TURNING
COMPLAINTS INTO PRAISE! (HABAKKUK 1-3)
Introduction: In the past
several weeks, we have been overwhelmed by the devastation caused by COVID-19.
It looks like overnight, the landscape and trajectory of Churches changed. Many
of us are trying to navigate how to be an “Online Church.” And what it is to be
a “Virtual disciple of Christ.” We are growing comfortable attending church
from our homes.
But
let’s not get too comfortable lest we forget our primary purpose of being a
disciple of Christ in this crisis-ridden world of COVID-19. Social distancing
doesn’t mean social isolation. Essential workers are being called upon to do
their duty regardless. We are to
continue to pray for the doctors, nurses, health care workers, first responders,
and other volunteers who are putting their lives at risk so that we can remain
safe.
When
we watch and hear the troubling news all around us, we can go crazy or continue
to remain calm and cautious. I am not a politician to give you political
advice. I am not a doctor to provide you with a medical recommendation; neither
am I an economist to provide you with financial information. As your pastor, I
seek to help you through a biblical lens.
When
there are trouble and injustice all around us, we can either complain and
grumble or turn them into points of praise and prayer. We can either let fear
paralyze us or faith motivate us. This morning I will share with us a few
thoughts from Habakkuk, a 6th century B.C. prophet who turned his
grumbling and complaining into prayer and praise to God. Habakkuk 1-3.
What
do we know about this rather obscure prophet?
Habakkuk lived during the Babylonian invasion of Judah and wrote this
book just before the battle of Carchemish in 605B.C His main problem was
theodicy or divine justice. Internally, he saw violence, lawbreaking, and
injustice go unpunished, so he questioned and complained to God about it. God’s
answer only troubled him more. Though it was a small book, it was one of the
gems of the O.T.
I. HABAKKUK’S
FIRST COMPLAINT 1:1-4
Vs.
1-4, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence
is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these
evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction
and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law
has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far
outnumber the righteous so that justice has become perverted.”
Habakkuk
lodged his first complaint to God. He questioned God, how long the evildoers in
Judah get away with their evil acts without being punished by God. He wanted to
know when God would punish the wicked and save the righteous. He wanted to know
why such injustice was unchecked and why wasn’t God acting swiftly.
Let
me bring this into our context. In our times, the wicked seem to have a good
time while the righteous go through difficulties. We are surrounded by people
who love to argue and fight. There appears to be no justice in our nation.
These days, there is another kind of evil lurking at us; it is called the Corona
Virus. This past Friday, we fasted and
cried out to God, saying, how long we must endure this onslaught, and when will
you deliver us from this evil?
II. GOD’S ANSWER:
Vs. 5-6, “The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am
doing something in your own day. Something you wouldn’t believe even if someone
told you about it.” I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people.
They will march across the world and conquer other lands.” God answered that he
was on the verge of responding by raising up that violent nation, the
Babylonians. This answer was appalling to Habakkuk.
He
just couldn’t understand how could a holy God, send a more wicked nation than
they to punish the people in the land of Judah? Would they not destroy both the
evil and righteous indiscriminately?
God
told him, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing
something in your own day. Something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told
you about it.” Let’s look at our so-called great nations in the west and around
the world and see what God is doing. Who would have believed a year ago if they
were told that the whole world would be under a literal shut down and thousands
would die due to the Corona Virus?
What
is happening in our times is something that never happened in the last 75 years.
The whole world is shaken up and does not know how to fight this cruel and
unseen enemy. So, it is legitimate for us to complain to God and ask the Lord
How long, and when will you deliver us?
III HABAKKUK’S
SECOND COMPLAINT 1:12-17
Chapter
1:12-17, talking about Habakkuk’s second complaint. Let me summarize it. His charge
had to do with the cruel treatment of the Babylonians, and how could the loving
God let it happen to His people. After these two complaints, he positioned
himself as a guard on his watchtower to see what God would say to him. God’s
reply to Habakkuk had two implications. One
was the imminent end of the Babylonian empire, and the other one was pointing
to how God would deal with the proud and the arrogant people and the nations
towards the end times. This is what the future might look like to the
rebellious and how God’s glory will fill the earth. Let me summarize Chapter
2:4-20.
God
was and is in the process of purging His people and dealing with the wicked.
According to Habakkuk, this is how God will deal with wickedness in the
land. He will humble the proud, make fun
of the arrogant, and the rich and shake the confidence and the security of
people. He will deal with all those who make idols and worship them sternly.
The
outcome of His dealings would be the awareness of God’s glory, filling the
whole earth as the waters cover the sea. Isn’t that what we see happening
during this Corona Crisis?
IV MOVING FROM
COMPLAINING TO PRAYER AND PRAISE: Chapter 3: 1-19
Vs.
2, “I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing
works.
In this time of our deep need, help
us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.”
This is a beautiful prayer that can be prayed over the prevailing Corona Virus
situation. We say Oh Lord, in our time of grave need, help us again as you have
done it in the past. Please, Lord, even in your anger, please remember mercy.
We
hope and believe that God would answer this prayer and deliver us from this
evil. But if he won’t deliver us, at least not as quickly as we want him to?
What if more and more people including, the young and the old, the rich and the
poor, the sinner and the saint die? What if our economy will never recover? What
if we can never have a regular Hope Church service?
Could
God still be trusted and worshipped? How should we respond to unprecedented
situations in our lives? Our God has promised to deliver His people, at times
He may delay his deliverance. It doesn’t mean that He is indifferent to our needs
and do not care even if we perish. Habakkuk teaches us how to praise God
even during adverse situations and remain optimistic and positive. Vs., 17-19,
“Even though
the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though
the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the
flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I
will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He
makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Dear
friends, don’t fret and don’t be afraid. Are you anxious about your uncertain
future? Are you complaining and grumbling at your prevailing situation? Stop
complaining and grumbling. Turn your concerns into prayer and praise to God
when you do that you will notice a remarkable change of attitude and
perspective. So “Look Up! Trust God and Smile!” Amen!
