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My prayer tonight is that thru the words of Habakkuk that we would gain a new perspective on our seasons of struggle. That we would have a shift in our hearts towards our circumstances and that we would allow God to refine us in our circumstances. That we would see that God is more than enough!

A. Habakkuk Background Authorship and Context
- Written during the final decades of Israel’s southern kingdom
- Habakkuk stands out among the other prophetic works because he does not address or accuse Israel within his work.
- Instead Habakkuk is speaking directly to God about his inner struggle and turmoil about the evil he sees in the world.
- His writing is truly a lament of injustice and evil in the world.

CONNECTION TO TODAY— Many of us have felt that way and probably have prayed that way in these recent days. Our hearts our broken over what has been happening in our nation today and as believers we want to know where God is in all of this. We want answers.
And that is why I think the book of Habakkuk is remarkable because God answers Habakkuk’s concerns. And in the way God answers and Habakkuk responds I believe we can be challenge for what we are facing today in our world.

B. Overview of Habakkuk
- Habakkuk cried out to God in the beginning of this book about the brokenness of his people. They were neglected the law, their leadership was corrupt, and there was so much injustice and violence.
- Habakkuk is frustrated at God and why he won’t act.
• Habakkuk 1:2-3— How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.

- CONNECTION TO TODAY— Is God surprised by suffering that is going on in our world today? In midst of everything that goes on in our lives it is so easy to have this mindset. God why won’t you act. Why won’t you move on my behalf? God answers Habakkuk:
• Habakkuk 1:5—“Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

- I love God’s response because it points straight to the brokenness of Habakkuk’s heart and his blind perspective.
- Habakkuk thought he was giving counsel to God when in reality God was already on the move. God was not far off but close.
- CONNECTION— That is so often us when we are in a spot of trial. We want to explain to God what we think he doesn’t know and we want to tell him what we think he should do for us.

C. God does not answer to our will!
- In the context of Habakkuk God is going to go on to explain his will and “surprise surprise” Habakkuk isn’t going to like it!
- But that just what God is saying in verse 5 he knows that Habakkuk wouldn’t believe God’s plans even if he told him because circumstances had blinded Habakkuk.
- CHALLENGE TO OUR FAITH— I think many of us want the will of God to fit inside what works for us. Maybe we have even create a theology that makes God simply the bringer of blessings and the one who makes our dreams come true.
- “If we keep our eyes on our circumstances and try figure it out on our own and it will leave us in despair, frustration, anxiety, fear, and doubt.”
- “If we keep our hearts set on MY WILL and MY WAY we will always think God isn’t answering our prayers”
- “If we love the blessing more than the Blesser we will walk in anger and resentment to a God who has never and will never work under the constraints of MY WILL because HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER!
• Isaiah 55:8-9—“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.


Pastor Rich Jones
Pastor Matthew Dodd
Rich Jones Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
Calvary Chapel Hillsboro
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