THE TRUE PURPOSE OF MESSAGES FROM PROPHETS OF GOD
Why are messages given to prophets of God for His people? Many mistakenly think the messages are solely so people can read the future. No, this is not the primary purpose! The purpose is for our spiritual benefit. First it is to get the people to repent. The messages are warnings best responded to by repenting. The messages are all for our benefit- even future generations as well.
2 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
All prophecies are inspired by God thru His Holy Spirit. None have private uses. The second purpose is to witness to all, before a calamity happens. The crisis came because of departure from God and His ways. The crisis was not a coincidence. Third prophecies can often tell us when to flee calamity for safety and escape disaster. Remember how believers escaped the disaster in 70A.D., they listened to Jesus and his disciples and fled Jerusalem at the crucial moment.
Luke 21:36 NKJV 36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Well, Habakkuk was inspired to ask God some difficult questions in this regard. He asked for answers and was bothered by what he observed. He asked why evil men are not punished?
Habakkuk 1:3-4 NKJV 3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. 4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
Don't all of us feel this way at times? Note the Eternal God's answer.
Habakkuk 1:5 NKJV 5 "Look among the nations and watch-be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
God's answer was the evil judges and rulers in Israel who thought they were in a strong, safe nation were in for a shocking surprise from the north. This scripture is also quoted in the New Testament. God says evil will pay a price for forsaking goodness and fairness. It often comes suddenly.
WAIT FOR GOD'S ULTIMATE JUSTICE, IT IS COMING- BE FAITHFUL
Evil may seem to have the upper hand, however the true believers are told to live by faith in God's ultimate judgment. That the righteous will live by faith is a major theme of this minor prophet's message. Evil may seem to have the upper hand in this world but judgment is certain to come.
Habakkuk 2:4 NKJV 4 "Behold the proud,...But the just shall live by his faith.
This principle and this verse are also quoted in the New Testament from Habakkuk.
Romans 1:17 NKJV 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 NKJV 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
This indicates again just how much of the New Testament is BASED upon the Old Testament. When evil men seem to be winning remember God is ultimately in control. God answers Habakkuk questions of how long will evil prevail in Israel and why has Babylon been chosen to punish them.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 RSV 2 And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain upon tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3 For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seem slow,wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
Evil and injustice seem to have the upper hand, now God tells the prophet and us to wait patiently for the promised ultimate victory of good over evil. God is allowing His people to learn some hard lessons. They may not fully appreciate the lessons now but will someday.
Habakkuk 2:15-16 RSV 15 Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink of the cup of his wrath, and makes them drunk, to gaze on their shame! 16 You will be sated with contempt instead of glory. Drink, yourself, and stagger! The cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and shame will come upon your glory!
But we can learn them now, man's ways do not work. Believers must trust that God is allowing all things according to His ultimate purpose.
Habakkuk 2:13-14 RSV 13 Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor only for fire, and nations weary themselves for nought? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Goodness will prevail someday.
HABAKKUK CONCLUDES WITH A PRAYER OF PRAISE AND TRIUMPH
Having been given a direct answer from the God of the universe the prophet concludes his book with a prayer set to poetic music.
Habakkuk 3:2 RSV 2 O LORD, I have heard the report of thee, and thy work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years renew it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
Hope is coming and the prophet is praying in effect ' thy kingdom come soon' it fits the model prayer Christ gave to his disciples and us. He mentions what God has done in the past and will do he hopes soon again.
Habakkuk 3:12-13 RSV 12 Thou didst bestride the earth in fury, Thou didst trample the nations in anger. 13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, for the salvation of thy anointed. Thou didst crush the head of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah.
Habakkuk 3:16 RSV 16 I hear, and my body trembles, my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones, my steps totter beneath me. I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
God is saying to him take your eyes off the difficulties and trust in Him, look up, for his rescue.
Habakkuk 3:18-19 RSV 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like hinds' feet, he makes me tread upon my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
Remain positive knowing we worship an awesome God who will bring justice to all the Earth. Those God has called will be able to hear clearly the prophets warnings and respond. They will repent and become special to God. They will be able to go to places of safety and avoid the coming disaster while the world will ignore the true prophetic messages. True called believers will not mourn the calamity as much as others because we will be able to appreciate the big picture. Pagan and compromised religions will have no real answers in future calamities.
Isaiah 41:26-29 RSV 26 Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know, and beforetime, that we might say, "He is right"?... 28 But when I look there is no one;....there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer. 29 Behold, they areall a delusion; their works are nothing; their molten images are empty wind.
Christ is the one who actually spoke to the prophets, see John 8:56. The true God's prophets are the ones who were right in the end and the false prophets were wrong. Eventually Israel and all the world will learn this lesson. Salvation comes only thru the true prophets which are the core of the Bible.
Luke 16:30-31 RSV 30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"
We all must listen to the Bible including messages from the prophet Habakkuk and realize that evil is only temporary and God is in control.
Discussion
Are legal injustices a sign of getting closer to the end of the age, how bad will it get?
