August 17, 2025 Why Do You Tolerate the Treacherous? | Habakkuk 1:12-2:20

Today, we will reflect on Habakkuk 1:12-2:20, Why Do You Tolerate the Treacherous? Israel had become too attracted to the kingdoms of the world and now faces the punishment of being overcome by the most powerful kingdom on earth at the time, Babylon. Jesus invites his listeners to become citizens of God’s kingdom, a way of forgiveness and prayer, a way of jubilation and celebration, which can be practiced right where we live. Jesus uses Jerusalem as his example. In the center of Jerusalem is the temple, “The Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth be silent before him”, is how God ends his message to Habakkuk.

Transcript

Habakkuk 1:12-2:20               Why Do You Tolerate the Treacherous?

Last week we looked at Habakkuk's question to God about why God allows so much injustice and evil to happen among his own people. Habakkuk is horrified that his holy God would use the vicious and brutal Babylonians to punish his own people. How can that be? "Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.  Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?" But Habakkuk also trusts God’s covenantal faithfulness to his people and waits "to look to see what he, God, will say to me, Habakkuk, and what answer I am to give to this complaint." 

God tells Habakkuk to write his answer down on a tablet so that it won’t get destroyed or forgotten. The message is one of hope: God’s going to restore his people, but not right away. Israel needs to learn again that God is God and they’re his people, meant to be a blessing to the nations so the nations can learn who God is through them. Sometimes a father needs to allow his children to suffer the consequences of their choices, even though it may be really painful. This doesn't mean that God doesn't love us, God’s with us always and suffers the pain alongside us since his Spirit lives within us experiencing our pain and suffering with us. Our God knows our pain because he walks with us through it all, this is why we can turn to him no matter what is going on in our lives, because he understands our hurt, but a loving father also knows that sometimes this is the only way we learn to trust in him. 

It's hard knowing that God's going to allow Judah to be under the power of a pagan government that is deliberately anti-God. I can only image Habakkuk’s questions for God if he knew that once the Babylonians conquer Israel, that Israel will not truly be free, except for a brief time under the Maccabees, until 1948 and the re-establishment of Israel by the United Nations. Habakkuk’s looking for a God win, a Jewish win. He recognizes that what’s happening here is a battle between the gods, between Yahweh, Judah’s God and the gods of the Babylonians. God reassures Habakkuk that Yahweh, Israel’s God is in control and that he wins even if it doesn’t look like it right now, we say God is omnipotent, all-powerful. Habakkuk doesn’t know of Jesus and his defeat of death, his resurrection, and future return to claim all the universe and every knee will bow to him.

God tells Habakkuk that he’ll hold Babylon accountable, those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Those whom Babylon oppressed will rise up and overthrow their cruel yoke. Yet God calls his people to live by a different standard, "the righteous will live by their faithfulness." As followers of Jesus, we often find ourselves trusting too much in our governments over God's kingdom.

God's kingdom’s not like the kingdoms we create here on earth. God's kingdom is something we live out in relationship with God. God gives them a way of living at Mount Sinai that focused on Israel’s relationship with God and each other in healthy life-giving ways. Jesus reveals to us the kingdom of heaven in the Sermon on the Mount and describes it through numerous parables. Jesus challenges Israel and us to live God's kingdom, beginning with "repent and believe," to be kingdom people, living out "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth and it is in heaven.” 

Israel in Habakkuk's time has forgotten or ignored the call to live in God's will. They no longer protected the widows, orphans, or poor, they were too focused on building their own lives. Life was all about themselves and what they can get out of it, which is why they are so drawn to the gods of the nations around them. These gods could be manipulated through offerings to justify taking or doing what they want. We create our own gods, because it gives us control on how we live, we create our own values. In our culture, we are the center of our universe and we give ourselves permission to not see the hurt and brokenness and reach out, or place the blame for their circumstances on themselves. For many people, there’s little concern about injustice until it impacts them personally. God reassures Habakkuk that he will hold the nations accountable for their actions and values. The kingdom of heaven is the only eternal kingdom and the time is coming that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Jesus comes to defeat evil and restore the very good of creation, we call this Christus Victorious; Jesus wins!

Jesus invites us into God's kingdom, to trust that God’s laws and ways are given to us to help us flourish as his people, and to be an example to the world of how God has created us to live with God and each other. God puts our earthly governments in place, but we live out God's kingdom in each and every community he’s places his church. Believers are called to be involved in politics as a Christian influence, but we don't put our faith in politics. We work for the principles of justice, for protection for the vulnerable, poor, and foreigners among us with compassion and grace. 

The center of government is not Edmonton or Ottawa, it's God. Wherever a follower of Jesus is present, God's kingdom is there. Jesus calls us to give up our agendas and to trust his way of being God's kingdom people. We don't live how Jesus challenges us to live in order to get into the kingdom of God, but because we love Jesus and are already part of God's kingdom. 

N.T Wright has reflected deeply on Jesus' description of the kingdom of God. Jesus calls us to be light and salt in the world, bringing hope and flavour into the world, giving people a taste of what following Jesus is all about. It's about letting the light of the world, Jesus, to shine through us into the world, pointing to forgiveness from sin through Jesus. It’s about turning the other cheek, going the extra mile in serving each other, loving your enemies, offering forgiveness instead of vengeance. The kingdom of God is a place of shalom with all that means in terms of healthy relationships and being a healthy community spiritually, emotionally, and physically for all people. 

We’re easily seduced by the kingdoms of our world. When we choose the world’s way; we lose our way. God allows Babylon to conquer Israel and take them into exile for 70 years in order to draw his people back to himself. In the center of Jerusalem is the temple, "The Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth be silent before him." The temple, not the palace, is the center of the life of God's people. This is the constant call to God's people, to keep our focus on God, to place God's will above our own, to be God's presence in our province and country which often sees no value in God or God's kingdom values. Jesus invites his listeners to become citizens of God's kingdom; a way of prayer and worship filled with jubilation and celebration which can be practiced right here and now.

Earthly governments often create times when we're challenged to choose and live out God's kingdom values over the government’s values. In the kingdom of heaven, God's people speak up against injustice and work towards creating a safe place where everyone’s able to flourish. This looks like reaching out to support women who can't see any other option than abortion, opening up our homes and lives to support them so they can have and raise their child. When people feel death is the only option left to deal with their pain and suffering, coming alongside them with love, compassion, fellowship, and grace to help them see the value of life, even life filled with physical pain and suffering, helping them move towards death in trust so they’re able to impact those who know and see us. We live out God's values by loving, supporting and enabling people to choose God’s healthier values given to shape us in his image. When they choose otherwise, we offer grace and mercy and understanding and help them see that God loves them and wants them to still draw close to him.

As a church, we keep our eyes and hearts on God, listening closely to Jesus' challenge and vision for living out God's kingdom values right here, beginning in our homes. We’re sinners in need to God's forgiveness and grace which we receive through Jesus and his willing sacrifice on the cross in our place. We share in both his death and resurrection by dying to our old lives and living new kingdom focused lives. 

No matter your age or physical circumstances, you can be a powerful part of our church’s ministry by praying for Bethel and her leaders, showing your support of their service as we grow deeper in our love for God and our community, and grow the kingdom of heaven.