As we enter the Christmas season, we think about advent which is derived from the Latin word for adventus which means “coming”. We celebrate advent in two ways. First, we think of the first coming of Jesus as He fulfilled all the promises of God for a coming Messiah. Second, we think about our own advent as we wait for the second coming of Jesus in which He will fulfill all of God’s promises eternally. We are faced with a world very similar to the people of God that waited for His first coming. As we read the book of Habakkuk, we will hear the prophet ask God questions that might reflect some of our own thinking. We will also read God’s answer and learn about His character from it.

Scripture References: Habakkuk 2:1-4, Habakkuk 1:1-17

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From Series: "The Book of Habakkuk"

The final chapter of Habakkuk is the prophet’s response to God’s words and answer. It is a prayer, a poem, a psalm, and a song all in one. The first verse says it is a prayer “upon Shigionoth.” While we don’t know the exact meaning of the word, it appears to be a musical or liturgical instruction meaning something like “with song” and instructs something lively or pressing. (Only Psalm 7 also includes this word as an instruction.) This is significant as we realize that his response to God’s judgment, truth, and promise was worship. Though he clearly felt uncertainty, pain, distress, and sadness, he worshipped because worship is not based in our feelings but God’s character and worth. Habakkuk was not struggling with his belief I God’s existence. Rather, he was questioning God’s presence. As Habakkuk thought on God’s supposed inaction, he asked “How long?” and “Why?”. He did not get a specific answer to those questions; however, when he listened to God’s reply and came to understand God’s character, Habakkuk’s attitude produced both praise and petition.

Scripture References: Psalms 7:1-17, Habakkuk 3:1-19

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The final chapter of Habakkuk is the prophet’s response to God’s words and answer. It is a prayer, a poem, a psalm, and a song all in one. The first verse says it is a prayer “upon Shigionoth.” While we don’t know the exact meaning of the word, it appears to be a musical or liturgical instruction meaning something like “with song” and instructs something lively or pressing. (Only Psalm 7 also includes this word as an instruction.) This is significant as we realize that his response to God’s judgment, truth, and promise was worship. Though he clearly felt uncertainty, pain, distress, and sadness, he worshipped because worship is not based in our feelings but God’s character and worth. Habakkuk was not struggling with his belief I God’s existence. Rather, he was questioning God’s presence. As Habakkuk thought on God’s supposed inaction, he asked “How long?” and “Why?”. He did not get a specific answer to those questions; however, when he listened to God’s reply and came to understand God’s character, Habakkuk’s attitude produced both praise and petition.

Scripture References: Psalms 7:1-17, Habakkuk 3:1-19

More Messages from James Sumpter | Download Audio

From Series: "The Book of Habakkuk"