Learning to Trust God When He Uses Evil

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Habakkuk 1:12-2:3
Psalters: 377, 249, 126, 71
  1. The troubling occasion.
    1. Every child of God experiences “much tribulation” (Acts 14:22; Rom. 5:3), “persecution” (II Tim. 3:12), temptation (James 1:2).
      1. We all have experienced hurts from sinners.
      2. Habakkuk describes the seeming ease with which the wicked evilly destroyed the church – like fishermen (14-17).
      3. Habakkuk questions how a holy God could use such an unholy nation to punish a people more righteous than they.
    2. Habakkuk and we ask, “Why does God hold His tongue? (13b) (cf. Jer. 12:1,2).
  2. When we are confused by God’s actions, we must remind ourselves of what we know from His Word about God.
    1. His names and attributes describe His relationship to His chosen and undeserving people.
    2. Draw conclusions from the truths: He does not violate His personal holiness and His relationship with the church.
      1. First, “we shall not die” (12) refers to spiritual life (relationship with God).
      2. Also we are to know that our God is Judge, having “ordained them (the wicked) for judgment.”
      3. And, God is pleased to use “them for correction” (Prov. 3:11,12).
  3. This knowledge enables us to wait on and for Jehovah (especially realizing that He is on a different time table than we are).
    1. “I will stand my watch, …and will watch to see what He will say unto me” (2:1).
    2. God tells Habakkuk to write the vision in very large letters as in a public notice, so easily and repeatedly read.
      1. God has revealed to Habakkuk what was going to take place: the Chaldeans would be destroyed in “an appointed time.”
      2. The appointed time marks “the end,” when all our troubles will come to an end (Ps. 37:2; 73:17).
    3. “Though it tarry, wait for it” (2:3) (cf. Matt. 13:27-30,40-42).