November 3, 2025 • 26 mins
"There are things going on that are difficult...and yet I will rejoice in the Lord."
— Natalie Abbott
Today's episode: Join host Natalie Abbott as she delves into the profound beauty of finding joy even in our struggles. In this episode, Natalie walks us through Habakkuk's journey from honest criticism of the injustices he sees to complete trust in the God who is just and who saves those who trust in him. You'll be encouraged to be honest and to trust in God through your own trials. saying with Habakkuk, "Yet, I will rejoice in the LORD!"
This month's memory verse: "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." — Habakkuk 3:18
Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about the easy button for Scripture memory, Dwell Differently’s monthly membership!
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Links from today's show:
- Get your copy of How to Remember, by Andrew Osenga.
- Check out Qava to help you study the Bible (use code DWELL50 for 50% off).
- Get The Biggest Story Holy Bible here for 30% off with a free Crossway Plus account.
- Celebrate with a Piper and Leaf Tea Advent Calendar (use code DWELL10 for 10% off)
Follow Natalie & Vera at DwellDifferently.com and @dwelldifferenly.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Ever open your Bible and think, I want to understand
this better.
You love God, you go to church,but by midweek life gets busy
and it's easy to feeldisconnected.
And sometimes the Bible feelsoverwhelming when you don't have
the right tools or context.
That's why I want to tell youabout Kavah.
It comes from the Hebrew wordmeaning to wait on or to hope in
the Lord.
(00:20):
Kavah, Q-A-V-A, is a Christianstreaming platform and it helps
you understand the Bible andlive out your faith with
confidence.
Think of it as digitaldiscipleship in your pocket with
Bible studies, documentaries,and conversations led by trusted
teachers that help scripturecome alive in your everyday
life.
And here's what I love Kava is anonprofit, subscriber-funded
(00:41):
ministry.
So when you subscribe, you'rehelping create biblical content
that equips believers all overthe world.
So don't just stay overwhelmed.
Join thousands of others growingin confidence through God's
word.
Visit qava.tv backslashdwelldifferently.
That's kava.tv backslashdwelldifferently and use the
(01:01):
code dwell50 for 50% off yourfirst six months.
It's only$4.99 a month.
We'll have links in your shownotes that'll make it easy for
you to get there.
The holidays move fast, but themoments that matter the most are
usually the slow ones.
Piper and Leaf is a family-runtea company from the heart of
Alabama, passionate aboutslowing life down and serving
(01:23):
joy one tea bag at a time.
Each blend is handcrafted withlocally sourced ingredients
straight from the farm, forest,garden, and briar patch.
And every sip gives back with10% of profits supporting
fostering and adoption.
This Christmas, they've createdsomething truly special, the 24
Teas of Advent Set.
Beginning December 1st, you cansip through 24 unique blends,
(01:47):
each paired with a story, poem,or song from the Piper family
favorites, plus a fun dailyactivity or recipe to enjoy
together.
It's the perfect way to bringwarmth, wonder, and connection
back to your December.
Visit PiperandLeaf.com and usethe code DWEL10 to save 10% or
find the link in our show notes.
(02:14):
Hey, welcome back to the DwellDifferently podcast.
I'm your host, Natalie Abbott,and today we are talking about a
beautiful verse about findingjoy, even in hard seasons.
It's from Habakkuk 3.18.
It says, Yet I will rejoice inthe Lord.
I will be joyful in God, mySavior.
And at first glance, we're like,yes, I will rejoice in the Lord.
(02:36):
God is my savior.
I'm going to find joy in him.
But there's that one little wordat the beginning, yet, which
implies that there are reasonsfor not rejoicing.
There are things that are goingon that are difficult or hard.
And yet, in spite of thosethings, I will rejoice in the
Lord.
(02:56):
So that's what we're going to betalking about today.
How do we find joy even indifficult situations?
And so we're going to look atthe context of this verse in
Habakkuk and we're going to seewhat we can learn there from the
context about how trulybeautiful this verse is and how
it can really buoy us in timeswhen we are going through
(03:19):
something really difficult.
So that's my hope that as wememorize and meditate on this
verse, that we would understandit in its context so that we
could have an even fullerunderstanding of the beauty that
we can find in it.
So today we're going to betalking about the justice and
the mercy of God.
We're going to be talking aboutwhat it means to like honestly
wrestle with God in our faith.
(03:40):
We're going to be talking aboutthe glory and the power of God.
And we're going to talk aboutthis idea of both trembling and
finding joy, like holding thosetwo things in tandem with one
another, that we can both be ina place of awe and trembling and
yet also rejoice in our Lord.
(04:02):
So that's what we're talkingabout.
And I'm excited to have you herealong with me.
We're going to just kind of walkthrough the book of Habakkuk and
see those thematics of honesty,of justice, of God's glory and
power and even joy.
So, first off, let me just letyou know where Habakkuk is like
when is that happening?
What's going on?
So, roughly around 600 BC iswhen Habakkuk is writing.
(04:26):
There is now an evil king inJudah.
His name is Jehaiakim.
He's the son of Josiah, who is areally good king.
But we know from other prophetsthat this is coming, judgment is
coming.
That wickedness and evil ismarking the day.
There's violence, strife, andwickedness.
And so Habakkuk goes to the Lordand he makes this complaint.
(04:46):
He says, How long, O Lord, mustI call for help, but you don't
listen or cry out to youviolence, but you don't save?
Why do you make me look atinjustice?
And why do you toleratewrongdoing?
He says, There's destruction andviolence before me.
There's strife and conflict.
Therefore, he says the law isparalyzed.
(05:07):
So the law isn't working.
People aren't following it.
It is paralyzed.
It's not doing anything.
And justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,so that justice is perverted.
He is saying, God, everything iswrong with the world.
Everyone is doing terriblethings.
(05:28):
I'm crying out to you for help.
How long am I going to have todo this, Lord?
But you are not listening.
So that is pretty raw and veryhonest that he is basically
complaining to God.
Like, how long are you going tolet this go on?
What are you going to do aboutthis, God?
Like, this is terrible.
(05:48):
Look at what is going on.
Your law is being paralyzed, oryou can't do anything.
I need you to step in and tobring about your justice.
And what I love about this isjust the sheer honesty.
He is being completely himself.
(06:09):
He is telling God exactly how hefeels.
And what a beautiful model forus when we consider things that
feel unjust or situations thatwe find ourselves in where we're
like, God, do you even see?
Do you even hear?
I keep praying about this.
Like, don't you see me?
So what we get next is theLord's answer, which of course,
(06:30):
God always answers.
What a beautiful truth for us tojust wrap our minds around that.
When we give him our even ourhard things, that he hears us
and he answers.
So in verse five, he says, lookat the nations and watch and be
utterly amazed.
And I'm sure Habakkuk is like,Yes, I can't wait.
Here it comes.
(06:51):
But then God says, For I amgoing to do something in your
days that you would not believe,even if you were told, I am
raising up the Babylonians, thatruthless, impetuous people who
sweep across the whole earth toseize dwellings, not their own.
So while there's evil happeningin Judah, there is way more evil
(07:14):
happening in the rest of theworld.
Babylon is this unrighteous,merciless, invading power.
They are dreaded and fearsome.
They are fierce and devouring.
They're violent and arrogant.
And God says, This is who I'mgoing to raise up.
This is my instrument ofjustice.
(07:34):
To which Habakkuk says, Whoa,whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Okay.
So again, Habakkuk is going tobe totally honest.
He says, God, your eyes are toopure to look on evil.
You can't tolerate wrongdoing.
Then why are you toleratingthem?
Why are you silent while thewicked swallow up those more
righteous than themselves?
And that's the key here isHabakkuk is saying, Well, I
(07:56):
mean, we're bad and everything,but Babylon is way worse.
So why would you use what isunjust to judge this other
injustice?
So he says in chapter two, Iwill stand my watch and station
myself on the rampart.
So he's like, I'm going to standon the wall of the city and I'm
(08:17):
going to look out and I'm goingto see what you're going to say.
He says, I will look out to seewhat he will say to me and what
answer I am to get for thiscomplaint.
So he's like, All right, here wego.
This is it.
God is going to answer me.
And I love this again that he'slike, actually, God, I'm not
satisfied with your answer.
(08:37):
So I don't know if God is evergiving you an answer that you
are not satisfied with, but Ilove that he says it because God
knows that you feel it.
So why not say it?
He is like, uh-uh, God, this isnot okay.
I am not okay with this answer.
In fact, I'm so not okay with itthat I'm gonna wait here and I'm
gonna watch, I'm gonna stand onthe towers, and I'm gonna see
(08:58):
what you are gonna do.
So God again gives this answerback to Habakkuk.
He says, Write down therevelation, make it plain on the
tablet so that a herald may runwith it.
For the revelation awaits anappointed time, it speaks of the
end and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it.
It certainly will come and willnot delay.
(09:20):
So God's like, Yes, yes, youwait there and you you see.
In fact, write it down and telleverybody about what I am gonna
do.
He says, See the enemy is puffedup, his desires are not upright,
but the righteous person willlive by his faithfulness or his
faith.
And so what God is doing rightnow is saying there are two
(09:43):
categories here, Habakkuk.
There are the righteous who liveby faith, and then there are my
enemies.
There are only two categories inIsrael and in the world of
people.
Are you righteous?
Are you living by faith, or areyou my enemy?
And he says these five woes forhis enemy.
(10:04):
He talks about how these enemiesthat are not specified here,
usually God's God's woes arespecified, but he just says that
they're the enemies of God.
So I'm I'm thinking he'sincluding the people of God who
are quote unquote the people ofGod, who think that they are the
people of God, who are actuallyjust doing all kinds of wicked
things.
So the first thing he says isthat they will experience loss,
(10:27):
that even though they're heapingup what isn't their own, that
the plunderer will be plundered.
So you see in each of thesewoes, sort of this, you think
that this plundering that you'regonna do is gonna heap up all
this stuff for you, but actuallyyou're gonna be plundered.
So God is using the very thing,the wickedness that they are
doing, and he's bringing it backagainst them.
(10:49):
Um, number two, he says,insecurity, you're gonna have
insecurity.
So even though you're buildingup your house with evil gain,
that the stones themselves willcry out against you.
So what should have been whatmade you secure are gonna be the
very things that come againstyou.
And again, this imagery is likethat the people that the
(11:10):
Babylonians are are taking over,or the people that are being
oppressed by the people inIsrael who are doing these
wicked things, they are the oneswho are gonna come back and cry
out against him, that the thattheir security is actually
insecure.
The houses that should make themfeel secure are gonna come back
against them.
Um, and then the third one isemptiness.
(11:32):
He says, Woe to him who builds atown with blood.
They will never have enough.
You're never gonna be full.
In fact, he says the opposite isgonna be true.
The whole earth is gonna befilled with the knowledge of the
glory of the Lord as the waterscover the sea.
So there's this beautifulimagery of you, what you are
(11:53):
doing is unfulfilling, and yetthe glory of the Lord is gonna
fill the earth.
And then the fourth woe is woeto him who pours out wrath to
make others drunk and exposetheir nakedness.
So it's this idea of shame thatthe that the Babylonians and the
wicked people are exposing theshame of their neighbors.
(12:15):
Um, but he says, you will drinkfrom God's cup of wrath and you
will be exposed asuncircumcised.
So, in other words, you thinkthat mocking and shaming others,
that there is something for youin it when the reality is that
you yourself are gonna findshame because you are
(12:36):
uncircumcised.
You are gonna be exposed assomebody who is not in favor
with God, which would be a hugeproblem for the people of Israel
because they really relied oncircumcision as a sign that they
were God's people, that theywere righteous.
And God is saying, No, not evenyou, you're gonna be exposed as
unrighteous, as actually notpleasing to me.
(12:57):
And then finally, this fifth woeis this woe of speechlessness.
It says, Woe to the one whotrust in idols.
They are speechless, they can donothing.
In contrast, all of the earth issilent before the magnificent
God of the universe.
It says, For the earth will befilled with the knowledge of the
glory of the Lord as the waterscover the sea.
(13:20):
So you again you see thisbeautiful picture of God Himself
being um glorious and that theearth itself is silent.
So, whereas these idols thatyou're praying to, those are are
silent.
They can't speak, they can't doanything.
But God, when God revealshimself, when God shows up, then
(13:43):
everybody is silent.
Like we, there's we'respeechless because of who he is
and his glory.
Have you ever felt tired ofshallow, consumer-driven faith?
I know I have.
In his book, How to Remember,songwriter and producer Andrew
Osenga, who's worked withartists like Andrew Peterson and
(14:03):
Sandra McCracken, reflects onfaith, doubt, and the search for
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It's not a how-to book, it's acompanion.
For those who've wrestled withdisillusionment and are looking
to rediscover the simple,sustaining beauty of the gospel.
As Russell Moore puts it, AndrewOsenga explores something many
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(14:25):
The hunger for something olderand truer than spiritual
performance.
This book doesn't scold or sell,it listens, laments, and then
leads us back to something we'vealmost lost.
How to remember is for those wholove the church even when it's
hard.
Find your copy atMoodypublishers.com or wherever
you get good books.
(14:45):
There'll be a link in our shownotes if you're looking for a
link.
Okay, I'm super excited to tellyou about this next thing.
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(15:06):
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(15:27):
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You can pick up a copy whereverbooks are sold or visit
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And we'll have a link in ourshow notes.
(15:48):
Habakkuk has this final responsein chapter three, and that's
where we find our verse.
And it is both terrifying andglorious.
It is fearsome and encouragingat the same time.
It is this very complex group ofverses.
And so I'm gonna read what hesays, and it's actually a song.
(16:11):
There are like song denotationsat the beginning of chapter
three and at the end.
So it's meant to be sung.
And I think that that's awonderful thing.
And as we as I read it to you, Iwant you to just consider like
what would it feel like to singthis song with other people?
Like, at what point wouldsomething like this be an
encouragement in a in a need?
(16:32):
And I think just thinking aboutthe people in the world who are
under persecution, who are beingmartyred for their faith,
something like this is just anencouragement that God is
powerful, that God is glorious,that God is going to come in his
just judgment, that there is aday that is marked out where God
(16:55):
will judge.
And that is the kind ofrevelation that we have here,
this the theophany of God wherehe is just whoa.
And so, in instead ofsummarizing it for you, I want
to read it for you.
Um, but before we get thetheophany, we get this statement
from Habakkuk.
He says, Oh Lord, I have heardthe report of you and your work,
(17:19):
O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years,revive it.
In the midst of the years, makeit known in wrath, remember
mercy.
And so Habakkuk has been wonover by the Lord that indeed
there are there is injustice,and that God, would you in your
(17:41):
work that I am even fearful of,that I just I know it's gonna be
a hard thing.
Would you, in your wrath againstinjustice and wickedness, would
you also remember mercy?
So that is this beautifulbeginning of this prayer.
And so here's what God does (17:59):
He actually shows him what his work
is gonna look like, he gives himthis beautiful vision about how
he is gonna judge wickedness andhow the righteous will be saved
by faith.
Remember what we learned just afew minutes ago.
It says when God speaks aboutthose five woes, he says, but
(18:20):
the righteous person will liveby faith.
And so we see that in this.
We see this distinction betweenGod's judgment of the wicked and
God's love and salvation forthose who have faith in him.
So verse three of chapter threeof Habakkuk says, God came from
(18:41):
Temon, the holy one from MountPeron, his glory covered the
heavens, and his praises filledthe earth.
Again, we hear this idea of hispraises and his glory filling
the earth and the heavens.
His splendor was like thesunrise, rays flashed from his
hand, where his power washidden.
(19:02):
Plague went before him,pestilence followed his steps,
he stood and shook the earth, helooked and made the nations
tremble, the ancient mountainscrumbled and the age-old hills
collapsed, but he marches onforever.
I saw the tents of Cushin anddistress, the dwellings of
Midian and anguish.
(19:22):
Were you angry with the rivers,Lord?
Was your wrath against thestreams?
Did you rage against the sea?
When you rode your horses andyour chariots to victory, you
uncovered your bow, you calledmany arrows, you split the earth
with rivers, the mountains sawyou and writhed, torrents of
water swept by, the deep roaredand lifted its waves on high
(19:45):
sun, and moon stood still in theheavens at the glint of your
flying arrows, at the lightningof your flashing spear, in wrath
you strode through the earth,and in anger you threshed the
nations.
You came out to deliver yourpeople, to save your anointed
one.
You crushed the leader of theland of wickedness.
(20:06):
You stripped him from head tofoot.
With your own spear you piercedhis head.
When his warriors stormed out toscatter us, gloating as though
about to devour the wretched whowere hiding, you trampled the
sea with your horses, churningthe great waves.
This picture of God coming injudgment, and this picture of
(20:29):
him crushing the leader of theland of wickedness and putting
him to shame, stripping him fromhead to foot, piercing his head
with his own spear.
Like this is the justice that welong for, for all the things
that are wrong with the world tobe made right, to actually be
(20:51):
put away with, to be sent outforever.
And yet we find Habakkuk, andthis is what he says.
I heard and my heart pounded, mylips quivered at the sound,
decay crept into my bones, andmy legs trembled.
(21:12):
Yet I will wait patiently forthe day of calamity to come on
the nation invading us, thoughthe fig tree does not bud and
there are no grapes on thevines, though the olive crop
fails and the fields produce nofood, though there are no sheep
in the pen and no cattles in thestall, yet I will rejoice in the
(21:34):
Lord.
I will be joyful in God, mySavior.
The sovereign Lord is mystrength, and he makes my feet
like the feet of a deer, heenables me to tread on the
heights.
Again, you see this picture ofHabakkuk waiting patiently.
(21:54):
Only instead of waiting for Godto change his mind, he says, No.
Lord, you are right in yourjudgment.
And even though all of thesethings I too will experience, I
will go without food, I will nothave my basic necessities met.
(22:15):
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will be joyful in God, mySavior, because God is the one
who saves.
He saves the righteous.
And though he judge with wrath,even, though I tremble in fear,
(22:38):
he says, My heart pounded and mylips quivered at the sound.
Decay crept in my bones and mylegs trembled.
That even though he is tremblingwith the knowledge that this is
gonna be really hard, eventhough he is going to endure
through all of this suffering,he knows that God's purposes,
(23:02):
God's justice, God's salvationwill prevail.
And so he can say, Yet I willrejoice in the Lord.
I will be joyful in God, mySavior.
So Habakkuk is left in thisplace of trembling, this place
of awe, this place of holy fear,knowing that God is going to do
(23:26):
exactly what he asked him to do.
God is going to judge all ofthose injustices.
He is going to put awayeverything that is wicked and
evil.
And so in his trembling, in hisfear even, he can rejoice.
(23:50):
And so I wonder where thatleaves us.
Um, where does that leave me?
Will I be honest with God?
And am I ready to hear hisresponse?
I think one of the things that'smost pressing on this to me is
that God doesn't do things theway Habakkuk would want for him
(24:12):
to do them.
And yet he comes to a place atthe end where he is resolved
that God is right and that hewill have faith in him.
The righteous will live byfaith.
And so he chooses to live byfaith.
He chooses to believe, even inhis difficult circumstances,
(24:35):
that God is more powerful andthat God has good things in
store for him.
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will, I will read, I will findjoy in God, my savior.
He believes, he believes that.
And so I guess for me and foryou, as we consider the things
that we struggle with, the waysthat God answers us that we
(24:55):
don't like even, can we stillbelieve him?
Will we be like Habakkuk?
Will we have faith in him?
Will we live by faith?
And will we even find joy inthose trembling moments where we
are afraid, where but yet we areresolved to believe that God is
(25:16):
doing something greater, thatGod is bigger, that he is
better, that he is good, andthat his plans for us are good.
And this is this picture ofeternity, that in eternity God
will make all things right, thathe will wipe every tear from
every eye, that we will live inhis presence forever, and it
(25:36):
will be glorious.
What a good verse! What abeautiful, difficult, complex
book.
Thank you for listening to me,and uh, hope that it was helpful
for your understanding both ofthis verse and of this book, but
most of all of who our God isand who we are.
Thanks for joining me today.
Ever open your Bible and think, I want to understand
this better.
You love God, you go to church,but by midweek life gets busy
and it's easy to feeldisconnected.
And sometimes the Bible feelsoverwhelming when you don't have
the right tools or context.
That's why I want to tell youabout Kavah.
It comes from the Hebrew wordmeaning to wait on or to hope in
the Lord.
(00:20):
Kavah, Q-A-V-A, is a Christianstreaming platform and it helps
you understand the Bible andlive out your faith with
confidence.
Think of it as digitaldiscipleship in your pocket with
Bible studies, documentaries,and conversations led by trusted
teachers that help scripturecome alive in your everyday
life.
And here's what I love Kava is anonprofit, subscriber-funded
(00:41):
ministry.
So when you subscribe, you'rehelping create biblical content
that equips believers all overthe world.
So don't just stay overwhelmed.
Join thousands of others growingin confidence through God's
word.
Visit qava.tv backslashdwelldifferently.
That's kava.tv backslashdwelldifferently and use the
(01:01):
code dwell50 for 50% off yourfirst six months.
It's only$4.99 a month.
We'll have links in your shownotes that'll make it easy for
you to get there.
The holidays move fast, but themoments that matter the most are
usually the slow ones.
Piper and Leaf is a family-runtea company from the heart of
Alabama, passionate aboutslowing life down and serving
(01:23):
joy one tea bag at a time.
Each blend is handcrafted withlocally sourced ingredients
straight from the farm, forest,garden, and briar patch.
And every sip gives back with10% of profits supporting
fostering and adoption.
This Christmas, they've createdsomething truly special, the 24
Teas of Advent Set.
Beginning December 1st, you cansip through 24 unique blends,
(01:47):
each paired with a story, poem,or song from the Piper family
favorites, plus a fun dailyactivity or recipe to enjoy
together.
It's the perfect way to bringwarmth, wonder, and connection
back to your December.
Visit PiperandLeaf.com and usethe code DWEL10 to save 10% or
find the link in our show notes.
(02:14):
Hey, welcome back to the DwellDifferently podcast.
I'm your host, Natalie Abbott,and today we are talking about a
beautiful verse about findingjoy, even in hard seasons.
It's from Habakkuk 3.18.
It says, Yet I will rejoice inthe Lord.
I will be joyful in God, mySavior.
And at first glance, we're like,yes, I will rejoice in the Lord.
(02:36):
God is my savior.
I'm going to find joy in him.
But there's that one little wordat the beginning, yet, which
implies that there are reasonsfor not rejoicing.
There are things that are goingon that are difficult or hard.
And yet, in spite of thosethings, I will rejoice in the
Lord.
(02:56):
So that's what we're going to betalking about today.
How do we find joy even indifficult situations?
And so we're going to look atthe context of this verse in
Habakkuk and we're going to seewhat we can learn there from the
context about how trulybeautiful this verse is and how
it can really buoy us in timeswhen we are going through
(03:19):
something really difficult.
So that's my hope that as wememorize and meditate on this
verse, that we would understandit in its context so that we
could have an even fullerunderstanding of the beauty that
we can find in it.
So today we're going to betalking about the justice and
the mercy of God.
We're going to be talking aboutwhat it means to like honestly
wrestle with God in our faith.
(03:40):
We're going to be talking aboutthe glory and the power of God.
And we're going to talk aboutthis idea of both trembling and
finding joy, like holding thosetwo things in tandem with one
another, that we can both be ina place of awe and trembling and
yet also rejoice in our Lord.
(04:02):
So that's what we're talkingabout.
And I'm excited to have you herealong with me.
We're going to just kind of walkthrough the book of Habakkuk and
see those thematics of honesty,of justice, of God's glory and
power and even joy.
So, first off, let me just letyou know where Habakkuk is like
when is that happening?
What's going on?
So, roughly around 600 BC iswhen Habakkuk is writing.
(04:26):
There is now an evil king inJudah.
His name is Jehaiakim.
He's the son of Josiah, who is areally good king.
But we know from other prophetsthat this is coming, judgment is
coming.
That wickedness and evil ismarking the day.
There's violence, strife, andwickedness.
And so Habakkuk goes to the Lordand he makes this complaint.
(04:46):
He says, How long, O Lord, mustI call for help, but you don't
listen or cry out to youviolence, but you don't save?
Why do you make me look atinjustice?
And why do you toleratewrongdoing?
He says, There's destruction andviolence before me.
There's strife and conflict.
Therefore, he says the law isparalyzed.
(05:07):
So the law isn't working.
People aren't following it.
It is paralyzed.
It's not doing anything.
And justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,so that justice is perverted.
He is saying, God, everything iswrong with the world.
Everyone is doing terriblethings.
(05:28):
I'm crying out to you for help.
How long am I going to have todo this, Lord?
But you are not listening.
So that is pretty raw and veryhonest that he is basically
complaining to God.
Like, how long are you going tolet this go on?
What are you going to do aboutthis, God?
Like, this is terrible.
(05:48):
Look at what is going on.
Your law is being paralyzed, oryou can't do anything.
I need you to step in and tobring about your justice.
And what I love about this isjust the sheer honesty.
He is being completely himself.
(06:09):
He is telling God exactly how hefeels.
And what a beautiful model forus when we consider things that
feel unjust or situations thatwe find ourselves in where we're
like, God, do you even see?
Do you even hear?
I keep praying about this.
Like, don't you see me?
So what we get next is theLord's answer, which of course,
(06:30):
God always answers.
What a beautiful truth for us tojust wrap our minds around that.
When we give him our even ourhard things, that he hears us
and he answers.
So in verse five, he says, lookat the nations and watch and be
utterly amazed.
And I'm sure Habakkuk is like,Yes, I can't wait.
Here it comes.
(06:51):
But then God says, For I amgoing to do something in your
days that you would not believe,even if you were told, I am
raising up the Babylonians, thatruthless, impetuous people who
sweep across the whole earth toseize dwellings, not their own.
So while there's evil happeningin Judah, there is way more evil
(07:14):
happening in the rest of theworld.
Babylon is this unrighteous,merciless, invading power.
They are dreaded and fearsome.
They are fierce and devouring.
They're violent and arrogant.
And God says, This is who I'mgoing to raise up.
This is my instrument ofjustice.
(07:34):
To which Habakkuk says, Whoa,whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Okay.
So again, Habakkuk is going tobe totally honest.
He says, God, your eyes are toopure to look on evil.
You can't tolerate wrongdoing.
Then why are you toleratingthem?
Why are you silent while thewicked swallow up those more
righteous than themselves?
And that's the key here isHabakkuk is saying, Well, I
(07:56):
mean, we're bad and everything,but Babylon is way worse.
So why would you use what isunjust to judge this other
injustice?
So he says in chapter two, Iwill stand my watch and station
myself on the rampart.
So he's like, I'm going to standon the wall of the city and I'm
(08:17):
going to look out and I'm goingto see what you're going to say.
He says, I will look out to seewhat he will say to me and what
answer I am to get for thiscomplaint.
So he's like, All right, here wego.
This is it.
God is going to answer me.
And I love this again that he'slike, actually, God, I'm not
satisfied with your answer.
(08:37):
So I don't know if God is evergiving you an answer that you
are not satisfied with, but Ilove that he says it because God
knows that you feel it.
So why not say it?
He is like, uh-uh, God, this isnot okay.
I am not okay with this answer.
In fact, I'm so not okay with itthat I'm gonna wait here and I'm
gonna watch, I'm gonna stand onthe towers, and I'm gonna see
(08:58):
what you are gonna do.
So God again gives this answerback to Habakkuk.
He says, Write down therevelation, make it plain on the
tablet so that a herald may runwith it.
For the revelation awaits anappointed time, it speaks of the
end and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it.
It certainly will come and willnot delay.
(09:20):
So God's like, Yes, yes, youwait there and you you see.
In fact, write it down and telleverybody about what I am gonna
do.
He says, See the enemy is puffedup, his desires are not upright,
but the righteous person willlive by his faithfulness or his
faith.
And so what God is doing rightnow is saying there are two
(09:43):
categories here, Habakkuk.
There are the righteous who liveby faith, and then there are my
enemies.
There are only two categories inIsrael and in the world of
people.
Are you righteous?
Are you living by faith, or areyou my enemy?
And he says these five woes forhis enemy.
(10:04):
He talks about how these enemiesthat are not specified here,
usually God's God's woes arespecified, but he just says that
they're the enemies of God.
So I'm I'm thinking he'sincluding the people of God who
are quote unquote the people ofGod, who think that they are the
people of God, who are actuallyjust doing all kinds of wicked
things.
So the first thing he says isthat they will experience loss,
(10:27):
that even though they're heapingup what isn't their own, that
the plunderer will be plundered.
So you see in each of thesewoes, sort of this, you think
that this plundering that you'regonna do is gonna heap up all
this stuff for you, but actuallyyou're gonna be plundered.
So God is using the very thing,the wickedness that they are
doing, and he's bringing it backagainst them.
(10:49):
Um, number two, he says,insecurity, you're gonna have
insecurity.
So even though you're buildingup your house with evil gain,
that the stones themselves willcry out against you.
So what should have been whatmade you secure are gonna be the
very things that come againstyou.
And again, this imagery is likethat the people that the
(11:10):
Babylonians are are taking over,or the people that are being
oppressed by the people inIsrael who are doing these
wicked things, they are the oneswho are gonna come back and cry
out against him, that the thattheir security is actually
insecure.
The houses that should make themfeel secure are gonna come back
against them.
Um, and then the third one isemptiness.
(11:32):
He says, Woe to him who builds atown with blood.
They will never have enough.
You're never gonna be full.
In fact, he says the opposite isgonna be true.
The whole earth is gonna befilled with the knowledge of the
glory of the Lord as the waterscover the sea.
So there's this beautifulimagery of you, what you are
(11:53):
doing is unfulfilling, and yetthe glory of the Lord is gonna
fill the earth.
And then the fourth woe is woeto him who pours out wrath to
make others drunk and exposetheir nakedness.
So it's this idea of shame thatthe that the Babylonians and the
wicked people are exposing theshame of their neighbors.
(12:15):
Um, but he says, you will drinkfrom God's cup of wrath and you
will be exposed asuncircumcised.
So, in other words, you thinkthat mocking and shaming others,
that there is something for youin it when the reality is that
you yourself are gonna findshame because you are
(12:36):
uncircumcised.
You are gonna be exposed assomebody who is not in favor
with God, which would be a hugeproblem for the people of Israel
because they really relied oncircumcision as a sign that they
were God's people, that theywere righteous.
And God is saying, No, not evenyou, you're gonna be exposed as
unrighteous, as actually notpleasing to me.
(12:57):
And then finally, this fifth woeis this woe of speechlessness.
It says, Woe to the one whotrust in idols.
They are speechless, they can donothing.
In contrast, all of the earth issilent before the magnificent
God of the universe.
It says, For the earth will befilled with the knowledge of the
glory of the Lord as the waterscover the sea.
(13:20):
So you again you see thisbeautiful picture of God Himself
being um glorious and that theearth itself is silent.
So, whereas these idols thatyou're praying to, those are are
silent.
They can't speak, they can't doanything.
But God, when God revealshimself, when God shows up, then
(13:43):
everybody is silent.
Like we, there's we'respeechless because of who he is
and his glory.
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(14:03):
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(14:25):
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(14:45):
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(15:27):
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(15:48):
Habakkuk has this final responsein chapter three, and that's
where we find our verse.
And it is both terrifying andglorious.
It is fearsome and encouragingat the same time.
It is this very complex group ofverses.
And so I'm gonna read what hesays, and it's actually a song.
(16:11):
There are like song denotationsat the beginning of chapter
three and at the end.
So it's meant to be sung.
And I think that that's awonderful thing.
And as we as I read it to you, Iwant you to just consider like
what would it feel like to singthis song with other people?
Like, at what point wouldsomething like this be an
encouragement in a in a need?
(16:32):
And I think just thinking aboutthe people in the world who are
under persecution, who are beingmartyred for their faith,
something like this is just anencouragement that God is
powerful, that God is glorious,that God is going to come in his
just judgment, that there is aday that is marked out where God
(16:55):
will judge.
And that is the kind ofrevelation that we have here,
this the theophany of God wherehe is just whoa.
And so, in instead ofsummarizing it for you, I want
to read it for you.
Um, but before we get thetheophany, we get this statement
from Habakkuk.
He says, Oh Lord, I have heardthe report of you and your work,
(17:19):
O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years,revive it.
In the midst of the years, makeit known in wrath, remember
mercy.
And so Habakkuk has been wonover by the Lord that indeed
there are there is injustice,and that God, would you in your
(17:41):
work that I am even fearful of,that I just I know it's gonna be
a hard thing.
Would you, in your wrath againstinjustice and wickedness, would
you also remember mercy?
So that is this beautifulbeginning of this prayer.
And so here's what God does (17:59):
He actually shows him what his work
is gonna look like, he gives himthis beautiful vision about how
he is gonna judge wickedness andhow the righteous will be saved
by faith.
Remember what we learned just afew minutes ago.
It says when God speaks aboutthose five woes, he says, but
(18:20):
the righteous person will liveby faith.
And so we see that in this.
We see this distinction betweenGod's judgment of the wicked and
God's love and salvation forthose who have faith in him.
So verse three of chapter threeof Habakkuk says, God came from
(18:41):
Temon, the holy one from MountPeron, his glory covered the
heavens, and his praises filledthe earth.
Again, we hear this idea of hispraises and his glory filling
the earth and the heavens.
His splendor was like thesunrise, rays flashed from his
hand, where his power washidden.
(19:02):
Plague went before him,pestilence followed his steps,
he stood and shook the earth, helooked and made the nations
tremble, the ancient mountainscrumbled and the age-old hills
collapsed, but he marches onforever.
I saw the tents of Cushin anddistress, the dwellings of
Midian and anguish.
(19:22):
Were you angry with the rivers,Lord?
Was your wrath against thestreams?
Did you rage against the sea?
When you rode your horses andyour chariots to victory, you
uncovered your bow, you calledmany arrows, you split the earth
with rivers, the mountains sawyou and writhed, torrents of
water swept by, the deep roaredand lifted its waves on high
(19:45):
sun, and moon stood still in theheavens at the glint of your
flying arrows, at the lightningof your flashing spear, in wrath
you strode through the earth,and in anger you threshed the
nations.
You came out to deliver yourpeople, to save your anointed
one.
You crushed the leader of theland of wickedness.
(20:06):
You stripped him from head tofoot.
With your own spear you piercedhis head.
When his warriors stormed out toscatter us, gloating as though
about to devour the wretched whowere hiding, you trampled the
sea with your horses, churningthe great waves.
This picture of God coming injudgment, and this picture of
(20:29):
him crushing the leader of theland of wickedness and putting
him to shame, stripping him fromhead to foot, piercing his head
with his own spear.
Like this is the justice that welong for, for all the things
that are wrong with the world tobe made right, to actually be
(20:51):
put away with, to be sent outforever.
And yet we find Habakkuk, andthis is what he says.
I heard and my heart pounded, mylips quivered at the sound,
decay crept into my bones, andmy legs trembled.
(21:12):
Yet I will wait patiently forthe day of calamity to come on
the nation invading us, thoughthe fig tree does not bud and
there are no grapes on thevines, though the olive crop
fails and the fields produce nofood, though there are no sheep
in the pen and no cattles in thestall, yet I will rejoice in the
(21:34):
Lord.
I will be joyful in God, mySavior.
The sovereign Lord is mystrength, and he makes my feet
like the feet of a deer, heenables me to tread on the
heights.
Again, you see this picture ofHabakkuk waiting patiently.
(21:54):
Only instead of waiting for Godto change his mind, he says, No.
Lord, you are right in yourjudgment.
And even though all of thesethings I too will experience, I
will go without food, I will nothave my basic necessities met.
(22:15):
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will be joyful in God, mySavior, because God is the one
who saves.
He saves the righteous.
And though he judge with wrath,even, though I tremble in fear,
(22:38):
he says, My heart pounded and mylips quivered at the sound.
Decay crept in my bones and mylegs trembled.
That even though he is tremblingwith the knowledge that this is
gonna be really hard, eventhough he is going to endure
through all of this suffering,he knows that God's purposes,
(23:02):
God's justice, God's salvationwill prevail.
And so he can say, Yet I willrejoice in the Lord.
I will be joyful in God, mySavior.
So Habakkuk is left in thisplace of trembling, this place
of awe, this place of holy fear,knowing that God is going to do
(23:26):
exactly what he asked him to do.
God is going to judge all ofthose injustices.
He is going to put awayeverything that is wicked and
evil.
And so in his trembling, in hisfear even, he can rejoice.
(23:50):
And so I wonder where thatleaves us.
Um, where does that leave me?
Will I be honest with God?
And am I ready to hear hisresponse?
I think one of the things that'smost pressing on this to me is
that God doesn't do things theway Habakkuk would want for him
(24:12):
to do them.
And yet he comes to a place atthe end where he is resolved
that God is right and that hewill have faith in him.
The righteous will live byfaith.
And so he chooses to live byfaith.
He chooses to believe, even inhis difficult circumstances,
(24:35):
that God is more powerful andthat God has good things in
store for him.
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will, I will read, I will findjoy in God, my savior.
He believes, he believes that.
And so I guess for me and foryou, as we consider the things
that we struggle with, the waysthat God answers us that we
(24:55):
don't like even, can we stillbelieve him?
Will we be like Habakkuk?
Will we have faith in him?
Will we live by faith?
And will we even find joy inthose trembling moments where we
are afraid, where but yet we areresolved to believe that God is
(25:16):
doing something greater, thatGod is bigger, that he is
better, that he is good, andthat his plans for us are good.
And this is this picture ofeternity, that in eternity God
will make all things right, thathe will wipe every tear from
every eye, that we will live inhis presence forever, and it
(25:36):
will be glorious.
What a good verse! What abeautiful, difficult, complex
book.
Thank you for listening to me,and uh, hope that it was helpful
for your understanding both ofthis verse and of this book, but
most of all of who our God isand who we are.
Thanks for joining me today.
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