We're going to turn today to the book
of Nahum in the Old Testament.
I think it's true that lots of Christians
never read some of these what are called
minor prophets because they find it heavy to
read and yet we believe that all scripture
is inspired by God.
I'm not saying that every part of scripture
is of equal value.
Certainly the New Testament is far more important
for us than the Old Testament.
But if we believe that all scripture is
inspired by God, there must be something even
in these Old Testament books that we need
to hear.
One of the things that we can be
tired of is repetition.
But the messages of a lot of these
prophets repeat something for emphasis.
And until we hear something frequently, it doesn't
sink in.
And the second thing we learn from repetition
and emphasis is the importance that God gives
to one particular subject or theme compared to
other subjects.
God may speak about ten different subjects and
He may speak two or three of those
again and again and again and again.
Now that's not man's way.
Man usually speaks on different subjects and then
he wants to go on to other subjects
to get a reputation for not being monotonous
and for variety.
But the prophets in the Old Testament and
even the prophets today are not bothered by
all that.
They say what God wants people to say
and God knows exactly what people need to
hear.
And if they need to hear it a
twentieth time, the prophet will say it a
twentieth time.
So we see that emphasis repeated.
Certain things repeated again and again in the
prophets and sometimes the same prophet repeats the
same thing again.
Now Nahum was a man who lived a
hundred years after Jonah.
And he was speaking at a time when
Assyria was still the most powerful nation on
earth.
And for these prophets to speak against the
most powerful nation on earth and say God
is going to judge them was as ridiculous
as someone telling a powerful nation today that
God is going to destroy them and reduce
their whole country to rubble.
Nobody would believe them.
Very few believe these prophets.
But today as we look back in history
we find that it was exactly like those
prophets said.
Every word was fulfilled whether it was concerning
Assyria or Egypt before that or Babylon or
Tyre.
Some nations God said there'll be no remembrance
of you anymore.
Tyre, city of Tyre is just reduced to
rubble.
Assyria has been reduced like that.
But God never said that about Egypt.
Egypt was a nation even before Assyria.
Long before the time when Moses was there.
But God never said about Egypt that it'd
be reduced to nothing.
And that's why Egypt exists today.
But the nation of Assyria has just disappeared.
The nation of Babylon has just disappeared.
So when God says about a nation that
this is going to be the end of
you there'll be no mention of you anymore.
That's what happens.
And when God just says well you're going
to be defeated but doesn't say you're going
to be completely wiped out.
It happens like that.
So these things written in the Old Testament
give us great confidence as we look at
the promises in the New Testament.
What God has said about the future.
About the fact that all people who live
in sin will one day be punished.
Take a simple word like this.
Jesus said that every idle word that we
ever speak we will give an account in
the day of judgment.
Now it's my conviction that 99% of
believers don't believe that.
At least the ones I've met.
If they did they would be very careful
about their words.
But because judgment doesn't come immediately.
We say ah nothing has happened.
That is exactly what Assyria said here.
Oh Nahum is saying this but nothing is
happening.
But it did happen.
So that warns us that even though Jesus
said something and the judgment hasn't come.
It doesn't mean it won't happen.
It will.
It may take time but it will happen.
Now the other thing we see here is
that when God sent Jonah to Nineveh.
We could ask why did God send Jonah
to Nineveh?
Because he knew this nation is going to
just flourish and become evil.
And be destroyed after a hundred years.
But God dealt with that nation as it
was then.
At that particular time they were willing to
repent.
And God could see that many many people
in the city of Nineveh had a heart
for repentance.
And that's why God sent Jonah there.
And that's a word to us.
That God does not send us to a
place unless he's got a purpose for that.
Now if you go on your own.
You say oh there's a need over there
I'll go.
Well then you better take care of yourself.
But if you waited on the Lord and
God led you even if it was to
a difficult place like Nineveh.
You can be absolutely sure that there is
some purpose with which God sent you there.
And certainly Jonah was sent with a purpose.
And there were many people there who repented
and turned from their sin in that generation.
And Nahum was not sent like that to
go to Nineveh.
Because God knew that now these fellows are
not going to repent.
So he doesn't waste his time sending his
prophet there.
What I want to say to you from
this example of Jonah and Nahum.
Is that if you listen to God you
will not waste your life.
You will not go where you're wasting your
time.
And you will go where something useful can
be accomplished for God.
That's why these prophets lived before God's face.
And waited for God to tell them to
do something.
They didn't just rush around like a lot
of Christian workers today doing this that and
the other.
They took time to wait on God.
Okay the message of Nahum is a message
of God's anger and wrath.
And if you look at chapter 1 and
verse 2 and verse 6.
Just these two verses.
You see seven words.
I mean maybe different in different translations.
God is a jealous God.
Jealous, avenging, wrathful, vengeance and
indignation.
Verse 6.
Anger, burning or in some translations rage, fierce
anger.
Number of words that speak of a variety
of words used to express God's intense anger
and blazing fury.
Against not just against sin.
But against Assyria.
For their continuing in sin.
And it says in verse 3.
The Lord is slow to get angry.
But when he does get angry.
You can't stop him.
He is very slow to get angry.
He is very long suffering.
He is very patient.
But finally he will bring justice.
And mainly he is angry against those who
are exploiting other people.
You see this theme throughout the prophets.
Like I said way back in the beginning.
Let me repeat again.
There was a difference between Adam's sin and
Cain's sin.
Adam hurt himself.
Cain hurt somebody else.
Whenever we do something.
Which hurts another person in any way.
In any way.
As I said even if it is just
you speak a word against him and ruin
his reputation.
Or you hurt him in other ways.
Any way.
You exploit for example.
You become friendly with a girl and stir
up her emotions and then drop her.
You have hurt her.
You may not have touched her body.
But you have hurt her.
And I want to say that God is
angry.
Wrathful.
Indignant.
Has got a blazing fury.
And will take vengeance and revenge on anyone.
Who does things like that.
It may not have happened yet.
Because he waits for you to repent.
But anything.
The smallest little thing.
That we ever do against another human being
to hurt that person.
I tell you God takes a note of
it.
And he will reward people for it.
Many many people have lost the anointing of
God upon their life.
Because they have spoken careless words against others
of God's servants.
Whom they knew nothing about.
They just criticized because they heard some stories.
And spread the stories themselves.
That's why God removes the anointing from their
life.
And if they continue like that.
He will even remove their salvation.
So God has got a blazing fury.
Why was he so angry at Assyria?
It's not because they were smoking and drinking.
No.
It's not because they were taking drugs.
Now if you heard that somebody here was
taking drugs.
You'd be horrified.
But if you hear that somebody hurt somebody
else.
We're not so horrified.
And I want to do what those old
prestament prophets did.
Give us a proper focus on what God
considers serious sins.
Other things are also sins.
But God says these are more serious.
His blazing fury against Assyria.
Was not because they were taking drugs.
Or drinking.
It's because they hurt other people.
And one day God will administer justice.
When he comes again.
Against every single human being on the face
of the earth.
Who has ever ever in any way.
Hurt another person.
With his words.
Or his actions.
Or in any way.
So that's something we must all take seriously.
God is a God of anger.
And if you find it difficult to believe
that.
People cannot believe for example that.
Hell is a reality.
There are people who like to believe that.
One day God will save everybody.
There are even some believers.
Who have believed that.
That everybody in hell will finally get converted.
I mean some even go to the extreme
of.
Thinking that Satan will get converted someday.
But I say.
I'd rather believe God's word.
If you cannot believe in a God.
Who is full of anger.
Then you cannot believe in a God who
is full of love.
Love demands anger.
Punishment.
I'll tell you why.
Supposing you have two children.
And you love both of them equally.
And you see the bigger boy taking a
stone.
And hitting and hitting and hitting and hitting
that smaller boy.
Making him bleed.
And seeing that poor little boy can't help
himself.
And you as a father just watch.
Because you love.
You love that older boy.
If you love.
You'll be angry.
If you don't love.
You couldn't care less.
You won't be angry.
Love and anger go together.
Because love demands punishment.
On somebody who is being hurt unnecessarily.
And you'd stop it.
And you would punish that older boy.
For taking advantage of this poor weaker boy.
And hitting him.
That's exactly what God was doing with Assyria.
And that's what he does with people.
Throughout the ages.
And which we will see more fully.
At the final judgment seat of God.
So I hope all these things that I
say.
Will teach us to be extremely careful.
In the words that we speak about other
people.
In the things that we do.
That in any way.
Hurt another person.
Or bring another person down.
My dear brothers and sisters.
Do you want to be a servant of
God?
Be careful with your words about other people.
And even with particularly about those you don't
like.
Or those you don't agree with.
So God is slow to anger.
But when he does get angry.
He is really furious.
And in verse 7.
To 10.
We find.
The Lord is good.
And there we see his attitude.
To those who respond to his word in
repentance.
When trouble comes.
He is a strong refuge.
See if we humble ourselves.
And respond to these strong warnings of the
prophets.
You will find God is very good to
you.
And when trouble comes.
He will be like a refuge protecting you.
Definitely.
Like a father would go and protect that
little boy.
From this person who is trying to hurt
him.
And it says.
The Lord knows everyone who trusts in him.
Oh yeah.
He doesn't forget even one person.
You may be weak.
Poor.
Helpless.
But God knows.
If you trust in him.
And then.
In the next few verses.
You see against God's attitude towards his enemies.
Verse 8.
He sweeps away his enemies.
Like in an overwhelming flood.
You know when a flood comes.
It just wipes out everybody in a moment.
That's how judgment is going to come upon
God's enemies.
He pursues his foes.
Into the darkness of night.
God chases.
His enemies.
The prophets use these expressions.
To show you.
How God pursues.
After those.
Who don't take sin seriously.
He will destroy you.
Verse 9.
Why are you scheming against the Lord?
He will destroy you with one blow.
He will not need to strike a second
time.
And his enemies.
When they are struck by God.
Will stagger like drunks.
Verse 10.
And be burnt up like dry straw in
a field.
Who is this king of yours?
Who dares to plot evil.
Against the Lord.
What are Assyria's sins?
Basically.
Pride.
Towards God.
Who dares.
To stand up before God.
And secondly.
Cruelty.
Towards.
Other people.
Because.
They.
Took advantage of others.
And exploited others.
Basically these are the two things which.
Always these prophets keep on emphasizing.
You are proud in your attitude towards God.
And you are hard.
Towards your fellow human beings.
So what's the solution?
All the prophets are saying the same thing.
And in spite of that.
Here are believers who don't read these prophets
unfortunately.
And that's why they remain proud.
And they remain hard towards other people.
Because they say all these prophets are all
boring.
That's exactly what the devil wants you to
say.
So that you never understand.
God's anger against pride.
And God's anger against hardness of heart.
Towards other human beings.
I want to encourage you to read these
prophets.
Even if you find it a bit laborious.
And get the heart of God.
To understand how God feels about these things.
You see when you read the prophets.
You get an understanding.
You get a feeling of how God feels
about certain things.
And that constant repetition finally hits home.
It's like writing something with a diamond on
a rock.
And something finally gets written on our hearts.
That God hates something.
And we tremble and we fear to commit
those sins.
And that's the value of repetition in reading
these prophets.
So this is what the Lord says to
the Assyrians.
He says you're going to be judged.
And you'll have no more children to carry
on your name.
Verse 14.
And then to Israel the Lord says.
Look a messenger is coming over the mountains.
Verse 15.
With good news.
He's bringing a message of peace.
This is a similar verse to what we
read in Isaiah.
About the gospel being preached.
Celebrate your festivals O people of Judah.
For your enemies will never invade your land
again.
It's like the proclamation that the devil has
been destroyed.
Assyria is a picture of Satan and his
kingdom.
And the good news that we have to
go proclaiming to people.
Is that don't be afraid O people.
Satan has been defeated.
His kingdom has been destroyed.
Very often when we preach the gospel.
Most people who preach the gospel.
Only proclaim that your sins are forgiven.
That's good.
But that's only to me.
A part of the gospel.
You can have victory over sin.
That's another part of the gospel.
Satan was defeated on the cross.
On the cross Jesus died to forgive our
sin.
Jesus died that our old man might be
crucified with him.
That we might not serve sin.
Jesus died so that Satan might be defeated.
Jesus died that the curse of the law
might never be upon us.
Many many reasons why Jesus died.
Very often most people who preach the gospel.
Proclaim only one part of that truth.
Your sins can be forgiven.
Here it says.
The messenger who's proclaiming the gospel.
Verse 15.
He's bringing a message of peace.
What is that message?
Your enemy has been defeated.
And will never have power over you again.
I want to ask those of you who
preach the gospel.
Have you preached that?
That Satan can never have power over you
again.
That sin can never have power over you
again.
This is the picture.
And now we see the judgment itself.
In Nineveh's judgment.
Nineveh you're already surrounded by enemy armies.
This is exactly what happened a few years
later.
After Nehum had prophesied that.
There was no hope for them.
This was not like Jonah's time.
When he said repent.
Because God is going to judge you.
Here there's no opportunity for repentance.
The doors are shut.
God has waited long enough.
And they kept on sinning, sinning, sinning, sinning,
sinning, sinning.
And they crossed that red line.
That God had drawn in front of nations
and people.
You know John says.
There is a sin unto death.
It's no use praying for such people.
1 John chapter 5.
A person can keep on sinning.
Like it says in Proverbs 29.1. He
keeps on rejecting, rejecting, rejecting.
Keeps on hardening his neck.
And suddenly one day.
He crosses the red line.
Then there's no hope for him.
He has sinned against the Holy Spirit.
And there is no forgiveness after that.
It's a very dangerous thing.
Particularly for a believer.
To keep on sinning.
And keep on rejecting God's pleadings.
Now there was no place for repentance for
Nineveh.
They have destroyed the land of Israel.
And hurt it.
Verse 2.
In so many ways.
But the Lord will restore its honor far
again.
And then it describes the enemy being destroyed.
With shields and people coming with uniforms.
And the king shouting to the officers.
And the plunder of all the silver and
gold.
Verse 9.
Of Nineveh's treasures being taken away by.
It was actually Babylon.
That came some years later.
And destroyed Assyria.
And took over everything.
And what has become now of this great
Nineveh.
Verse 11.
Lion of the nations.
Full of fight and boldness.
You were once a mighty lion.
Verse 12.
You crushed your enemies.
To feed your cubs.
You filled your city and your homes.
With captives and plunder.
See this is how they exploited others.
They made themselves rich.
At the expense of other poor people.
Do you think pastors don't do that today?
Make themselves rich.
At the expense of other poor people.
Do you think the judgment of these preachers.
Will be any different.
From the judgment of Nineveh.
My dear brother sister.
If you want to make money.
Go into business.
Don't serve the Lord.
That's not the place to make money.
A lot of people are doing it today.
Making themselves rich.
At the expense of poor believers.
From whom they collect tithes etc.
I believe their judgment will be worse.
Than the judgment of Nineveh.
Because they have more light.
Than Nineveh had.
Steer clear.
Of that type of Christian work.
Those who exploit.
Take advantage your home.
Your home.
Verse 12 last part.
Is filled.
With what you have taken from other poor
people.
Is that true?
It's not true of many people.
Who earn their own living.
And do an honest business.
But it is true today in India.
Of a lot of people.
Who have done Christian work.
So that's a warning.
And the Lord says to such people.
Verse 13.
I am your enemy.
And you will never again.
Be able to plunder these poor people again.
For I will judge you.
And how terrible.
Chapter 3 verse 1.
It will be in that day.
When God does judge.
The city.
The city of murder and lies.
She is crammed.
With the wealth.
That she took from poor people.
Listen.
Hear the crack of the whips.
It says here.
In verse 4.
All this.
Because Nineveh.
The beautiful and faithless city.
Enticed the nations with her beauty.
How did Nineveh.
Attract people.
There was something very powerful about it.
Just like.
People are attracted to the.
United States of America.
You know.
Something attractive.
And people want to go there.
And live there.
Nineveh was like that.
It enticed people with its.
Earthly.
Attractiveness.
And I want to say to all of
you.
It's not just in nations.
The warning here is.
Beware of being enticed.
That's the word used here in this translation.
Enticed people with your beauty.
Beware of being attracted.
To anything on earth.
That appears attractive.
If it is not godly.
That's a warning.
There are a lot of things on earth
which are attractive.
And the devil will try to tempt you
with them.
He even tried to tempt Jesus with them.
He told.
The Lord I'll give you all the glory
of this world.
All these beautiful things.
If you will bow down and worship me.
And I want to tell you this.
If you go after the attractive things of
this earth.
Which are not godly.
You can get it.
But the way you get it.
Will be by bowing your knee to Satan.
In some area.
And I've seen lots of believers who do
that.
And they've suffered the consequences.
In their own life.
So take heed.
To this warning.
Don't let anything on earth be attractive.
Chapter 3 verse 8.
Are you any better than Thebes?
Surrounded by rivers.
Protected by water on all sides.
Ethiopia and the land of Egypt.
Were the source of her strength.
Which seemed without limit.
Put and Libya supported her.
Yet Thebes fell.
And her people were led away captives.
Her babies were dashed to death.
And soldiers cast lots.
Verse 10 last part.
To find out which Egyptian officers.
Would become their servants.
And their leaders were bound in chains.
And Nineveh.
You attacked Thebes many years ago.
In Egypt.
And Thebes was one of those difficult cities
in Egypt.
That Assyria could not conquer.
Because it was surrounded with waters.
Protected by so many.
Allies they had.
But Thebes was defeated.
And Assyria conquered it.
And now the Lord says.
You think you're any better?
The same thing will happen to you.
Sometimes.
God may give us.
A ministry that somebody else had.
Because he backslid.
Like David was put in Saul's place.
Somebody else fell away.
And maybe you got a position.
Beware of pride.
Beware of thinking.
Well I'm not like him.
God's given me something.
Beware of ever thinking.
That what happened to that person.
Can never happen to me.
The Lord says.
You are no better.
Paul the great apostle said.
I'm afraid that I can preach to others.
And be disqualified myself.
Because he lived in that fear and humility.
He was never disqualified.
And so.
The Lord says.
You will be punished.
And your troops will become as weak.
As women.
Verse 13.
And finally he says in verse 19.
There is no healing for your wound.
Your injury is fatal.
And all who hear of your destruction.
Will clap their hands for joy.
Men.
Will agree with God's judgment.
On Nineveh.
One day.
When God judges all men.
I don't know whether you have ever thought
of this.
Why does God pull people out of hell.
Put them back into their bodies.
Resurrect them.
And make them stand before him for the
final judgment.
I mean they have already gone to hell.
The rich man went to hell.
Long long ago Jesus said.
But God is going to pull that rich
man out of hell.
After 2000 years.
Put him into his body.
Resurrect him.
And revelation 20 says.
He will stand before God in the day
of judgment.
Why.
And then send him back into the lake
of fire.
Why not leave him there.
There is a reason.
Everybody who has gone to hell.
The whole world must know.
Why they went.
And the whole world will agree.
With God's judgment in that day.
Today there are a lot of people who
have gone to hell.
And I don't know why they went to
hell.
And I may sit in heaven and have
a doubt.
Did that fellow deserve to go to hell.
You know there are a lot of people
who speak about.
Oh so and so is a good man.
Does he deserve to go to hell.
Some of you may have a doubt like
that.
Such and such person is a good person.
I know he doesn't believe in Jesus.
But he is a good person.
That day God will remove every doubt from
your mind.
And that's why he pulls people out of
hell.
Puts them in their bodies.
And makes them account for every single thing.
They did from the day they were born.
And asks the whole world.
What do you think?
They all say he deserves hell.
That's why there is going to be a
judgment.
So we learn a number of things from
the book of Nahum.
Read it more carefully next time.
Now we turn to the book of Habakkuk.
If Nahum spoke about God's anger and vengeance.
Habakkuk speaks about the.
Conflict that faith has.
And the triumph of faith.
It's the story of a man.
Of God.
Who has questions.
Basically.
Habakkuk.
Has two problems.
And he asks God questions.
And God gives answers.
You know even a man of faith.
A man of God can have doubts.
Can have questions.
In his mind.
And.
Those questions.
The chapter begins with.
The conflict of faith.
The book begins.
And the book ends.
With the triumph of faith.
And that's how it should be in all
of our lives.
There is nothing wrong.
In asking God questions.
In fact.
If little children.
As they grow up.
Ask their father no questions.
Something is wrong.
A father.
A good father will encourage his children.
To ask questions.
Come my little boy.
Don't you have any questions.
And no father is upset.
When his little boy or little girl.
Asks questions.
And let me tell you.
God is not upset.
When you ask him questions.
The thing is when you have a doubt.
Don't go to.
Other people of your level of maturity.
They will only confuse you.
And you may confuse them.
They don't have any doubt.
And you put some doubt into their mind
now.
Go to God.
And the first question that Habakkuk has.
Is a question that.
We all have.
Why do the wicked people prosper?
This is the question that Esau had.
In Psalm 73.
We saw that.
This is the question that Jeremiah had.
Also.
In Jeremiah chapter 12.
And that's the time the Lord told Jeremiah.
If you can't run with men.
How will you run with horses?
That means such simple things worry you.
How are you going to face major problems
in life?
Major questions.
But God answers these people.
Esau said.
I went into the sanctuary of God and
I understood.
Jeremiah went before God's presence.
And he understood.
Habakkuk went before God's presence.
And God gave him an answer.
And that's the thing that we must bear
in mind.
When we have a doubt.
If you want go to a godly brother.
And Habakkuk.
Went to God.
There were not many godly brothers.
Around those days.
But it's interesting that Habakkuk.
He lived around the same time.
As Jeremiah.
And both of them had the similar question.
How long.
Oh Lord.
Chapter 1 verse 2.
Must I call for help?
And you don't listen.
I say violence.
People are harassing me.
I am your servant.
Look what these people are doing to me.
But you don't come to save.
I am godly.
And these people are all ungodly.
And it looks as if you are not
doing anything.
Have you ever felt like that?
Christians have felt like that for 2000 years.
Lord why do these godless people prosper?
Why are you allowing them to harass your
people?
Must I fight?
Do I forever see the sin and misery.
All around me.
Wherever I look there is destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people.
Who love to argue and fight.
He is looking at Judah.
And the law has become paralyzed.
And useless.
You know that happens.
Sometimes for Christians.
In North India.
Where the law is not on their side.
It's as if the law is paralyzed and
useless.
And it does not help them.
And some of you go to North India
to serve the lord.
You may find that.
And a book like Habakkuk can help you
then.
There is no justice.
Given in the courts.
It's here.
There is no justice given in the courts.
It's injustice.
Even when you go to court.
And the wicked.
Far outnumber the righteous.
And justice.
Is perverted with bribes.
And trickery.
Written 2600 years ago.
Relevant for us today.
And the lord replies.
He doesn't directly answer.
Habakkuk's question.
Jesus very often did not.
Directly answer.
Questions people asked him.
Sometimes they would ask him a question.
And Jesus said I'll also ask you one
question.
You answer that one and then I'll answer
you.
And then they would be caught in a
situation.
They say if we answer like this.
The people will get upset.
If we answer like this.
Then we'll be proved to be wrong.
So they pretended and they say we didn't
know.
We don't know.
And the lord says I also don't know.
I'm not going to answer it.
But sometimes he would answer them straight.
We need wisdom.
God's wisdom is very different from man's.
And the lord replies.
To Habakkuk in verse 5.
Look at the nations and be amazed.
Watch and be astounded.
For I'm going to do something in your
day.
That you won't even believe.
If someone told you about it.
Because it never happened before.
Like that for Judah.
It's true that.
I mean Israel had gone into captivity.
But Judah had never experienced anything like that.
Many many years earlier.
Nearly 800 years earlier.
They had been slaves in Egypt.
But that was a long time ago.
But now the lord says.
I'm going to do something in your generation.
That you won't even believe.
And that's not some mighty miracle of deliverance.
You know.
You can take that verse and misquote it.
I'm going to do something in your day.
That you won't even believe.
If somebody told you about it.
As if god is going to do some
great miracle.
But that's not what he's talking about.
He's saying I'm going to raise up.
An evil corrupt nation.
To destroy my people.
And you won't believe it.
That god will ever do such a thing.
I'm raising up the Babylonians.
To be a new power on the world
scene.
So the first thing god says.
Which Habakkuk.
If he's listening carefully can get.
Is this.
Listen.
I'm in control of this universe.
Don't think these Babylonians came up by accident.
I am raising them up.
Through the years in India.
In our church.
Whenever there's been elections.
We've always had times of prayer.
Prayer.
We cannot influence the elections.
By voting.
But we believe we can influence the result
of the elections.
By prayer.
Because we believe god is in control.
Its promotion comes from god.
As we read in psalms.
God raises up one.
And puts down another.
And so we pray.
Lord we don't know what is good for.
This country.
Or especially for the believers in this country.
Or for the spread of the gospel in
this country.
But we want you to.
Put into power.
Those whom you have sovereignly permitted.
For the good of your purposes.
And sometimes.
What we think may not be good.
How many of you would select.
The Babylonians to rule over Judah.
Nobody.
But that's why god says.
I'm going to do something which you won't
even believe.
Because you don't know my ways.
See when we don't know god's ways.
We can't believe it.
We can't believe that god would ever do
such a thing.
Because our idea of god.
Is like a grandfather.
Who sits in heaven.
And always gives us toys and cakes and
ice cream.
And makes us happy all the time.
See a lot of Christians.
Don't have a proper idea about god.
They have no idea of god's holiness.
They only think of god like a grandfather.
Who is always giving them gifts.
And that's a totally wrong concept of god.
And that's why god says.
I'm going to do something which you won't
even believe.
If somebody tells you that god would ever
act like that.
That god would use heathen people.
To punish his children.
For example.
Let me take a situation.
Supposing in one country.
All the Christians are always fighting with each
other.
I'm not going to tell you.
Which country that is.
Where all the Christians are fighting with each
other.
They are.
Everybody is thinking we are the only group.
And everybody else is.
Doesn't belong to the lord.
And they go to court against one another.
And they hate one another.
And criticize one another.
And always trying to find some little fault
in the other group.
Or find some little fault in some preacher.
And as if only their leaders are the
holy people in the world.
And supposing god finds a country like that.
Where Christians who are supposed to be a
testament to the world.
Are like this.
And the election time comes.
And all the Christians are praying.
Lord give us some godly government.
People who will allow us to preach the
gospel.
And people who will give us freedom to
have conferences.
And people who will allow plenty of foreign
money to come inside.
India.
Sorry I mentioned the country.
I wanted to keep the country a secret
anyway.
And then.
God raises up.
A government.
That stops foreign money.
And persecutes the Christians.
What is going to happen?
These Christians who started.
Who were criticizing one another.
Will stop criticizing one another.
They become a little united.
And these Christians who are always dependent on
foreign money.
Will say oh we got enough money in
our country to serve the lord.
Why do we need to get it from
there?
And those Christians will become better.
Stronger Christians.
Wasn't god's way better?
But who understands that?
This prophet says even if I tell you.
You won't believe it.
Because you think god is a grandfather.
Who is always sitting giving gifts to his
people.
And keeping them happy.
So Habakkuk's message is very relevant for our
day.
You read these minor prophets.
I tell you they got a prophetic message
for our time.
So the lord says.
I am raising up the Babylonians.
They didn't raise themselves up.
I am.
Raising up the Babylonians.
The lord told pharaoh.
The greatest man on earth.
In his time.
In Moses time.
I have raised you up.
To manifest my power through you.
That means.
In the way he rebelled against god.
God would crush him.
And manifest his power.
At the same time god raised up Moses.
In that same generation.
To manifest his power through Moses in another
way.
If you cooperate with god.
He will manifest his power through you like
Moses.
If you don't cooperate with god.
He will make you a warning.
To all generations.
As to what will happen to a man
who defies god.
If you humble yourself.
God will make you.
An example to other people.
As to what he can do through a
humble man.
If you are proud.
Even if you are a believer.
God will do something through you.
Make you a warning to all other believers.
Say don't be like that believer.
It's up to you.
So he raises up the Babylonians.
It says.
To be a new power on the world
scene.
They are a cruel and violent nation.
Who will march across the world.
And conquer it.
They are notorious for their cruelty.
They do as they like.
Their horses are swifter than leopards.
They are fierce people.
More fierce than wolves.
Like eagles they sweep down.
And pounce on their prey.
Verse 9.
All of them are bent on violence.
The hordes advance like a wind.
From the desert.
They scoff at kings and princes.
Scorn their defenses.
They simply pile ramps of earth.
Against their walls and capture them.
They sweep like the wind are gone.
They are deeply guilty.
For their own strength is their god.
You think this is answered.
Habakkuk's question.
He is asking why do the wicked prosper.
Lord you haven't answered my question.
You just told me that these wicked are
going to be still more strong.
But behind that.
God did answer their question.
That question.
He said.
I have raised them up.
I am in control.
And I am accomplishing a purpose.
Even if you can't see it fully.
Today we look back.
From 2600 years later.
And we see Babylon was raised up.
And Babylon was destroyed.
And we say Lord it was so wonderful
what you did.
Do you know what happened as a result
of.
The people of Judah being taken to.
Babylonian captivity for 70 years.
Do you know what happened.
Let me tell you something.
From the time of the judges.
Which was what was it.
1400 1300 BC.
Up to.
The time of the Babylonian captivity.
Which was around 600 BC.
700 years.
Israel.
Frequently worship idols.
Even during David's time.
They were worshipping that bronze serpent.
There was idol worship going on.
Almost continuously for 700 years.
And God sent them.
Into captivity for 70 years.
And you know.
What is the result.
For the last 2500 years.
The Jews have never.
Worshipped idols.
God has solved that problem permanently.
Isn't that amazing.
I mean.
They have done a lot of other wrong
things.
But they haven't gone back to idolatry.
Why is that.
See God can teach one final lesson to
a person.
Like he broke Jacob once.
And he became a different man.
Sometimes God has to use.
Strong arm methods.
To teach us a lesson.
A permanent lesson.
So God.
It's enough for us to know.
We don't know why God allows so many
things.
I don't know.
But it is enough for me to know
that.
God is in control.
I have raised them up.
And you will see.
50 years from now.
If you are alive.
Or even 25 years from now.
If the Lord tarries.
You look back and you say.
Lord you were right.
The ones you raised up.
Accomplished your purposes.
Even though they were an evil people.
Even though the Babylonians hated.
The people of Judah.
And God can use.
People who hate Christians.
For example.
We have in our own lifetime.
Seen what communism did.
Against Christians.
In China, Albania, Russia.
What was the result.
How many people would pray.
That such communist government.
Should come to power.
Like the Babylonians were raised up.
And put down.
God allowed the communists to come up.
And put them down.
But in that process.
What happened.
Some of the finest Christians in the world.
Came forth in these countries.
Like China and Russia.
Far better than the Christians.
Who live in comfortable countries.
Where life is easy.
And where they have plenty of money.
Because in the fires of persecution.
They got purified.
We don't know what to pray for.
It's enough for us to know.
God is in control.
Ok.
Habakkuk second question is.
Lord you are eternal.
Is it your plan to wipe us all
out.
By sending these people.
Surely not.
You have decreed.
Ok I agree.
You have decreed the rise of these Babylonians.
To punish us and correct us for our
terrible sins.
Ok.
You are perfectly right.
In this.
But will you.
You cannot allow sin in any form.
You are too holy to look upon sin.
Can you just stand idly by.
While these people swallow us up.
Ok we are sinners but they are worse
sinners.
Will you be silent.
When the wicked people destroy people.
Who are more righteous than them.
Are we just like fish.
To be caught and killed.
Are we just creeping things.
With no leader to defend us.
Verse 15.
Do they have to string us up on
their hooks.
And drag us in their nets.
If they do that.
Lord.
They will worship their nets.
And burn incense in front of them.
These nets are the gods.
Who have made us rich.
They will claim.
Lord if you allow these heathen people.
To conquer your people.
Don't you think they will worship their idols.
Even more.
And say their idols are all powerful.
That is exactly the question.
That a lot of Christians in our country.
Can ask today.
Are you going to let them get away
with this.
Will they succeed forever.
And Habakkuk does one wise thing.
He says I will climb up.
Into my watchtower now.
Chapter 2 verse 1.
And wait and see.
What the Lord is going to say to
me.
In answer to my complaint.
And my question.
And the Lord said to me.
The Lord replies to the second question.
Write my answer.
In large clear letters.
On a tablet so that everyone can see
it.
And tell everybody else.
What is that?
The things I plan.
Will not happen right away.
Slowly.
Steadily.
Surely.
The time approaches.
When the vision will be fulfilled.
And if it seems slow.
What a word for us.
In our time.
If it seems slow.
Be patient.
Verse 3.
Wait patiently.
Chapter 2 verse 3.
Because it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.
I will judge them finally.
And I will make my people prosper.
But it won't happen overnight.
You see we are people who want everything
in an instant.
You press a button and something must happen.
Coffee.
Instant coffee.
Various things.
Instantly.
Instant salvation.
Instant baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Instant miracles.
God doesn't work like that.
God says you got to be patient.
Character is not formed.
By pressing a button.
Or in an instant.
It takes a long period of time.
Suffering and trial.
For character to be formed.
Tribulation works patience.
Romans 5.
Patience experience experience hope.
Tribulation produces character.
Of which we are not ashamed.
So God.
The first thing God says is.
Be patient.
Can you hear that word in our time?
The second thing God says is.
Have faith.
Live by faith.
This is the verse.
Verse 4.
That is quoted three times in the New
Testament.
In Romans chapter 1.
Galatians chapter 3.
And Hebrews chapter 10.
The righteous will live by faith.
It was the great watchword of the Reformation.
Salvation is by faith.
But the context here is.
About the Babylonians coming into Judah.
What you need is faith.
Look at those proud Babylonians.
Verse 4.
They trust in themselves.
Their lives are crooked.
But the righteous one.
If you are really righteous.
You live by faith.
What is your faith?
Your faith is.
God controls this universe.
Your faith is.
God loves me.
And he will deal with these people.
At the right time.
That is faith.
So the opposite of faith.
Is not just unbelief.
According to this verse.
The opposite of faith.
Is pride.
There are the proud people.
And there are the people who live by
faith.
There are only two categories of people in
the world.
The proud person.
Whose soul is not upright.
Like it says in the verse.
A proud person.
Soul is not upright.
And.
The man of faith.
Who is righteous.
When your soul is not upright.
You know what upright means?
Absolutely straight.
When there is crookedness in your soul.
I think it is the King James version.
It says your soul is not upright.
When there is crookedness in your soul.
The outward manifestation of that crookedness.
Is.
Pride.
Whenever you see a proud person.
Proud of anything.
You can believe from this verse.
There is crookedness inside him.
There is a lack of straightforwardness inside him.
An upright man.
Will always be humble.
And will always.
Be a man of faith.
The proud.
His soul is not upright in him.
So remember this.
Whenever you find pride in you.
It is because there is some crookedness.
In your soul.
And God resists the proud.
So patience and faith.
Those are the two things.
Patience.
And faith.
Please remember that.
In a time of trial.
And then it speaks about wealth.
Being treacherous.
Wealth of any sort is treacherous.
Wealth in terms of money.
Wealth of intelligence.
Wealth of opportunity.
Wealth of Bible knowledge.
Wealth of anything.
Any type of wealth is treacherous.
Because that is what makes people proud.
And the other characteristic of such people is.
They are never at rest.
Their mouths are opened as wide as death.
And they are never satisfied.
They are greedy.
Always wanting more.
And the time is coming.
When their captives will taunt them.
Saying you thieves.
At last justice has caught up with you.
One day justice will catch up.
With all these people.
Chapter 2 verses 6 to 19.
Is a description.
Of how.
A self centered life.
Finally destroys itself.
A proud person.
Is a person centered in himself.
He does not live by faith.
He is a person who has confidence in
himself.
He depends on himself.
Ultimately.
Such a life will destroy itself.
In the midst of this.
Here is a lovely verse.
Verse 14.
This is what the man of faith.
Believes in.
The time will come.
When the whole earth.
Will be filled with the glory of the
Lord.
As the waters fill the sea.
That's the time we look forward to.
And we have faith for that.
And then when Habakkuk gets this answer.
His heart is full of praise.
Now he's got his answer.
The conflict of faith.
Has ended in the triumph of faith.
In chapter 3.
Chapter 2 verse 20 onwards.
Chapter 2 verse 20.
The Lord is in his holy temple.
Let all the earth.
Be.
Silent.
No more questions.
Habakkuk says Lord I'm silent.
I've got no more questions.
Like Job said.
When he saw the glory of God.
He said I put my hand on my
mouth.
I've got no more questions Lord.
I've seen you.
I don't have any more questions.
Don't think that God answers.
All your 10,000 questions.
Because when you get 10,000 answers.
You'll have 10,000 more questions.
The answer to everything.
Like in Job's case.
And in Habakkuk's case.
Is to see the Lord.
You see the Lord.
The Lord is in his holy temple.
Have you seen him?
Let all flesh be silent.
And this prayer was sung by the prophet
Habakkuk.
He says I heard about you Lord.
I'm filled with amazement.
At the things you've done.
Chapter 3 verse 2.
In this time of deep need.
Begin again to help us.
Show us your power.
Remember mercy.
And I see God.
This is the answer.
I see God.
The holy one.
Just like Isaiah.
I see God.
His brilliant splendor fills the heavens.
The earth is filled with praise.
What a wonderful God he is.
Rays of light flash from his hands.
He rejoices in his awesome power.
Pestilence marches in front of him.
Plague falls close behind.
When he stops the earth shakes.
When he looks the nations tremble.
He shatters the mountains.
See he's seeing God.
He's not seeing the Babylonians.
The trouble till now was he seeing the
Babylonians.
The trouble till now he was seeing wicked
people who were prospering.
All his questions are solved.
When he sees God.
In his glory.
In his greatness.
That's the answer.
And he describes God in his greatness.
And he says I tremble inside.
Verse 16.
My lips quivered with fear.
And I shook in terror.
I will wait quietly for the coming day.
And when that day comes.
Of chastening.
And the fig trees.
Verse 17.
Have lost their blossoms.
There are no grapes on the vine.
The olive crop fails.
The fields are empty and barren.
The flocks are all dead.
The cattle barns are all empty.
Let them be empty.
Let my business go to ruins.
Like Job.
Having lost everything.
I will rejoice in the Lord.
I will be joyful.
In the God of my salvation.
That is the triumph of faith.
They believed his words.
Psalm 106.12. And they sang his praise.
The sovereign Lord is my strength.
And look at this man.
Who had all these doubts and fears in
the beginning.
He says he will make me as sure
footed.
As a deer.
And bring me over this mountains.
These mountains of doubt.
You know how the deer.
Is so.
Sure footed.
It doesn't lose its grip on this mountain.
It just runs over it.
And Habakkuk says.
My feet are going to be like a
deer's.
I'm going to climb over these mountains.
And go.
And he adds a little note at the
end.
When you sing this song.
Please use some instruments.
Just really praise the Lord with all of
your heart.
Don't just sing it in a drab uninteresting
way.
Praise the Lord.
Let's sing it to the Lord also with
instruments.
God is on the throne.
And he is the victor.
And no matter what happens.
If everything around us fails.
We will rejoice in the God of our
salvation.
Amen.
Let's pray.
The hardest work.
Is to wait.
In patience and in faith.
Let's do that.
Heavenly father.
We want to learn from the lessons you
have taught us.
In the book of Nahum and Habakkuk.
And help us to walk.
In faith and seeing your sovereignty.
As these prophets did.
We ask in Jesus name.
Amen.