Scriptures for Today
Habakkuk 1:1-11
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. 5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
INTRODUCTION — When Thanksgiving Meets Trouble
Today is Thanksgiving Sunday. But let’s be real — not everybody feels like giving thanks.
Some people walked in today carrying heartbreak. Some walked in angry at their circumstances.
Some walked in with questions they don’t feel safe asking out loud. You might have many questions for God that you won’t ask. But, I want you to see this today. You won’t hear these things preached at churches. But this is the Bible. I think you’ll be surprised at the sermon today. We don’t do things like other churches do things. We’re different here.
Habakkuk asked the question most people never verbalize and would never say out loud.
“God, why are You letting evil win?” I’ve had some people who are angry at God during soul winning ask me that. I’ve had people tell me there is no God or He wouldn’t allow all of this evil to occur. The Book of Habakkuk answers that question: “God, why are you letting evil win?”
Habakkuk wasn’t doubting God. He was struggling to understand Him. We all struggle to understand God at times. He’s far, far above us. Job questioned God too. And then God showed up in a whirlwind and told him to gird up his loins like a man and get ready.
God preserved this book of Habakkuk because He wanted you to know you’re not the only one who’s ever wondered. It’s okay to question God as long as you aren’t doubting God. It’s okay to wonder and to have questions.
Habakkuk is the only book of a prophet who doesn’t speak to the people — he speaks to God about the people. Remember that. You’re going to see Habakkuk speaking directly to God and questioning God and His ways.
This book starts with a question… and ends with worship. What is that question? Well, we’re going to see today.
This means you can bring your hardest questions to God and leave with the deepest peace. Today you’re going to see:
- Why God sometimes waits
- Why evil sometimes seems to win
- And what God is doing while you think He’s silent
And by the end of this message, you will know how to thank God even when life doesn’t feel thankful. That’s why we’re here today. We are all family here right now. I love you all. And I want you here to day so we can give thanks to our Creator who loves us. And we’ll do that together right now by studying His words to us. We’ll learn, together, more about God.
Even when you don’t feel thankful, give thanks to God for ALL THINGS. We now enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise as we get to His words to us.
Verse 1 — The Burden That Wouldn’t Go Away
Habakkuk 1:1
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
Habakkuk doesn’t say, “The prophecy,” or “The message.” He calls it a burden — something heavy he carried in his heart.
An example of a heavy burden is a mother sitting awake at night staring at the ceiling because her adult son is drifting further away from God. She raised him right, but now he’s running with the wrong friends, drinking, smoking, not working. Every morning she wakes up with the same ache in her chest. “Is he safe today?” She loves her son. This is an example of a burden. Habakkuk saw a burden.
The prophets didn’t just proclaim truth; they felt truth. This wasn’t a sermon outline. This was a weight pressing on his soul. That’s a burden.
If you’ve ever cared so deeply about something that it kept you awake… you know how Habakkuk feels right here. Most Christians pretend they’re fine. Habakkuk shows you a faith that’s honest — even when it hurts.
I ask you today: “What burden did you walk in with today? What weighs on your heart that you’ve never said out loud?”
Verse 2 — “How Long, O LORD?”
Habakkuk 1:2
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
Habakkuk feels like God is ignoring him. He says “How long shall I cry?” Because he’s been praying for a long time. I’ve been crying out to you, Lord! How much longer before you hear me?
He says “Thou wilt not hear.” Because Heaven has been quiet. God is quiet. He listens.
He says “Violence!” Because Judah was filled with brutality, injustice, corruption, and oppression. He cries out against violence. He says, “And thou wilt not save!” Look, there are mothers in here right now that have lost children to violence right out there in these streets. This is what Habakkuk is crying out against!
If you stop praying because God seems slow, you may miss the miracle that happens right after He says “Wait.” God says, “Hey, just wait. The answer is coming.”
This is not unbelief. This is a believer struggling with God’s timing, not God’s existence. He’s crying out to God. He believes. But he’s wondering why it’s taking so long to get an answer.
“Have you ever prayed for something so long you thought God walked away?” He didn’t walk away. He’s hearing you. He stores up your prayers just a like a Dad that keeps the pictures his little ones drew for him.
Verse 3 — Surrounded by Sin
Habakkuk 1:3
Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Habakkuk is overwhelmed.
Everywhere he looks there is injustice, violence, oppression, division, corruption, and fighting. This sounds less like ancient Judah and more like modern America. This is more like right here in this area of this church. Violence, oppression, corruption, and constant fighting.
Notice exactly what Habakkuk says. He doesn’t ask, “Why is there sin?” He asks, “God, why are You letting me see it?”
Look, a lot of us here right now, we don’t SEE the sin that we’re talking about. But others in here right now SEE IT every day. Kids getting beat. Women getting beat. Punched in the face. Abuse. Kids shooting kids. Drug use. Alcohol use. Sexual sins. Nasty. Look, maybe you don’t see it. Well, God was showing Habakkuk what He gets to see.
And it’s sickening. And it’s nasty. And Habakkuk can’t handle it any more. For example, I don’t like drama, and I don’t want drama in this church at all. I will put a fast stop to it immediately. Habakkuk is asking God, “Why aren’t you stopping these things?” Well, God wants Habakkuk to see the sin.
Look, God shows you the problem because He plans to use you in the solution. I’m starting to see the sin around this area. We’re close to it now. We see things. We see the drug dealers. We know the women getting punched in the face by wicked men. We know the people that are on the news for crimes they committed. God’s going to use us in the solution.
“What if the things that bother you most are the things God is calling you to pray about most?” We love the children in this area. We see the pain in their eyes when we find them out there. We pray for them. We’re going to dedicate our lives to help them find the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because “our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield.”
And then the next time someone wants to punch that kid in the face, the man doing it better watch out because the Lord Jesus Christ is with that child. Be very careful out there. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And I’m here. This church is here. And we’re going to fight back. I’m a fighter. Not a runner. We’ll fight for you here. And we’ll keep fighting.
Habakkuk is a fighter. He’s not going anywhere. He wants to know the answer from God. How much longer, God? Watch what he says next.
Verse 4 — When Justice Breaks Down
Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
Habakkuk says:
- “The law is slacked” → Judges are corrupt
- “Judgment never goes forth” → Evil goes unpunished
- “Wicked surround the righteous” → Good people are outnumbered
- “Wrong judgment proceedeth” → Those in power twist justice
If you think our justice system is broken today — you’re not wrong. So did Habakkuk. The problem in Judah wasn’t politics. It was people rejecting God’s Word. And that’s what more and more people are doing today.
“When truth is ignored, what else can a nation produce except injustice?” Wrong doing everywhere. When the Bible is minimized and removed, nothing good will result. NOTHING. When the Bible was taken out of schools, NOTHING good will come from that. As more and more of the Bible is taken out of churches, NOTHING good will come from that.
As you take the Bible out of your home by ignoring it, NOTHING good will come from that. Now, let’s see next how God answers Habakkuk. I love when God comes into the picture. He sets all things straight and true.
Verses 5–6 — God Answers… But Not How Habakkuk Expected
Habakkuk 1:5-6
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.
God is quiet most of the time. But now we get to see God speak. His answer shocks Habakkuk.
God says: “I’m doing something big… bigger than you can understand.” I’m going to tell you exactly what’s going to happen, and you still won’t believe it. And you’re not going to like it. Look, this is how God does things. Habakkuk wanted an answer and it’s not going to be what he wanted.
What do you do when God’s answer is harder than His silence? You want Him to fix it? He says, “I’ll fix it.” He’s sending another nation to conquer His own people who aren’t following Him.
God tells Habakkuk, “I’m raising up a wicked nation to judge My people.” Look, that’s shocking. That’s like God sending China, a wicked nation that hates God, to conquer us. Hey, if you want the violence and the murder and the killing and the molestation of children to stop around here, I’ll send China to conquer every one of you. That’s similar to what God is saying here.
The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were violent, ruthless, and unstoppable. And God says: “I raised them up.” And they’re coming for your people, Habakkuk. God says, “That’s how I’ll stop all of it.” And He did do that.
“Are you willing to trust God even when His plan doesn’t match your preference?” Guaranteed that wasn’t Habakkuk’s preference. That wasn’t Isaiah’s preference. That wasn’t Jeremiah’s preference. He cried for his people. And cried. And cried. Because they were defeated and conquered by the Chaldeans who God sent. God sent them to take it all. They destroyed it all.
When things get so bad, God will destroy it all. For example, maybe God sent this church to this area to give it one last chance. We’ve got a fighting chance to fix this. But the people in the area get the decision. It’s your decision. Will we get things fixed, or will this be the final chance before God just flattens it all? We can fix this together. Or we can fall together. What will it be?
You might think this isn’t important. Oh, there’s nothing more important in your life right now. Will you help us get it fixed all around this city and all around this state? Or will you ignore it all and lead your children and their children to complete destruction? What will it be? Every one of you gets that choice right now. What will it be? Make your choice and take a stand NOW.
Let’s take a close look at the final 5 verses that describe the enemy that God is sending against His own people – to destroy them. You might know a false god. You might think: “My god would never do that.” Listen, you need to get rid of the false god this world has taught you about, and you need to study the true God using His words. He tells you all about His ways. And His ways are perfect. Let’s look closely here at the enemy God sent to His people.
Verses 7–11 — God Describes the Enemy
Habakkuk 1:7-9
They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
Hey, Habakkuk, you wanted an answer? It’s coming. And you better tell your people to run. Judgment is coming. And it’s hungry. God says, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay saith the Lord.” Look, if you want to continue doing wrong in your life, you won’t get by with it. You want to cheat people and lie to people, you will be cheated many times over and lies to many times over. And you’ll believe the lies. God will send the army for you.
Habakkuk 1:10-11
And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.
God paints the picture: a fierce nation, rapid armies, violent warriors, devouring enemies, mocking kings, gathering captives like sand. If God lets something tough into your life, He’s preparing something powerful to come out of your life.
After conquering, Babylon would give credit to its idols — not to God. God used them but they took the glory. And that pride would become their downfall. They would fall too. God uses these wicked nations at times to punish.
Did you know God can send Satan to destroy your flesh? That’s one of the reasons God keeps Satan around. Did you know that? He could end Satan in a split second. There is no power struggle between God and anyone. God has ALL POWER. And God uses Satan like the pawn he happens to be.
1 Corinthians 5:5
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Do you know what that man in 1 Corinthians 5 was doing? He was fornicating. He was in the Corinthian church as a fornicator. He was one that had a sexual relationship outside of marriage. Do you see what God said? He said, “I’ll deliver you to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.” Listen, if you aren’t married and are having a sexual relationship, you better get married. And you better run fast to do it. Hey, if you need to get married, we’ll do the wedding right here. You just give me the date, and we’ll get it ready. And we’ll help you with all of it.
If you decide not to, remember the book of Habakkuk. See what God did.
Babylon wasn’t bigger than God’s people — they were used by God to bring His people back to Him. “What if the storm in your life is the tool God is using to bring you closer to Him?” You got problems? Maybe God sent those problems. Don’t blame Satan for everything. Don’t say, “Satan did it.” Be careful. That’s a railing accusation. It might have been God that did it. He did it in Habakkuk. He did it in 1 Corinthians. He does it all throughout the Bible. He’s showing you how He works.
God will allow what breaks you to remove what is blinding you. Open those eyes. Clean it up. For example, an awesome young lady here right now told me recently that she cleaned house. She got rid of the alcohol. She got rid of anyone there that wanted to continue in sin. She told them, “You can come with me, but you got to get things right.” I want you to come with me. But you aren’t coming with that. And she cleaned it all up. And she’s walking with the Lord now.
Now, it’s your turn. Others in here are cleaning house. It’s time to get yours clean. Men, it’s time to clean it up. Women, it’s time to clean it up. Teenagers, it’s time to clean it up. Children, it’s time to clean it up. Get things right. And don’t wait before God has to answer like He did Habakkuk. And when God speaks, whatever He says will come to pass. Don’t make Him say it.
Conclusion – When You Don’t Understand God
Habakkuk began with a question: “Why does evil win?” God answered: “It wins for now… but not forever.”
Habakkuk tells us:
- God sees what you see.
- God feels what you feel.
- God knows what you don’t know.
- God is doing what you can’t see.
Faith is not what you hold when life makes sense — Faith is what holds you when life doesn’t make sense. God is working. He never quits. He knows. He sees. He answers. He acts.
God is not late. God is not silent at all times. God is not absent. He is working. And He will set all things straight. Remember that. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. God’s got you. Please hear me now. If you enjoyed this sermon and learned today, don’t stop here today. Come back at 4 pm. Stay with us today and have fun.
Next-Sermon Today at 4 pm – “I Will Utterly Consume All Things: Zephaniah 1’s Global Judgment”
If Habakkuk showed us the agony of asking, “God, why aren’t You doing something?” Zephaniah is the answer you weren’t expecting. Because next time, God isn’t silent… He’s stepping into the world Himself.
Zephaniah 1:2
I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
This is one of the most sobering openings in all the prophets. It’s not a local warning. Not a national warning. It’s a global declaration. Zephaniah pulls back the curtain and shows us what happens when the patience of God runs out — not for one nation, but for the entire earth.
And you need to hear it. Your family needs to hear it. Our city needs to hear it. Because the God who judges the world is also the God who offers refuge before judgment falls. Don’t miss later today. Keep it going. You will learn the Bible here. “I Will Utterly Consume All Things: Zephaniah 1’s Global Judgment.”
Come ready. Come humble. Come awake. Your view of God — and the world — will not be the same.
Let’s pray.
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