Habacuque 1

Habacuque 1

Boice puts it (The Minor Prophets [Baker], 2:401), we must proceed as we do after a snowstorm, when the walks have been cleared but are still icy. You walk carefully, putting your feet on safe ground. Remind yourself of the things that you know to be true. Think and live carefully in line with the solid truths of God’s Word, working through the difficulties by prayer and waiting on the Lord. That’s what Habakkuk did. (The Man Who Rejoiced in Spite of an Invasion - this sermon deals primarily with the problem of evil and why God would allow it since He is holy and omnipotent?) Habakkuk 1:4 Therefore the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted.: the law: Ps 11:3 119:126 Mk 7:9 Ro 3:31 For the wicked: 1Ki 21:13 Job 21:7 Ps 22:16 Ps 58:1,2 Ps 59:2,4 Ps 82:1-5 Ps 94:3,20,21 Isa 1:21-23 Isa 59:2-8,13-15 Jer 5:27-29 Jer 12:1,6 Jer 26:8,21-23 Jer 37:14-16 38:4-6 Eze 22:25-30 Hos 10:4 Am 5:7,12 Mic 2:1,2 Mic 3:1-3 7:2-4 Mt 23:34-36 Mt 26:59-66 Mt 27:1,2,25,26 Acts 7:52,59 Acts 23:12-14 Jas 2:6,7 Justice… perverted: Ex 23:2,6 Dt 16:19 Eze 9:9 Habakkuk 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The law is ignored - NIV is better here - "the law is paralyzed". Paralyzed law, perverted justice! What a sad but powerful word picture! In effect the efficacy and effectiveness of the righteous law was paralyzed by the corruption of Judah’s unrighteous leaders (Eccl 8:11). Ignored (06313) (pug) means to be (grow) numb, to be stunned, describing Jacob's reaction when he finds out Joseph is still alive (Ge 45:26). Like the "stun guns" used to control violent criminals, the law had been effectively "stunned" by the majority of Judah. Indeed, the divine Law had in effect suffered a "knockout." The greatest tragedy, however, was the people’s neglect of God’s Law. King Josiah was still fresh in his grave (died 609BC) and now in 607BC even as the book of the Law had been lost in the House of God in Josiah's reign, now the reforms of Josiah had been lost on the insensitive hearts of Judah! And that in only 2 years! (however recall that 607BC for the writing of this book is an estimate). God's Word (and Law) was certainly no longer the standard in Judah, a deterioration that describes America today (August, 2012). Among other things, it is now illegal to have the Ten Commandments hang on the wall in a public school or even in many courts of law which ironically is based on these very commandments! It is notable that Habakkuk's commentary on the rampant social injustice in Judah is similar to the comments of Amos issued against the northern kingdom of Israel almost a century earlier. (Amos 2:6-8, 5:12). Justice (misphat) is never upheld - The very requirement called for among the leaders of the nation (Micah 3:1). Job asked Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? (Job 21:7) The wicked surround the righteous - NLT "The wicked far outnumber the righteous" Therefore justice comes out perverted - NLT "justice is perverted with bribes and trickery." J.