S3E297 – Habakkuk 1-3: The Conversation

Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Prophecy Friday and we’ll read the book of Habakkuk. I’m calling today’s episode “The Conversation.” Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Greg Rakozy on Unsplash Comments on Habakkuk There is a lot of conjecture on just who this prophet Habakkuk was. The fact is, we don’t have much information about him. The Jewish Rabbis have their ideas. Roman Catholicism has theirs, based on one of the books of the Apocrypha.  What we do know is that this is a book of Habakkuk’s statements to God in the name of the people, and God’s statements to the people through Habakkuk. That is the textbook definition of what a prophet is.  One sentence in the book should have certainly stood out to you if you have studied Martin Luther and the Reformation at all. Did you hear it? It was chapter two, verse four. Here it is again: “But the one who is right with God will live by faith.” Or it might be more familiar to you from the King James Version: “but the just shall live by faith.” You might not have known that this was from the book of Habakuk. You might have thought that it was from Romans 1:16-17. Here it is, again from the King James Version: “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. There in Romans, Paul was quoting Habakkuk. And the phrase, “The just shall live by faith” is the verse that caused Martin Luther to begin questioning the Roman Catholic church’s practices. It’s an important piece of church history that I recommend you study if you’re not familiar with it. The first two chapters were a sort of conversation between Habakkuk and God. And then in chapter three we read a prayer of the prophet. In the translation we read today, this is verse 2: 2 Lord, I know how famous you are. I have great respect for you because of your mighty acts. Do them again for us. Make them known in our time. When you are angry, please have mercy on us. But listen to it from the NASB: 2Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. In this verse, Habakkuk is asking God for something that you’ve heard me ask for during our prayer times together. He is asking God for a revival. He is asking God to do what He has done in the past. To bring people to Himself. Beloved, most of the problems we see in the world around us are because people have turned their backs to Him. They have shut Him out. Imagine how things would be different if people served Him instead of shunned Him? Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. NIRV Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT. Transcript Download .txt file. STEVE WEBB – 0:00Paul was quoting Habakkuk. INTRO S12E269 – 0:09It’s the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Prophecy Friday, and we’re going to read the book of Habakkuk. I’ll have some comments for you. We’ll have an On This Date in Church History segment, and we’ll have a time of prayer. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e296. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin. HABAKKUK 1 (NIRV) – 0:44Habakkuk, chapter one. (1) This is a vision the prophet Habakkuk received fromthe Lord. Here is what Habakkuk said. (2) Lord, how long do I have to call out for help?Why won’t you listen to me?How long must I keep telling youthat things are terrible?Why don’t you save us?(3) Why do you make me watch whilepeople treat others so unfairly?Why do you put up with the wrong thingsthey are doing?I have to look at death.People are harming others.They are arguing and fighting all the time.(4) The law can’t do what it’s supposed to do.Fairness never comes out on top.Sinful people surround thosewho do what is right.So people are never treated fairly. (5) The Lord replies,“Look at the nations. Watch them.Be totally amazed at what you see.I am going to do something in your daysthat you would never believe.You would not believe iteven if someone told you about it.(6) I am going to send the armies of Babylonia to attack you.They are very mean. They move quickly.They sweep across the whole earth.They take over placesthat do not belong to them.(7) They terrify others.They do not recognize any laws but their own.That is how proud they are.(8) Their horses are faster than leopards.They are meaner than wolves in the dark.Their horsemen charge straight into battle.They ride in from far away.They come down like an eaglediving for its food.(9) All of them are ready to destroy others.Their huge armies advance like a wind out of the desert.They gather prisoners like sand.(10) They laugh at kingsand make fun of rulers.They laugh at all of the citiesthat have high walls around them.They build dirt ramps against the wallsand capture the cities.(11) They sweep past like the wind.Then they go on their way.They are guilty.They worship their own strength.” (12) Lord, haven’t you existed forever?You are my holy God.So we won’t die, will we?Lord, you have appointed the Babyloniansto punish your people.My Rock, you have chosen them to judge us.(13) Your eyes are too pure to look at what is evil.You can’t put up with the wrong things people do.So why do you put upwith those who can’t be trusted?The evil Babylonians swallow upthose who are more godly than themselves.So why are you silent?(14) You have made men as if they were the only fish in the sea.They are like sea creatures that don’t have a ruler.(15) The evil Babylonians pull all of them up with hooks.They catch them in their nets.They gather them up.So they celebrate.They are glad.(16) They offer sacrifices to their nets.They burn incense to them.Their nets allow them to live in great comfort.They enjoy the finest food.(17) Are you going to let themkeep on emptying their nets?Will they go on destroying nationswithout showing them any mercy? HABAKKUK 2 (NIRV) – 3:37Habakkuk, chapter two. (1) I will go up to the lookout tower.I’ll station myself on the city wall.I’ll wait to see how the Lord will reply to me.Then I’ll try to figure out how to answer him. (2) The Lord replies,“Write down the message I’m showing you in a vision.Write it clearly on the tablets you use.Then a messenger can read itand run to announce it.(3) The message I give youwaits for the time I have appointed.It speaks about what is going to happen.And all of it will come true.It might take a while.But wait for it.You can be sure it will come.It will happen when I want it to. (4) “The Babylonians are very proud.What they want is not good.“But the one who is right with Godwill live by faith. (5) “Wine makes the Babylonians do foolish things.They are proud. They never rest.Like the grave, they are always hungry for more.Like death, they are never satisfied.They gather all of the nations to themselves.They take their people away as prisoners. (6) “Won’t those people laugh at the Babylonians? Won’t they make fun of them? They will say to them, “‘How terrible it will be for youwho pile up stolen goods!You get rich by cheating others.How long will that go on?’(7) Those you owe money to will suddenly rise up.You charge them too much interest.So they will wake upand make you tremble with fear.Then they will take awayeverything you have.(8) You have robbed many nations.So the nations that are left will rob you.You have spilled man’s blood.You have destroyed lands and citiesand everyone in them. (9) “How terrible it will be for the Babylonians!They build up their kingdom with moneythey gained by cheating others.They have tried to make the kingdomas secure as possible.After all, they did not want to be destroyed.(10) They have planned to wipe out many nations.But they have brought shame on their own kingdom.So they must pay with their own lives.(11) The stones in the walls of their homes will cry out.And the wooden beams will echo that cry. (12) “How terrible it will be for the Babylonians!They build cities by spilling the blood of others.They establish towns by committing crimes.(13) I am the Lord who rules over all.Human effort is no better than wood that feeds a fire.So the nations wear themselves out for nothing.(14) The oceans are full of water.In the same way, the earth will be filledwith the knowledge of my glory. (15) “How terrible it will be for the Babylonians!They give drinks to their neighbors.They pour the drinks from wineskinsuntil their neighbors are drunk.They want to look at their naked bodies.(16) But the Babylonians will be filledwith shame instead of glory.So now it is their turn to drinkand be stripped of their clothes.The cup of anger in my powerful right handis going to punish them.They will be covered with shame instead of glory.(17) The harm they have done to Lebanonwill bring them down.Because they have killed so many animals,animals will terrify them.They have spilled man’s blood.They have destroyed lands and citiesand everyone in them. (18) “If someone carves a statue of a god, what is it worth?What value is there in a godthat teaches lies?The one who trusts in another godworships his own creation.He makes statues of gods that can’t speak.(19) How terrible it will be for the Babylonians!They say to a wooden god, ‘Come to life!’They say to a stone god, ‘Wake up!...