Walking in Faith

Reading: Habakkuk 3:16-19

¹⁶ I hear, and my body trembles;
my lips quiver at the sound;
rottenness enters into my bones;
my legs tremble beneath me.
Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble
to come upon people who invade us.

Habakkuk Rejoices in the Lord

¹⁷ Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
¹⁹ God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.

What was the basis of his confidence?

Habakkuk knows that God is his strength (v. 19) and that the things that God says he will do, he does (v. 16). There is no question in Habakkuk’s mind.

How had his attitudes changed since the beginning of the book?

In the beginning, Habakkuk would frustrated with God, asking God why He would let the things happen to them that were happening. How God could just sit by and watch while such violence was overtaking God’s chosen people. But now, after Habakkuk has heard God’s response, he knows that God has a plan. That God will take the Israelites to the end of their rope so that they have no where else to turn to but Him. Habakkuk knows that God is in control, that He is not just sitting idly by and not doing anything about it.

What, precisely, had made the difference?

A continual answer to Habakkuk’s prayers by the Lord let him know that God was there, that God does care and that God is in control. Assurance like that makes all the difference, in my mind.

Can you think of examples of your own attitudes changing in this way?

Absolutely!!! I can think of times that my attitude has changed from apathy to empathy over a situation, or where I have had to step back, cry out to God and realize that He truly is in control. (you can just look at my entry for Aug 17 to see that). The biggest one that I can think of for me has been just the complete turn around that my life has taken in the past 3 (or so) years since finding a church home. My whole life has been renewed in and rededicated to Christ in such a profound way. Lately, the biggest has been our family’s desire to be a part of a church plant (which, even just a year or so ago, I might have even laughed at the thought). We are joyfully making some huge sacrifices in our lives (well, we’re trying to be joyful, sometimes it’s really hard) and remembering through the tougher times of the situation that we’re not doing this because we think it’s fun or something – we’re doing this out of a calling by the Lord. The Lord just has such an amazing way of molding, shaping and changing a person’s attitudes… I love watching Him work!!

Larissa Habakkuk, Quiet Time

Reading: Habakkuk 3:16-19

What was the basis of his confidence?

God was in control. He loved His chosen people and would not leave them. He would discipline them but He would not destroy them, or allow another nation to destroy them. Habakkuk knew that God was in control of the universe and everything happened according to God’s perfect plan. He rested in the fact that the Lord made all decisions.

How had his attitudes changed since the beginning of the book?

Habakkuk wasn’t questioning or challenging the Lord. He realized that the Lord had a plan at work here and there wasn’t anything he could do about that. Instead of questioning the Lord, he decided to rest in the Lord and know that His plan is perfect and righteous. He decided to rejoice in the fact that the Lord loves His people and will, in the end, bring trouble to those who invade them.

What, precisely, had made the difference?

I don’t know that there was a single thing that made the difference. I believe that the Lord answering Habakkuk’s prayers gave him confidence that the Lord was truly listening and was working everything out to perfection. As God answered his prayers, I believe he started to realize that the events that were occurring would be difficult but, in the end, they would be for the better.

Can you think of examples of your own attitudes changing in this way?

My family and I are in a state of confusion right now as we have some pretty big life changing events going on. Luckily, the Lord has brought me to a place where I rest in the fact that He will provide and He will instruct me in the right ways. The amount of stress one can have in their life from trying to sell their home, buy a new home, etc. is a bit overwhelming. Again, God has the ability to remove that stress and remind us that He will help. We can rest in His arms and allow Him to carry and protect us through the situation.

Jason Worthen Habakkuk, Quiet Time

Reading: Habakkuk 3:1-15

In v. 2 what was Habakkuk asking God to do?

Habakkuk was asking God to rekindle the passion and the love for God. He was asking Him to help the Israelites be obedient to Him. He was asking for His mercy and His wisdom for His chosen people.

Try to write out this verse in words you might use in prayer.

Father, make known Your ways to us. Teach us right from wrong, good from evil. Remind us of Your greatness, Lord. Resurrect in us a desire for You to be our joy. Father, you are the great I AM and we fear you because you are perfect and mighty and just.

What impressions do you think this passage is intended to convey?

There will be a day of reckoning. During that time, the Lord will go to battle. Nothing will stand in His way as He destroys the wicked and provides salvation to the anointed.

What was the purpose of God’s actions (see especially v. 17)?

God was to separate the goats from the lambs. He was painting of picture that He would protect His people while destroying those who worshipped false idols and prophets.

Jason Worthen Habakkuk, Quiet Time

Reading: Habakkuk 2:2-20

Can you summarize God’s answer to Habakkuk in just one or two sentences?

You reap what you sow!

God’s answer was to be written down for all to read (v2) and it was sure to be fulfilled at the proper time (v3). It could be summed up by saying that the Babylonians would eventually reap the results of their evil, while the righteous would live because of their trust in God (v4).

Verses 6-20 are a series of five ‘woes’ pronounced in the Babylonians (vv. 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17, 18-20). Try to sum up in a few words each of the evils being condemned. Notice how the judgment pronounced against each one is appropriate — a serious version of the punishment fitting the crime!

1. Woe: Greed. The Babylonians are keep taking, while leaving destruction in their path.

   Judgement: The people that they had left in their wake will suddenly arise and plunder them in return. (vv. 6-8)

2. Woe: Quest for immortality. The Babylonians are trying to build themselves up and out of reach of their enemies, using any means necessary.

   Judgement: Because they had cut off many peoples and built their house upon the blood from violence, they have forfeited their very lives. (vv. 9-11)

3. Woe: Coveted. The Babylonians, instead of having labored to build the city, have come in, spilled the blood of the people and took over everything that the nations had worked to build. The LORD was with those nations, and it was only through Him that they were able to do so.

   Judgement: Taking over a city that the LORD helped to build will not destroy the knowledge of the LORD. His glory will be known throughout the world, like waters covering the sea! (vv. 12-14)

4. Woe: Getting their neighbors “drunk”. I don’t think that this was actually referring to wine, but rather to the blood of their neighbors. As the Babylonians poured out their wrath and spilled the blood of their neighboring nations, they would feel superior, mighty and invincible to all around them.

   Judgement: Instead of feeling their own glory, they will feel shame, have their own blood spilt and their own shame exposed.

5. Woe: Idolatry. The Babylonians created their own gods, worshiping them and fully expecting this man made creation to help them.

   Judgement: The LORD, the true God is in his holy temple, and the earth will be silenced before Him!!

What encouragements are there in this chapter for Habakkuk, and others like him, who want to remain faithful to God in a hostile world?

Even though there is so much evil in our world, God is almighty, He is watching and knows everything that is happening. God will judge the wicked – their deeds will not go unpunished. He will also judge the righteous and reward them with everlasting rewards!! There is no one who can hide from the glory of God!!

Larissa Habakkuk, Quiet Time

Reading: Habakkuk 2:2-20

Can you summarize God’s answer to Habakkuk in just one or two sentences?

God will judge the nations. He will justly “reward” people for their behavior.

Verses 6-20 are a series of five ‘woes’ pronounced on the Babylonians (vv. 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-17, 18-20). Try to sum up in a few words each of the evils being condemned. Notice how the judgment pronounced against each one is appropriate — a serious version of the punishment fitting the crime!

1. Greed – those who are greedy will, in the end, be plundered by those left behind (the remnant)
2. Desire to be eternal – the man that attempts to create a name for himself greater than that of the Lord will lose his life
3. Violence and wickedness – people and places will be forgotten — they are finite. The Lord is eternal and His name shall cover the earth forever.
4. Drunkenness – those who get drunk will show themselves as they really are — unfaithful to the Lord. Their nakedness will only show their shame and that they are not included in His eternal family.
5. Idolatry – there is no life for the man that worships a false idol.

What encouragements are there in this chapter for Habakkuk, and others like him, who want to remain faithful to God in a hostile world?

God is in control of everything. He is the Supreme Being and Creator. Verse 14 is a huge encouragement:

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

The latter part of verse 3 is also a huge encouragement:

it will surely come; it will not delay.

Jesus Christ will surely come. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. Praise God!

Jason Worthen Habakkuk, Quiet Time