The 2^nd answer – woe to him

• Waiting patiently… vs. 1-4
  • 1^st – Habakkuk went to wait on the Lord… vs. 1
    • He went up to stand his watch on the rampart – waiting to see how God would answer…
      • Prophets often used the imagery of a watchman to describe their ministry…
      • Just like a watchman kept a look out for approaching dangers – sounding the alarm…
      • Prophets were called to protect the people of Israel – from enemies / from themselves…
      • It is hard to watch out for others – confront their sin – it does not tend to go well…
      • But the truth is leaving someone in their sin – is condemning them to hell…
      • So we are called to confront them in spite of how we fear it might hurt them…
      • Not that we can make people turn back to Jesus – but we can warn them – Hebrews 3:13
      • In fact God holds us accountable if we do not tell them about the danger of sin!
      • Ezekiel 33:8 – “If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to warn them about changing their ways, then they will die in their sins, but I will hold you responsible for their deaths.”
    • Habakkuk had questions / doubts – and he waited to be corrected by the Lord…
      • There are times when we doubt – perhaps that God can provide for our needs…
      • There may time times when we even doubt if God is even there…
      • It is not wrong to have doubts – everyone has them – but know where to go to get answers!
      • Having Godly answers / making the best choices – can only come from one place…
      • Wisdom is not learned – it is a gift of the Spirit – I Corinthians 12:8…
      • The only way to get wisdom – is simply to come to the Lord and ask for it!
      • James 1:5 – “If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”
  • 2^nd – Wait a little bit longer… vs. 2-3
    • God answered a 2^nd time – and told Habakkuk to write down what He said…
      • The prophet was to make it plain – clear – so that other would understand…
      • Because it was good news – they would run and tell others once they received it…
      • God was going to punish Babylon – there would be consequences for their actions!
      • God would give 5 WOES to the Kingdom of Babylon – signaling their destruction!
    • But what God was about to share with Habakkuk would not come to pass quickly…
      • It was certain – it would certainly happen – but it would take time…
      • Christmas is around the corner – but I do not think we have ever make it to December 25 …
      • Last year we actually ended up opening presents just after Thanksgiving!
      • Because there is nothing harder to do in life than wait – I hate waiting!
      • It is easy to get tired of waiting on God – and jump in because ‘something needs to be done!’
      • But like a little child who wants to ‘help’ Dad – we do far more harm than good!
      • Better to wait – and remember Gods timing is not our timing – II Peter 3:8-9 
      • Following Jesus means being patient – willing to wait on the Lord to do the work!
      • Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength… they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
  • 3^rd – The just shall live by faith… vs. 4
    • Behold the proud – his soul is not upright…
      • What makes him proud – he puts his trust / faith in something other than the Lord…
      • The result is his soul is crooked – because he is still bound up in his sin…
      • But the key is why was his soul crooked – it was not a lack of faith…
      • The problem is never a lack of faith – it is where our faith is placed!
      • If I have faith I can swim an ocean – or fly to the moon – that does not mean I can
      • If we put our faith in something that does not have the power – it does not work!
      • Which is why people can have all the faith in the world in a religion – Islam / Buddha…
      • People can have all the confidence in the world in their intellect – education…
      • But their soul will still be crooked – because there is no power in those things!
    • The contrast – the Just shall live by faith…
      • A verse quoted twice in the NT – Romans 1:17 / Galatians 3:11
        • Habakkuk asked the Lord why the godless were prospering / the righteous suffering…
        • God was asking Habakkuk to – trust Me – things would work out as He intended…
        • Habakkuk was to live by faith – believe what God said – He would also do!
      • Living by faith – means trusting the Lord for today…
        • So often it feels like we are walking through life blind – no idea where we are going…
        • The reason is because we are trusting in what we can see – but we cannot see far…
        • If only we could see tomorrow we might make very different decisions…
        • Making decisions by what we can see – is in truth walking around blind…
        • But Jesus sees it all – and if are willing to trust Him – we will always know where to go…
        • Trusting in the Lord who sees all – that is walking by true sight!
        • II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
      • Living by faith – means trusting the Lord for our eternity…
        • We cannot see God – have never been to heaven – have not seen Jesus…
        • It is only through faith we believe the Gospel true – has the power to save us…
        • By faith we believe that life is not only about living here on earth…
        • By faith we believe one day God will take us to be with Him forever in heaven!
        • Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
• 1^st – The first of 5 – Woe to him that increases wealth… vs. 5-8
  • 1^st – He will never satisfied… vs. 5
    • He – possibly referring to Nebuchadnezzar – transgresses by wine…
      • The thought is likely referring to being fermented / spoiled (like wine) – by his sin…
      • What is the first sin of Babylon / Nebby – greed and the desire for wealth!
      • He was too proud to stay at home (be content) – his desire for wealth could not be satisfied!
      • Like the grave (hell) / death – no matter how many enter – there is always a need for more!
    • Nothing in this world will ever be enough for us – we will never find fulfillment…
      • We can try to eat to be happy – but we will only be hungry the next day…
      • We can be pretty to be happy – but the new clothes will wear out and fade…
      • We can try to be rich to be happy – but there will always be something more to buy!
      • Because we were not created by God to be fulfilled by the things of this world…
      • We were created by God to know Him – worship Him – John 17:3
      • And only when we use our life for the purpose God intended for it…
      • Worshiping and getting to know our Lord – will we find we are satisfied – John 4:14
  • 2^nd – He will end up a debtor… vs. 6-8
    • People will taunt him with the proverb – woe to him who increases wealth with loans (pledges)
      • The day is coming when all the creditors will demand payment – payday (booty)!
      • Because Babylon plundered many nations – Babylon would be plundered…
      • Likely referring to the conquest of Cyrus of Babylon in 539 B.C.
      • 40% of all American households carry a balance month to month on their credit cards…
      • IN 2016 the total credit card debt in the US climbed to almost 1 trillion dollars!
      • Yes 85% of people will not talk credit debt – more taboo than religion / politics / salary!
      • Because – Proverbs 22:7 – “…the borrower [is] a slave to the lender.”
      • The ideal of instant gratification is rampant in our society – we deserve more…
      • The concept that we can have something today – and pay for it tomorrow is short sighted…
      • If we do not have something – and cannot afford it – we must not need it!
      • Romans 13:8 – “Owe no one anything except to love one another…”
• Rather than covet things and be brought into bondage – be content…
  • The greater blessing is to learn to live off our income / live within our means!

• Be content with food and clothing – I Timothy 6:8 / our wages – Luke 3:14…
• Learn to be content as we experience that nothing in life satisfies us but Jesus!
• Philippians 4:11 – “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content…”

• 2^nd – Woe to him that teaches others to covet… vs. 9-11
  • 1^st – The man who covets ‘evil gain’ for his house… vs. 9
    • The one who desires to set the nest is set up high – so the family is save from disaster…
      • On the surface this does not seem like such a bad thing – provide for the family…

• In fact it is an expectation in our culture – our duty to provide – bring home the bacon!
• But while we are required to work – it is the result of the curse – Genesis 3:17…
• We are not called to provide – God is our provider – Luke 12:32
• 2^nd – Shameful counsel…  vs. 10-11
  • Those who teach their families to live for wealth – give shameful counsel…
  • It is a sin against their soul – because it will potentially cost their children eternity!
  • I had have seen it so many times – Dads who prepare their kids to be successful in life…
  • Pushing their kids to do well in school – so they can get a good education / job…
  • Wanting their kids to have the best this life can offer – but at what cost…
  • What does it matter our kids are successful – if they do not make it to heaven!
  • It is the number one responsibility of Dads to teach their kids about Jesus!
  • Too often fathers forget that they are to be the spiritual leaders of their homes
  • We need to take the time to read the Bible with our children / pray with them…
  • If we do not teach our kids to have a relationship with Jesus – who will!

• 3^rd  – Woe to him that seeks a wordly legacy… vs. 12-14
  • 1^st – The man that builds a town on bloodshed… vs. 12
    • Speaking of the slavery used to construct the mighty Babylonian empire…
    • Nations were built on the backs of slaves – and have been throughout history…
    • As many as 1/3 of the inhabitants of Rome were slaves…
    • It is estimated that 1 million slaves died in the building of the Great wall…
    • In 1860 – start of the civil war – there were almost 4 million slaves in the US!
  • 2^nd – For all their efforts they just feeding the fire… vs. 13
    • All of these nations thought they were building something that would last forever…
    • But the Roman Empire is gone / the Great wall is in ruins / and the US is scarred by its past…
    • All their efforts were in vain – no lasting legacy – because nothing in this world is meant to last!
    • II Peter 3:12-13 – “God will set the heavens on fire and the [earth] will melt away in the flames…”
    • Everything in this life is destined burn – we cannot take any of it with us…
    • People strive their whole lives to find success – but what it success worth apart from God…
    • You might end up rich – but all you really get is a lot of NICE FIREWOOD!
  • 3^rd – The earth will be filled with knowledge of the Lord – as water covers the sea… vs. 14
    • A statement that has been fulfilled in the past – and will be in the future…
    • In the days of Babylon – when Daniel showed Cyrus it was God who called him – Isaiah 45:1
    • In the days of Jesus – as the Gospel was dispersed throughout the world – Acts 17:6
    • At the end coming of Jesus Christ – when He establishes His Kingdom – Daniel 2:44
    • The one ‘empire’ that will never pass away – the only one that matters!
    • Therefore do not miss the purpose of life by devoting time to something that is doomed…
    • How much better to invest our time and efforts into a Kingdom that will never fade!
    • Invest is something that we can take with us to heaven – people we share Jesus with!

How much better to LIVE BY FAITH – justified / forgiven – with the hope of heaven!

4^th – Woe to him that mocks… vs. 15-16

The first 3 woes all focused on the desire for earthly wealth…

Increasing wealth / teaching others to cover / seeking a worldly legacy

The last 2 woes will focus on trying to escape the judgment that results from the first 3 woes!

1^st – The man who gives a drink to his neighbor just to get him drunk… vs. 15

Pressing the bottle – so that he gets drunk enough – he can mock him as get gets naked!

Speaking of Babylon forcing the nations around them to join in their wickedness…

If they could get others to drink in and expose in sin – then Babylon did not look so bad!

Many people today enjoy pointing out the failures of others – so they do not look so bad…

Looking for people who make more / greater mistakes – so they look better!

Assuming because they are more ‘Godly’ than others – they are a good person…

But God does not grade on a curve – He has only one standard – His Word…

And compared to the standard of God – all of us are in desperate need of Jesus!

2^nd – God would force Babylon to drink… vs. 16

Then THEY would be exposed as the uncircumcised – pagan – nation they were …

They would drink the cup of the right hand of God – the judgment of God!

Interesting imagery considering Babylon / Belshazzar fell during a drunken party – Daniel 6

The truth is we will all stand before Jesus – and be accountable for our lives…

So rather than focusing on what others are doing right or wrong…

We need to make sure we are walking pure and holy before the Lord!

5^th – Woe to him that trusts… vs. 17-20

1^st – The violence of Lebanon will cover you… vs. 17

Lebanon is likely a reference to Judah – and the violence Babylon perpetrated against them…

They treated them like beasts – spreading fear – slaughtering in cities and countryside…

As a result they would share the same fate – terror would fall on Babylon!

Rather than repent and turn to the Lord – Babylon would run to their idols to save them!

In Judges 10:14 – the people of Ammon oppressed the Israel…

Israel was not having problems because God was not able to save them…

God had already saved Israel from Egypt / the Amorites / and the Philistines…

The problem was Israel kept going back to the other gods rather than the Lord…

How many times did God have to God teach Israel the same lesson – He was done!

God told Israel to cry INSTEAD to the gods they had trusted in!

The problem with living for something other than the Lord…

Is when life begins to fall apart – we tend to depend on them rather than the Lord!

2^nd – What profit is the image… vs. 18-19

But in that day of terror what good would all of the idols of Babylon do…

Those who carved / molded them / taught others to trust them – were teachers of lies!

They created dumb idols – then called from them to Awake!

Asked silent stone to – Arise and teach us – but they were not alive!

How foolish to trust in them – rather than the Lord in His Holy Temple!

Before whom whole earth will one day one day be silent – no excuses!

Isaiah 44:19-20 – “The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, ‘Why, it’s just a block of wood! Should I bow down to worship a chunk of wood?’”

How foolish to trust in idols to answer prayers / help in hard times!

We might argue that we are far beyond that – we are far more educated today…

But we forget what our money is made of – paper is a wood product…

Many still trust in George – $1 / Abe – $5 / and our favorite – Ben – $100 to save them!

The contrast could not be more dynamic…

Because life is not about the 70+/- year we have here on this earth…

Life is about where we will spend eternity – what happens after we die…

Therefore woe to those that are proud – that seeking after the things of this life…

The misery of riches – the destruction of family – the loss of a legacy…

Who try to influence other to justify themselves – trusting in things that cannot save!