Habakkuk - Sovereignty in Suffering

(So glad you are here! If you want to take full advantage of this study, I would suggest starting from the beginning and printing out the lessons or having a journal nearby to answer the questions. Would love feedback! I'm a first-timer at this!)

There are moments in life that demand silence.

Maybe it’s the conductor lifting up his hands before Vivaldi’s famous Spring bursts forth through strings and trumpets.

Maybe it’s a sunset on the beach - the pinks and oranges reflecting off of the waves.

Maybe it’s at the base of Mt. Everest or at the edge of the Grand Canyon.

When the president steps up to the podium or the soloist to the microphone, does the room hush?

Majesty, power, beauty demands silence.

In these moments of silence, even our suffering is quieted.

There is a reminder that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.

In today’s lesson, we see the glory of the Lord silence the complaints, the doubts, the accusations of Habakkuk. And I have a feeling after reading this, it will quiet our hearts as well.

READ:

Habakkuk 2:5-20

RESPOND:

Wednesday we chatted about two responses to God and His message. They are found in Hab. 2:4. You can read that lesson here.

One response is with faith. The other response is with pride.

In this context, the Babylonians represent the man with pride.

So how does God describes the prideful man, Babylon, in 2:5? Write down some descriptors.

God describes Babylon as arrogant, as a soul never at rest.

He actually compares Babylonians to hell in this passage.

Your version may say “grave,” but the Hebrew used here is that of hell, “Sheol.”

Hell is never satisfied. It is in an eternal state of unrest.

Proverbs 27:20 says, “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.” 

So the Babylonians are a greedy nation, taking over all other nations but never content.

And because of the Babylonian’s pride, God then goes into 15 verses revealing His promise to destroy the Babylonians.

Meanwhile, Habakkuk is listening with chisel in hand. He is going to write down the upcoming destruction of Babylon, God’s promise of justice.

So what does God say He will do to Babylon?

Go ahead and reread verses 6-20. Is there a recurring word that you see? (HINT: It’s at the beginning of 6, 9, 12, 15 and more.) Write down that recurring word and count how many times it is used.  

“WHOE”!!!

Is that the recurring word in your translation?

I counted five of them.

I’m guessing if there are five, then God is trying to prove a point. Wouldn’t you think?

I learned that this section of Habakkuk would be called the “woe oracle.” A woe oracle usually had two parts: “a declaration of wrong and a notice of impending judgment” (quoting from the New Illustrated Bible Commentary).

A quick word study on “woe,” told me that this little word can also be understood as “alas!” or “oh!” usually communicating pain or dissatisfaction (www.biblehub.com).

Write down the 5 different “woes.”

The “woes” can be broken up into the 5 follies of the Babylonians.

A great commentary I use called the New Illustrated Bible Commentary breaks them up like this:

1. The folly of extortion and plunder (vv. 6-8)
2. The folly of exploitation and injustice (vv. 9-10)
3. The folly of murder (vv. 11-14)
4. The folly of drunkenness and immorality (vv. 15-17)
5. The folly of idolatry (vv. 18-20)

Through these “whoes” God is stressing doom upon the prideful man of Babylon.

Now look at vv. 14 and 20 and write them down.

These verses stand out among the others. 

They break the woe oracle up with two, deep theological pronouncements. 

Aren’t they beautiful?

Let’s look at 2:14 again.

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

How do waters cover the sea? Completely. Fully. Deeply.

John Piper defines God’s glory as “the public display of His infinite beauty and worth.”

God’s glory is the weight of all that He is - all His goodness, majesty, awesomeness.

The promise of God that is etched in stone is that one day the entire earth will know this glory. It will fill up the earth as water fills up the Atlantic. It will root deeply and completely in every heart.

Has this promise been fulfilled yet?

Well, if we stick to the time of Habakkuk, God’s glory was displayed in the destruction of Babylon when they were defeated in 539 BC by the Persians.

But the fullness of this prophecy is probably referring to a bigger picture.

Do you think this promise in chapter 2 could reach beyond Habakkuk’s time? Write down your thoughts.

The Bible talks a LOT about Babylon - other prophets, even the book of Revelation.

Babylon turns into a symbol - a symbol that means something more than just one nation in history.

In fact, in Revelation we see that Babylon was symbolic of Rome, an empire that persecuted Christians.

And it is also symbolic of nations in rebellion against God. (You can look at Revelation 17:1-19:4 and 14:8 for more.)

So could God’s words in Habakkuk pertain to a judgment greater than the current nation of Babylon?

It’s definitely possible.

Read Isaiah 11:9. Do see a resemblance to Habakkuk 2:14?

In Isaiah 11:9, the prophet Isaiah is talking about a new age - the Messianic age, when Christ would come. It could mean when Christ came and could also refer to when Christ will reign on earth again.

Then, God's glory will fill the earth.

Okay, so what's my point in showing you Isaiah 11:9 and verses in Revelation?

I guess I’m trying to make the point that there is good reason to read these words in Habakkuk 2 as a promise that applies not only to Habakkuk but also to a future age.

An age where justice reigns.

An age where there is no darkness, only light.

An age where the wicked do NOT prosper.

An age where death doesn’t exist and suffering is forgotten.

An age when all of “Babylon” will be defeated and Christ will reign on earth for eternity.

I’ll have you personally respond more to this idea in a sec, but for now, let’s close up by looking at another beautiful theological thought that ends our “whoe” oracle.

Reread Habakkuk 2:20. Write down what you think this verse means.

Silence indicates submission.

No word of objection.

Habakkuk had been complaining, but now his attitude changes doesn’t it?

I’m guessing that as Habakkuk is writing these words down there is a reverance that comes over Him.

A holy awe bubbles up as if he is standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon or at the base of Mt. Everest.

Is this a God in his "holy Temple" one you want to mess with?

No.

He has just flexed His muscles, shown the world what He will do in judgment.

He has just stomped on the idols of Babylon (2:18-19).

And through this verse, God reminds the nations, reminds us, of Who sits on the heavenly throne.

RESPOND:

What are some truths from today’s reading that not only apply to Judah and Babylon, but to you (i.e. truths about pride, justice, evil vs. good. etc.)?

If God’s words speak of judgment on a bigger level - if they are referring to His destruction of all evil at the end of times, how does that give you hope? How can that carry you through suffering?

After reading about God’s holy wrath against Babylon and knowing this same holy wrath will happen again during the time of Revelation, what is your attitude toward God, what happens to your perspective of Him?

That last verse in chapter 2 really makes me think of the word, “sovereignty.”

Look up the word ”sovereignty,” and you’ll see that it means supreme power.

It means ruler over all things.

When I picture God in His holy temple, reigning over all nations...

When I think of Him as all-knowing, as the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of all things… 

When I remember that He is the essence of holiness, the source of light, ordainer of all my days …

Something happens in my Spirit.

I can’t help but want to worship.

I can’t help but want to fall on my knees.

As I worship, all is right in my heart.

God is on the throne.

I’m in submission to His plan.

And slowly I not only trust Him with my suffering; I trust Him. 

Just Him.

PRAY:  

During the prayer time, try getting on your knees.

Then read John’s vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-18.

Make this time silent.

Don’t say anything to Him.

Instead, just dwell on His majesty, His sovereignty.


LOOKING AHEAD:

Just one more lesson to go!
So check out Habakkuk 3, and I'll be back with a new lesson next week.
Thanks again for going through this Habakkuk journey with me. Remember to post comments as questions or wisdom surfaces. Would love to read your thoughts!