Main Idea: As Habakkuk honestly questions God’s seeming lack of response, God responds with His astounding plan to use His enemies to judge His own people.

1. Habakkuk’s frustrated lament. (vs. 1-4)

[1] The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.
[2] O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?
[3] Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
[4] So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.

2. God’s shocking response. (vs. 5-11)
[5] “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.
[6] For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own.
[7] They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.
[8] Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.
[9] They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand.
[10] At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it.
[11] Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

Three Points of Application:

1. Learn to lament.

Psalm 44:17–26
[17] All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant.
[18] Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way;
[19] yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.
[20] If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
[21] would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
[22] Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
[23] Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
[24] Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
[25] For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.
[26] Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

Romans 8:18–25
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [19] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [23] And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. [24] For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

- Lament helps us learn how to feel.
- Lament helps us process pain.
- Lament helps overcome the temptation to lash out in vengeance at others.
- Lament helps us empathize with others who are hurting..
- Lament helps us feel hope for the future.
- Lament helps us escape anger and depression.

2. Regularly repent.

1 Peter 4:12–17: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. [14] If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. [16] Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. [17] For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

3. Look with wonder at the work of God and be astounded.

[5] “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.

Romans 5:6–8: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:31–32: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?