, I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me" What does a good watchman do? He stands for hours attentively looking out in the distance for any sign of a messenger or a threat. He's very aware of what's going on and let's nothing distract him. And Habakkuk got an answer. What can we do today? Habakkuk had the wonderful privilege of being a prophet and hearing the word of God directly, but we have the privilege of having what God said written down before us. So do you intently search the scriptures as a watchman searches the horizons, looking for God's answer? We should be, and this requires to the right attitude.
So, four. We have to always realize God will be correcting you. Habakkuk finishes off 2:1 by saying, I will answer concerning my complaint" or the NASB says "And how I may reply when I am reproved." The key to questioning God is to realize the problem is not with God, its not that he's unaware or not doing something, the problem is with me, and my understanding of Him. We need to be every so humble and ask for an answer expecting to be humbled more as God corrects our faulty understanding of Him. Its easy to ask in arrogance, demand God submit to what you think is right, its much harder to submit to whatever God commands.
And so graciously, God does answer. He says a lot, but probably the most helpful thing God says is in chapter 2 verse 4. The righteous shall live by his faith. Paul takes this in Romans 1:6-17 to refer to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can not just have faith in faith itself, or faith that things will work out in the end, they are not real, and not trustworthy. But we need faith in the one who will never let us down and who has saved us for any problem we could ever have. Jesus Christ.
So, when you when you have a question, do you in faith actively search for an answer while humbling realizing you need to be corrected? Do you stop and remember who God is before you question? And, do you even ask? We sometimes think we could never question God, but then our misunderstanding just grows within us. James 4:2 tells us that we don't have because we don't ask. Ask correctly, in the humble way. But make sure you question God, so that he can correct you!
