Hearing God about Injustice (Principles from Habakkuk in the Bible)

Have you ever accused God of not doing something about violence or not caring about injustice? Join Gary & Jane in this latest episode of Hearing God as they share Habakkuk's dialogue with God about injustice. They unpack principles of how to complain to God, go from worry to peace, and hear God clearly. They also share how to embrace waiting.

Episode Description:

Episode Notes:

Background to Habakkuk:

· Habakkuk lived in Judah around 600 BC, around the time of Jeremiah.

· Judah was full of corruption and injustice. A place of moral decline.

· Habakkuk's name means 'embrace'. This book is a great example of how to 'embrace' waiting.

· It is a dialogue between Habakkuk and God.

· It is also a great example of how to complain to God.

A brief summary of the whole book – 3 chapters.

· Habakkuk's lament Ch1:2-4. Habakkuk was one of God's prophets, but in chapter 1, he brought a complaint to God. He said, "When I look around, I see a lot of sin, and I feel like you need to do something about it. But you're not, and it just seems like you don't care." Have you ever asked, "How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you don't appear to be listening?" "Why do you allow injustice? Sickness?

· God answers. Ch1:5-11. God's response is basically "Don't worry – I do care and I am going to take care of it." Before long, the Babylonians will come in and take over Judah and destroy them because of their sin. God basically says – be patient and wait.

· Habakkuk responds to this message of judgement from God with a renewed lament. CH1:12-2:1. God's response only confused and upset Habakkuk even more. He said to God, "I don't get that. I mean, I know that Judah is bad, but you're going to use the Babylonians? They're the meanest, most violent, most corrupt people on the face of this earth. You're going to use people like that to destroy us? That doesn't seem right. It doesn't seem fair."

· God promises it will work out okay. Don't give up. A great place to wait is in solitude 2:20 – The Lord is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.

· Habakkuk responds with a prayer. My faith in God is not reliant on what God does or doesn't do, what He provides or not, but that my joy relies on who God is – He is my salvation and my strength. It is a condition of my heart. I will trust God no matter what. He knows that God will give him the strength to stand and remain faithful despite …

First Principle: if you're going to complain to God, here's how to do it.

· In Chapter 2, verse 1, Habakkuk teaches us how to complain. He told God, "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me and what answer I am to give to this complaint."

· Even in a crisis of understanding, Habakkuk told God he would remain faithful and stand his post.

· We can have doubts and still choose to be faithful.

· God says – write down what I say. Journal. Take the time to write it clearly so you understand what I'm saying.

· Are we able to say, like Habakkuk, "Even though I don't like it, and even though I don't understand it, and even though I know God could do something about it if he wanted to, but he doesn't, even then, my trust is in the Lord my God."

· Have you thought, "That doesn't seem very fair". Or maybe, like Habakkuk, there's been a time in your life when you prayed and prayed for God to do something, to help you out with a problem, but years went by without an answer and you just gave up, thinking, "God doesn't seem to care about anything that I'm going through."

· And when we're surrounded by injustice and immorality and violence, we pray for God to do something about it. We want to see some changes. We pray for God to do something to make things right.

Second Principle: how to go from worry to peace.

The book of Habakkuk has 'bookends'. It begins with Habakkuk saying, "God, I don't understand." Habakkuk was angry and worried. It ends with Habakkuk at peace. He had been transformed on the inside with peace.

How:

· Remember what God has done. Remember His character, His faithfulness, His provision, His healing, His goodness. Ch 3:1-2 "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." I remember when… Do it again.

· Accept what God is doing and His timing. Ch3:16 – "Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come upon the nation invading us."

· Trust what God is going to do. Ch 3:17-18 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour."

Third Principle: unpacking the famous hearing God section: Habakkuk 2:1-2

"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts. I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint." Then the Lord replied, "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time."

Principles:

1. Position yourself.

2. Hearing God is not a passive action but an active one to intentionally seek Him.

3. Wait on God. Wait with God.

4. Journal. Record.

5. Rejoice in God even when life is not good – the barns are empty etc. Not about what God can do for you but heart relationships.

Questions:

1. When was the last time you heard God?

2. What do you think helps or hinders you in doing so?

3. Where is a special place you can physically go to and hear from God?

4. What is a Bible verse or book that you can meditate upon and soak in?

5. What do you do while you wait – or how do you wait? Do you become impatient? How do you embrace the wait? Do you worship while you wait? Do you lean into God?

Summary:

· First Principle: if you're going to complain to God, here's how to do it.

· Second Principle: how to go from worry to peace.

· Third Principle: unpacking the famous hearing God section: Habakkuk 2:1-2

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

· "Father God, what do I need to know about a particular time when I've felt you've been silent about an injustice in my life?"

· God, is there anything else I need to know about that?"

Time Stamps:

[0:59] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[3:44] – Background to Habakkuk

[5:01] – A brief summary of the book of Habakkuk