Habakkuk, Then and Now

Here's the next installment on my studies/discussion series on the Minor Prophets. I hope they are fruitful and a blessing to you!

-A prophet to Judah; based on the language used in the Psalm of ch. 3 he might have been a Temple singer.

-Habakkuk comes from a Hebrew root that means ‘embrace.’ “In his prophecy, Habakkuk was true to his name in that he embraced a strong faith in Yahweh” (Youssouf Dembele, Africa Bible Commentary, pg. 1063).

“Habakkuk can now see that the power in Israel’s past history is available to the righteous who shall live by faith. This book reveals a genuine sharing of a doubt that assails all believers, a feeling that God stands aside from the moral struggle of the believer. This doubt is removed not by the addition of new facts, but simply by the addition of a new perspective; not new revelation, but new insight into old revelation”

(W.J. Dumbrell, The Faith of Israel, p. 220).

1.     Then and now the question is asked, will the wicked always prevail?

a.      Habakkuk 1:1-4 and Revelation 6:9-11

                                               i.     Are we calling for help and crying out? (1:2) Or are we passively standing by?

                                              ii.     Are we trusting in the “Sovereign Lord, holy and true” as we wait? (Rev. 6:10)

2.     Then and now God answers, the wicked will be judged.

a.      Habakkuk 2:6-20, Psalm 75:8 and Mark 14:32-36

                                               i.     What is the repeated written clue as to who will be judged?

                                              ii.     How is Jesus’ life and death a fulfillment of God’s judgment?

                                            iii.     Rest in Psalm 11 – “the Lord is on his heavenly throne.”

3.     Then and now, we can worship in faith and prayer.

a.      Habakkuk 3:1-2, 16-19 and Philippians 4:4-7

                                               i.     What characteristics do we see in his prayer to God?

                                              ii.     With Habakkuk’s example, how can we appropriate Philippians 4:4-7 today in our own lives?

4.     Then and now God, in His glorious gospel, reveals that “the righteous will live by faith.”

a.      Habakkuk 2:1-4 and Romans 1:1-7, 14-17

                                               i.     In the Habakkuk passage, with what is living by faith contrasted?

                                              ii.     How does Paul apply Habakkuk 2:4 here in Romans?

How will you meet with the Lord with your questions?

How will you “live by faith” and in faithfulness?

I waited patiently for the Lord, He inclined and heard my cry.

He lifted me up out of the pit, out of the miry clay.

I will sing, sing a new song, I will sing, sing a new song.

How long to sing this song? How long to sing this song?

How long? How long? How long? How long to sing this song?

He set my feet upon a rock

Made my footsteps firm

Many will see

Many will see and hear.

~Lyrics from U2’s song “40,” adapted from Psalm 40

Parallels between Jonah and Jesus

Here is the latest Bible study and discussion that I led at work this morning. We looked at the parallels between Jonah and Jesus. As you can see, you'll have to do some digging in the scriptures to be able to fill in the blanks :) Enjoy!

Jesus and Jonah

“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6).

“The fundamental purpose of the book was to teach its first readers concerning the compassionate nature of their God, and only secondarily did it serve as a sign concerning Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection”

(A.M. Harman, Theology of Jonah in NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pg. 801).

·       He started in Joppa, on the coast of Israel, and headed towards Tarshish near Italy but he was called to go to Nineveh in modern day Mosul, Iraq. Jonah truly “went in the opposite direction” (1:3).

o   To better understand why Jonah did not want to preach repentance to Nineveh (capital of Assyria) read 2 Kings 17:1-23, c.f. 2 Kings 14:25.

·       Jonah the “type,” Jesus the “antitype:”

o   Who was the audience to which the book of Jonah was directed? Who was the main audience of Jesus’ preaching? ______________ (Matthew 15:21-28)

o   Both slept comfortably in ____________ (Mark 4:35-41 and Jonah 1:5)

o   Both were willing to be a substitutionary ______________ for others (Jesus was sinless though, Jonah was not; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Galatians 3:13 and Jonah 1:12)

o   Their ____________ stopped God’s ______________ (Romans 5:6-11 and Jonah 1:15-16).

o   Jesus, like Jonah, will appear _________ after three days (Matthew 12:40 and Jonah 1:17, 2:3-6)

o   Powerful ________________ led to repentance and forgiveness (Luke 11:29-32 and Jonah 3:4-10)

o   God has the Divine prerogative to extend _____________ and forgiveness to whomever he chooses (Matthew 20:1-16 and Jonah 4:4).

o   Jesus came “to _______ and to _________ the lost” while Jonah wanted the __________ to never be found (Luke 19:1-10 and Jonah 4:11; c.f. Luke 9:51-56, James and John’s actions).

·       What judgment seat are we sitting on? (Matthew 7:1-5 and Romans 14:9-13)

o   Honestly ask yourself, who would you like to see God smite?

o   Then ask yourself, is our attitude like Jonah? Or like Jesus?

o   “Regardless of the reason for your hatred, the response should be the same: seeing others as God sees them and loving others as God loves them” (Daily Walk Bible, pg. 1184).

  

“He (God) prefers repentance to judgment, just as he did in Nineveh, and just as Jonah himself grudgingly acknowledges (Jonah 4:2). He has loved the world, not just one nation or people (John 3:16), and our view of his love must never forget that”

(D. Stuart, Word Biblical Themes: Hosea – Jonah, pg.98).

“At odds with God, Jonah typifies those who see the divine attributes of justice and mercy as functioning for their own convenience; mercy for themselves, but justice for their enemies. Fortunately, however, these attributes are not directed by human motives or desires. As the book of Jonah makes plainly obvious, God is sovereign, his justice is totally impartial, and his mercy may extend to anyone” (Desmond Alexander, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, pg. 90).

Early morning advice

I was having a conversation with a couple of my coworkers and they were telling me how they don't like to talk early in the morning, especially if they haven't had their cup(s) of coffee. Being a morning person who doesn't need coffee, or like coffee, I don't get this.

As the quasi-chaplain at my work place we have joked about how I could, could, come up with my own sayings and name them "Sethalonians" as in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians from the New Testament. Of course we are joking, and no I don't think ANY of my words are anywhere near as important as the Bible. 

With that said...

1 Sethalonians 27:14 says “until 10am, or they’ve had two cups of coffee, don’t walk into the front office early in the morning and heartily greet your coworker, it will annoy them.”

Being still new to the job I realized after emailing this out to my coworkers that when I wrote "front office" I really meant "back office" as the "front office" folks are more morning folk then the back office. Thus, I sent this follow up email saying/joking...

Recent archaeological findings have found a variant translation of 1 Sethalonians 27:14. This new copy has a textual variant that reads “back office” rather than “front office.” The committee on translation has recently decided to change “front” office to “back” office because the Scribe was disoriented while copying the original text to his scroll.  Therefore the preferred translation should now read:

1 Sethalonians 27:14 says “until 10am, or they’ve had two cups of coffee, don’t walk into the front office early in the morning and heartily greet your coworker, it will annoy them.” 

Can anyone tell me the original Bible passage that inspired this attempt to be funny?

Whether you think it is funny or not, trust me, it is TRUE!

**Photo originally found here.

Sibling Rivalry, a Thousand Years Old

“Jacob … means ‘May he be at the heels’ – i.e. ‘May God be your rearguard’ (cf. on 17:19). But it also lends itself to a hostile sense, of dogging another’s steps, or overreaching, as Esau bitterly observed in 27:36. Through his own action Jacob devalued his name into a synonym for treachery”

(D. Kidner, Genesis, pg. 162).

“Now the Lord is bringing charges against Judah. He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways, and pay him back for all he has done. Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God” (Hosea 12:2-3, NLT).

1.    The Feud begins - Genesis 25:21-26, Romans 9:10-16

a.     What five things does the Genesis text say about the beginning of this feud?

b.    What does this text mean, especially for the future of these nations?

c.     In Romans 9, how does Paul interpret the birth narrative?

                                              i.     Application - What does this text mean for us, today, then?

2.    The Feud reconciled – Genesis 33:1-11

a.     How does the text describe Jacob’s actions towards reconciliation?

b.    How are Esau’s actions of forgiveness used as a model in the Gospel of Luke?

c.     Jacob draws a parallel to his encounter with God in 32:22ff with his encounter of Esau in 33:10.

                                              i.     Application - What does this text teach us about forgiveness and reconciliation? How does this reinforce what the NT teaches?

“What a tragedy that the strife between Esau and Jacob, a contention settled in their own lifetimes (Gen. 32-33), should reappear in the form of bitter jealousy and hatred between their respective nations. Esau’s offspring maintained their enmity toward Israel for more than a thousand years” (Daily Walk Bible, pg. 1178).

3.    The Feud judged – Obadiah 10-21

a.     How are the Edomites’ actions in vss. 12-14 totally the opposite of their ancestor, Esau?

b.    What was God’s judgment on them? Did it come true? (To find out, look at a map of the Middle East today.)

c.     Application – what does this text mean for God’s chosen, covenantal people today? Especially our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world?

“While neither Edom nor Babylon are with us any longer, enemies of God’s people are still too evident and sometimes apparently all powerful. The same God whom the prophets proclaimed as not only willing but able to stand on the side of his people and deliver them, is to be declared today” 

(D. Baker, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, pg. 26).

“And the Lord himself will be king!” (Obadiah 21).