He is Still in The Fire// Week 7// Joy

A Perplexed Prophet Full of Joy

Habakkuk November 29, 2020

I. Introduction:

A. Turn to Habakkuk (look in your index or phone). I want to show you an amazing

joy right in the midst of the most difficult circumstances that are only going to get

worse!

1. This joy comes from a prophet who was totally perplexed, because God was

not answering his prayer about the wickedness in his own nation and when

God did answer him, it perplexed him all the more with an answer he never

expected to get from a holy God!

II. The story of Habakkuk

A. He starts by saying – God I have been praying to you for a long time about the

wickedness and injustices in the nation of Israel and you are not answering!

B. Listen to God’s response

1. Read v5-6, 8e-9a

2. But v11 is very important to this story

3. These evil Babylonians will be held accountable for what they do to Israel

even though God will be using them to discipline them!

C. Now Habakkuk is really confused! You are a holy God who does not even look

on evil and you are going to use these evil people to judge us?

D. Then Habakkuk tells God he is going to stand there and watch to see what you say

about that

E. Listen to what God says

1. Read v2-3

2. It is going to happen, even if it delays, it will happen!

F. Then the rest of chapter 2 God talks about the judgment that is going to come

upon the Chaldeans as He says basically what you have done to others is going to

happen to you. This chapter is summarized in v16

G. Finally, in chapter 3 Habakkuk prays one more time and tells God I have heard

reports of your working in the past and ask you to do it again now and in the

midst of your judgment of us remember to be merciful to us!

H. Then Habakkuk draws a powerful picture of God marching through the earth to

judge the nations and save Israel.

• Now we come to the place of joy in the midst of his unanswered prayer and waiting

for God’s discipline upon his own people. Let’s look at this …

III. Amazing joy

A. First, he starts with talking about how he responds to all of this as he waits for

God’s discipline on his own people! read v16

B. Now in v 17-19 we see this amazing joy

1. He starts by telling God that even if their entire economy and that which

bring them sustenance in their daily lives is destroyed and taken away.

Listen to v17

2. Nevertheless, this is how he is going to respond. read v18

a) We read this and we think he is going to lift up his arms and declare just

how great God is in the middle of the trials. That is exactly what exalt

means, but the word here is not exalt but exult.

b) Note it is with a u not a.

c) To exult means intense joy, to leap for joy!

d) Let me show you picture of this! Cubs World Series celebration

3. How can he have this kind of amazing joy? It is because of the amazing

grace in the next verse.

a) Read v19

b) It is because God is the source of his strength and He makes my feet

stable and not slip even in some of the most difficult terrain, trials in my

life!

c) Let me show you what hinds’ feet looks like

C. Bottom line, in the midst of the most difficult times in life with more hardship to

come, his heart can be full of joy and not stumble and fall because of God

1. Note in v19

2. God is his strength, the source of everything he needs in life!

3. It can happen to us because Jesus is the source and strength of our lives!

Galatians 2:20

4. Listen to what Jude says: Read Jude 24-25