Category Archives: Habakkuk

Posted in Habakkuk

Popular Idols

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Who do you regard as the most popular singing idol of your era?

We are all inclined to have our favourite movie star, sportsman/woman, sports team, singer,  singing group, pastime, whatever. Who or what is your favourite?

The danger arises when we actually idolise that person, that team, that group, that pastime.

In today’s study, Habakkuk speaks about the images the Babylonians idolised.

Habakkuk 2:18 NIrV

‘”If someone carves a statue of a god, what is it worth? What value is there in a god that teaches lies? The one who trusts in another god worships his own creation. He makes statues of gods that can’t speak.

Photo by Chad Kirchoff from Pexels

  • Take a close look at the picture above what do you think is happening?

This could be a photo of a congregation of Christians responding to a Gospel message or worshipping Jesus Christ our Lord.

Alternatively, it could represent folk at a music festival swaying in time with the music coming from the band on the platform.

Maybe even a political gathering.

In effect, one could say that in each situation there is a danger of those gathered worshipping those up front.

Even Christians face the danger of idolizing someone in leadership.

  • I wish I could affect lives as Billy Graham did.
  • If only I was as good at leading a bible study as…….
  • I attend this church because the pastor is so down to earth.

It is so easy for us to become caught up in making idols of performance, publicity, personalities,  personal ability, popularity, pleasure, prosperity.

A created idol

“What you are to a paper airplane, God is to you. Take a sheet of paper and make one  [a paper airplane]. Contrast yourself with your creation. …The thing has no brainwaves. no pulse. It exists only because you formed it and flies only when someone throws it.” (Max Lucado – ‘It’s not about me.’)

No way can an idol created by human hands, be of help to the one who created it. As Max Lucado points out the person who creates is always greater than whatever he has created. It is pure foolishness to believe that a man-made object is able to actively guide and direct humans. Idols cannot speak, so they cannot provide any form of true guidance. 

But then Christians do not make idols and worship them, do they?

  • Do you perhaps have the idol of pagan religion in a prominent place in your home? a little buddha? an African mask?, a Muslim prayer mat? a Koran? I trust you don’t worship that item.
  • But is it wise to even have an object that is worshipped or used by pagans in your home?

“Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. Don’t bow down and worship idols. I am the LORD your God, and I demand all your love.…” (Exodus 20:3-5a CEV)

Idolised objects

  • What about other items that are worshipped by mankind today?

People are often inclined to worship man-made things like motor cars, houses, boats, jewellery, and art. All of us appreciate beautiful and useful things, but to become so passionate about possessing them makes them the centre of our worship.

If you own something you cannot give away, then you don’t own it, it owns you. (Albert Schweitzer - Quotefancy.com) Click To Tweet

A Human idol

  • As I mentioned at the start of this study, we all have an inclination to indulge in hero worship at times. Who do you tend to idolize? Be honest.

A very real area of idolatry is our inclination to focus our attention and admiration on man rather than on God. Famous people such as politicians, sportsmen and women, the wealthy, and movie stars are so readily idolized.

Popularity, success or a high IQ can all become idols too.

Unfortunately, people we care a lot for can also slip into the category of an idol – boyfriend, girlfriend, parent, child, pastor, team leader, marriage partner to the extent that they take the place that only God should hold.

Self-worth is another dangerous area of ungodly worship. We become so absorbed with our self-worth that it upsets us when others don’t show us the respect that we feel we deserve.

Satanic worship

Our adversary the devil is the chief exponent of this degree of self-worship.

In Isaiah 14:12-14 (CEV) we find reference to Lucifer who is identified with Satan. Lucifer was a fallen angel whom Isaiah calls the ‘son of the morning’. He is accused of having tried to be like God. For this pride-filled ambition, he was cast down to the deep world of the dead (Isaiah 14:15 CEV)

Ever since he has sought to thwart any and all human effort to worship the one true God, Satan has enticed us to focus our attention on things, on people, on ourselves. He even tried to get our Lord to worship him.

The devil said to him (Jesus), “I will give all this to you (all the kingdoms of the earth and their power – Matthew 4:8 CEV) , if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ “(Matthew 4:9,10 CEV)

True worship

“Worship humbles the smug and lifts the deflated. Worship adjusts us, lowering the chin of the haughty, straightening the back of the hardened.’ (Spend 365 days reading the Bible with Max Lucado.)

John 4 records how, at a well on the outskirts of the village of Sychar, a woman tried to get into a debate with Jesus over the correct place to worship God.

Jesus response was in effect, the place of worship is not the issue. The important factor is the one who is the focus of your worship. He went on to say,

“But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him.” (John 4:23 CEV)

The Babylonian focus for worship was lifeless, worthless, speechless inactive idols.

The focus of our worship as Christians is not on things or personalities or even ourselves, but the living God, through His Son Jesus Christ. As we open our lives to Jesus we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He then orchestrates and focuses our worship on our gracious Heavenly Father.

God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is.” (John 4:24 GNB)

Take a look around your home. Do you have any objects that are idols in another faith? Should you discard them?

Invite the Holy Spirit now to enable you to worship God and Him only.

P.S. If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Endangered or Entrusted?

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In the beginning ….

So begins the greatest story of creation. (Genesis 1:1)

In the beginning, God created our wonderful world. The crowning act of His creation was mankind. He entrusted us with the task of maintaining this beautiful world and the creatures it contains.

“GOD took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.” (Genesis 2:15 MSG)

“So GOD formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air.He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name.” (Genesis 2:19 MSG)

In the beginning: God entrusted us with a beautiful world

  • Describe a favourite scenic spot that you enjoy visiting whenever possible.
  • Can you think of somewhere you once enjoyed visiting that is no longer available to you? Why is it no longer available?

Let’s see what Habakkuk has to say:

Habakkuk 2:17 TNIV

‘The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.’

Photo by Piotr Arnoldes from Pexels

Deforestation

Our text states that Babylon’s devastation and violence would come back to haunt them. In their greed and conquest, they had stripped the forests of Lebanon of its vegetation and animals.

Similarly, our picture above illustrates how vast forests are cut down to make way for railway lines, highways, sports stadiums, town extensions, larger cities and industrial sites. etc. All this has a detrimental effect on both plant and animal life.

Just recently at the COP26 Conference held in Glasgow, Scotland, 130 countries resolved to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.

Right now, there is a huge outcry as mining companies operate a massive seismic blasting operation along the shores of the wild coast of South Africa. This will have devastating effects on the sea animals as far as the arctic circle. (Read more about this horrific destruction of God’s creation here.)

In addition to the deliberate deforestation, there are numerous forest fires caused by man’s negligence. Many of God’s creatures are being deprived of their natural habitat.

Image by Ria Sopala from Pixabay

Some time back there was an outcry in the media. In Bangladesh, sand is being dredged out of the rivers, causing the river banks to collapse and fertile farmlands to erode away.

Entrusted but Endangered?

The Almighty God, Creator of the world has always had a concern for ecology ‘the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment’ (Collins English Dictionary). In His command to the human race, He includes the responsibility for both plant and animal life.

Moreover, deforestation and forest fires are not the only means through which animal life is being diminished. Sadly many of the creatures God created, that once freely roamed our earth, no longer exist because of man’s failure to carry out this responsibility. An example of human-induced extinction is the dodo bird which once inhabited the island of Mauritius.

Today, almost all emperor penguins face extinction in the very near future. Thanks to man’s pollution of rivers, lakes and the sea. Between oil spillages, discarded waste and plastic goods man is killing off sea life.

Cruelty to Animals

In fact, sadly on our own continent (Africa) rhino’s and elephants are being mutilated and slaughtered for their horns and tusks which are being ground into powder and used medicinally.

  • Are we any less guilty than the Babylonians of misusing and abusing what God has created?

As the representative of all mankind, Adam was entrusted with God’s creation. This responsibility has been passed down to you and me.

  • What are we doing to protect what God has entrusted to us?

Bloodshed

Yet the more serious crime was the Babylonian bloodshed and the slaughter of the residents of the towns and cities which they overpowered.

Down through the centuries, this malicious taking of human life has become a plague.

Our Lord prophesied that “Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other.” (Luke 21:10 CEV) This certainly has been true. Apart from the two great world wars throughout history, there has been strife between nations, between communities, and even within families ending in bloodshed. Gang warfare destroys Innocent parties.

  • Is there warfare (perhaps not physical) but nonetheless ill feelings between you and a family member, a relative, a neighbour, a church leader? How can you bring about reconciliation?

Apart from conflict situations involving violence, lives are being lost on our roads through negligent driving, road rage and people taking chances. Thieves resort to violence and murder in their quest for material goods. And here in South Africa earlier this year, a protest overflowed into rioting and the damage of shopping malls, in which lives were lost in a stampede to loot the shops.

Sadly law enforcement agencies do not seem to be able to stem the violence and killings. They seem unable to bring the guilty parties to book.

Trustees of an Amazing World

You and I have been entrusted with this world that God created. We need to seek His guidance on how to handle the negative impact that man’s actions are having on creation.

Until the Lord’s return or our departure for heaven, we need to be proactive in our efforts to do all we can to save our world from utter devastation.

As we noted in the last study God’s message via Habakkuk was that the time for the turning of the tables on all wrongdoers was rapidly approaching. God declared

‘You destroyed trees and animals on Mount Lebanon; you were ruthless to towns and people everywhere. Now you will be terrorized. (Habakkuk 2:17 CEV)

Ask the Lord to show you today something you can be doing to nurture what He has entrusted to our care.

P.S.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Tables turned

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There are times in life when we anticipate a certain event to take place but the tables are turned and the unexpected happens.

  • What unexpected event comes to mind where things did not turn out as you anticipated.

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly turned things upside down. Many events had to be cancelled. The imposition of the lockdown regulations and the requirement of hand sanitization, masks covering both nose and mouth and social distancing, curbed many regular activities.

Last Friday, our suburb was dealt a huge blow when our power suddenly switched off . . . and only returned 108 hours later! That was for some. Our complex had been affected by the prolonged power outage and we only returned online after 116 hours.

The experience made us very aware of how we depend on electricity! No lights. Internet unaccessible. Unable to charge phones. No way to heat food. Freezers-full of food thrown out.

An expensive five days. It also made us aware of what so many if our country go through on a regular basis. Many have no power. They have no running water. No flushing toilets. Ever.

In our text, for this week Habakkuk announces how the tables are turned on the Babylonians.

Habakkuk 2:16 NIrV

‘But the Babylonians will be filled with shame instead of glory. So now it is their turn to drink and be stripped of their clothes. The cup of anger in my powerful right hand is going to punish them. They will be covered with shame instead of glory.’

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels

As we noted in the previous verse (Habakkuk 2:15) the Babylonians were engaged in shameful and humiliating activities.

  • What are some of the shameful activities of our modern-day society?

Shamed

When the king of Ammon died, he was succeeded by his son Hanun. Because his father had been kind to King David, David sent some of his officials to express his condolences. (2 Samuel 10:1.2)

Hanun’s officials saw this as David’s means of spying on the city so,

“Hanun arrested David’s officials and had their beards shaved off on one side of their faces. He had their robes cut off just below the waist, and then he sent them away.”(2 Samuel 10:4 CEV)

The story continued: 

“When David heard about what had happened, he sent word for them to stay in Jericho and not return until their beards had grown again.” (2 Samuel 10:5 GNB) 

David’s army subsequently attacked the Ammonites and defeated them, causing them to flee back to their city.

  • Can you think of someone who has had an unexpected experience that caused them shame? Can you think of a way you can help them put it behind them?

Misinterpreted Motives

David’s motives were misinterpreted—and that lead to warfare. Often our good motives are misunderstood.

  • Can you recall an occasion when you did something with pure motives, only to have it rejected by others? How did you respond?

An elderly lady in one of my congregations had been the church organist for many years. Because she was not receiving much of a pension, I managed to find out her bank details. Our church Board of Management then organised for a certain amount to be deposited in her account every month.

After many months she discovered where the money was coming from and I received a very stern rebuke from her and was instructed to stop the payments immediately.

Tables are Turned

Through Habakkuk, God declared that the tables would be turned on the Babylonians. Instead of glory, they would encounter shame.

In Bible times, conquering armies often led their captives back to their capital city in chains. There their captors received a glorious welcome from the citizens of that city. 

Certainly, in the past, the Babylonians had gloriously, victoriously, returned with their captives in tow after each conquest. However, the time was coming when they would be filled with shame instead of glory.

Where they had taken advantage of their enemies, the time was coming when it would be their turn to drink and be stripped of their clothes.

They had humiliated those they had conquered, but, they would themselves be conquered and humiliated.

Cup of Anger

The disgraceful behaviour depicted in Habakkuk 2:15 may not be regarded as serious or even regarded as normal in this sin-sick world of ours. But one day everything will come into the light—for God knows. God sees. And He will not let sin go unpunished.

The “right hand” is a symbol of God’s vengeance upon all sinners, paying back in kind what the judged person had done.

Just as the Babylonians made their neighbours act like drunkards under severe onslaughts, so the Lord would give them a cup of judgment that would make them like those drunk with wine. The very thing in which the Babylonians glorified would become the object of their shame. 

Babylon is pictured as being worthy of contempt, as a drunk staggering around, who has lost his self-control and the respect of everyone including himself.

Babylon’s Judgement

  • Do you recall an occasion when everything seemed to be going wrong and you could see no solution to the problems you were facing? Then unexpectedly God turned the tables and the problems seemed to melt away.

As we noted earlier on in our study of this prophecy, earthly Babylon is symbolic of spiritual Babylon. God’s final condemnation of symbolic Babylon is, “Treat her as she has treated others. Make her pay double for what she has done. Make her drink twice as much of what she mixed for others.” (Revelation 18:6 CEV)

National Babylon was able to get away with her violent actions and her humiliation of her enemies for a time. Yet finally, God through Habakkuk, indicated that there would be a time when they would encounter His severe judgement.

Final Judgement

Similarly, a time is coming when all sinners will face God’s judgement. For, as Paul put it in his letter to the Roman Christians,

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” (Romans 3:23 CEV)
“When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.” (Romans 6:23 NIrV)

Yes! We are all sinners! But praise the Lord, through faith in Christ God assures those of us who have opened our lives to Jesus that,

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” ( Isaiah 1:18)

Jesus Christ paid the debt incurred by our sin when he died on the cross of Calvary.

Have you received God’s free gift of eternal life yet? If not please email me. I woud love to help you take that step.

P.S. If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Advantage gained

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Gaining an Advantage

Do you recall a time when someone deceived you to gain some form of advantage over you? Think about it, or if applicable share it with your group.

Habakkuk 2:15 NIV

“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!”

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

In Habakkuk 2:5, we saw the effect wine had on the Babylonians themselves. Here the Lord deals with their use of wine to gain an advantage over their enemies.

The Fourth Woe

Our verse introduces us to the next of the five woes.

  • We saw the first of these woes in Habakkuk 2:6 …. ‘extortion’.
  • And the second was in verse 9 …. ‘unjust gain’. 
  • The third woe we found in verse 12 …. ‘bloodshed’.
  • The next woe against the Babylonians, which we look at today, was that they deceived their neighbouring nations to obtain an advantage over them.

Impaired Judgement

The prophet’s words indicate that the Babylonians not only had a passion for wine themselves. But in fact, they also used wine as a means to take advantage of their neighbours. The Babylonian goal was to impair the judgment of the nations that they were seeking to conquer,  in order to weaken their ability to resist.

A modern-day example of this can be seen in the man who sneaks a rape drug into a woman’s drink to gain an advantage over her.

“To give one drink who is in want, who is thirsty and poor, or a weary traveller, or ready to perish, is charity; but to give a neighbour drink, that he may expose himself, may disclose secret concerns, or be drawn into a bad bargain, or for any such purpose, this is wickedness.” (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary)

In effect, our verse firstly contains a stern warning against those who cause others to become intoxicated. And secondly, to do this to take advantage of them.

A Stern Warning

Moreover, the drink that Habakkuk is referring to is alcoholic. Alcohol given to someone so that their judgment would be impaired.

Here in my country of South Africa, as in many other countries of the world, alcoholism is a major problem. In many communities, a large portion of a working man’s income is spent on strong drink.

Alcoholism takes a firm hold on an addict. They become so intoxicated that they lose control of their words and actions. They are a pathetic sight to see.

Sadly, when a person has joined Alcoholics Anonymous and is undergoing treatment and counselling in an attempt to break the curse, just one sip of alcohol can be a major setback to their recovery.

I know of a man who was ‘on the wagon’ and doing so well. Then one Sunday he attended a church service where communion was celebrated with real wine being served as part of the sacrament. Just that small amount of wine was enough to cause him a major setback to his recovery. With this in mind, in none of my churches did we serve wine. Instead, we used grape juice.

We have a friend with a drinking problem. Consequently, we know that should we invite him to any celebration we must ensure that we don’t have alcohol available.

  • Do you have family, friends or acquaintances with a drinking problem? Be aware of their problem. Ensure that you are not guilty of escalating their downfall.

New Life in Christ

Bear in mind, drunkenness belongs to the way of the world. Not part of the new life in Christ.

“You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good.” (1 Peter 4:3  The Message)

“Let us conduct ourselves properly, as people who live in the light of day—no orgies or drunkenness, no immorality or indecency, no fighting or jealousy.” (Romans 13:13 GNB)

The Babylonians were guilty of seeking to impair the judgement of their enemies to gain an advantage over them.

Gained Advantage 

 As indicated in Matthew Henry’s commentary, to give a single drink to a thirsty visitor, traveller or someone who is dehydrated is an act of love and friendship. But to give someone several drinks to take advantage of them in any way is sinful in God’s sight.

Most versions have a similar translation of our verse, to that of the New International Version. However, the Good News Bible throws a different light on the verse.

 “You are doomed! In your fury you humiliated and disgraced your neighbours; you made them stagger as though they were drunk.”

Most of us have had a humiliating experience at some point in our lives. Some of these experiences we can have a good laugh about later. Others stir up a sense of shame. Does a particular experience come to mind? Are you able to speak about it openly?

Child of God

Although the words of our verse were specifically aimed at the Babylonians they also serve as a warning to us today not to go down this path. The loving God does not approve of any action which deliberately demeans or humiliates another.

With this in mind ask yourself – Is someone perhaps uptight with you because consciously,  or even unconsciously, at some point, you have belittled, demeaned, or humiliated them? 

Remember you are a child of God, a joint-heir with Christ. The world may seek to put you down, but God regards you as someone special.

“So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:7 NIV)

Think about this:

Have I personally humiliated someone or was I a witness to someone being humiliated? Ask the Lord to give you the courage to make things right with that person.

P.S.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

It’s a beautiful world

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God’s glory in nature

Habakkuk 2:14 NIV

‘Meanwhile the earth fills up with awareness of God’s glory as the waters cover the sea.’  

 Think for a moment of a seaside scene or of mountain grandeur. What emotions does it stir up within you?

Shirley and I live in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in a retirement village, a matter of only seven minutes walk to the nearest beach. It is great to walk along the beachfront or sit gazing out across the bay and reflect on the greatness of our Creator God.

For the Christian, the beauty of nature all around us stimulates our awareness of the glory of our God.

On their CD entitled ‘Perfect Harmony,’ the Blake group sing the song ‘Beautiful Earth’. They sing of the wonderful world God has created for our enjoyment. I encourage you to click on the link and watch the video. It’s only three minutes long. When you’re finished, close the tab and you’ll be back here. It is indeed a beautiful earth. But sadly, mankind has marred so much of it. 

Babylon’s Honour Fades

The goal of the Babylonians appeared to be that of making their nation into one held in great honour by other nations. Yet, rather than “the earth” being filled with the glory of the Babylonians, one day it will “be filled with awareness of God’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.”

The city of Babylon was eventually conquered In 539 B.C. by the Persian king, Cyrus the Great. However, the final fall of the city of Babylon was finally only achieved when the Babylonian Empire came under Persian control.

This prediction actually refers to end times, to the ultimate destruction of symbolic Babylon in God’s final future judgement (Revelation 16:19—18:24).

Symbolic Babylon

Habakkuk regarded Babylon as a reference to the Babylonian Empire as he knew it, but ever since the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), ‘Babylon’ has in fact had a symbolic meaning as well as a literal one.

  • So what then does ‘Babylon’ symbolise?

In addition to being a physical city Babylon also symbolically represents all that is ungodly. All the facets of man’s sinfulness, as well as all those folk who, through self-reliance, seek to glorify themselves and gain heaven by their own works.

Consequently God did destroy the Babylonian Empire. But the evils that Babylon represent will continue until Jesus Christ returns to the earth to set up His one thousand year kingdom (the millennium—Revelation 20:4-6). Then God will finally destroy all evil practices and evildoers, all that has marred the beauty of the world God created.           

“A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”‘ (Revelation 14:8 NIV)

“The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (Revelation 17:5 NIV)

Revealing God’s Glory

Everything and everyone exists to reveal His glory. Including you. - Max Lucado - 'It's not about me' Click To Tweet

  • In what ways may the earth be filled with the glory of God?

“Just as water fills the sea, the land will be filled with people who know and honor the LORD” (The Contemporary English Version).  So then, as this translation indicates there is a process taking place even now by which God’s glory is being extended to the ends of the earth.

  • What can we who love and serve the Lord do in making sure that the folk we know become aware of God’s glory?

Equally important, in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul highlights the fact that we were chosen to bring praise to God’s glory.

”We were the first to put our hope in Christ. We were chosen to bring praise to his glory.”(Ephesians 1:12 NIrV)

Christlike Living 

Paul also wrote, “Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers.”  (Colossians 4:5)

Non-believers take note of what we do.  Their picture of Jesus is so often clouded by our actions and words. If we are kind they see Jesus as kind. If we are considerate that is how they see Jesus. So if we are short-tempered and unloving, that is how they imagine Jesus to be.

Created Impression

Max Lucado tells of a chat he had with a rabbi on a plane flight. The rabbi did most of the talking and used an illustration of the daughter of the CEO of a large firm to make a point. This young lady traded on her status as the ‘bosses daughter’ to get various staff members to fall in line with her requests even though they interfered with their required duties. Consequently, the staff impression of their CEO whom they had not seen was reflected in his daughter’s actions.

The rabbi went on to suggest that the picture would be different if the daughter’s actions were different. If she went out of her way to show kindness by offering to help. The staff would then have a more positive impression of their CEO, even though she never mentioned his name and they had never met him personally.

“They’ve never seen him. They’ve never met him. But they know his child, so they know his heart. May we have no higher goal than to see someone think more highly of our Father, our King.” (Adapted from “It’s not about me’ by Max Lucado)

Existing to God’s glory 

“Why does the earth spin? For Him.  Why do we have talents and abilities? For Him.  Why do you have money or poverty? For Him. Everything and everyone exists to reveal His glory. Including  you” (Max Lucado – ‘It’s not about me’)

Furthermore, just think about this concept for a while. The reason you and I exist is to glorify God.

“God made all things, and everything continues through him and for him. To him be the glory forever” (Romans 11:36 NCV)

Consider – What can I do today, which will bring God glory?

P.S.
If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Memories Round a Camp Fire

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A Wood-burning fire

Image by Gerhard Bögner from Pixabay

  • Does this wood-burning fire bring back happy memories for you?

Most of us have probably at some time in our lives sat beside a campfire. Perhaps in our youth group days. Or maybe as a scout or a guide. Possibly at a family gathering at a picnic spot.

I certainly recall several youth camps and congregational retreats where at least one evening each time was spent out in the open around a campfire.

Our text for this week is about wood-burning fires.

Habakkuk 2:13 NIrV

I am the LORD who rules over all. Human effort is no better than wood that feeds a fire. So the nations wear themselves out for nothing.’

Devastating fire

Controlled campfires are great, but fire out of control is scary.

Several years back devastating fires raged out of control along what is known as South Africa’s Garden Route. Firefighters battled for days to bring a large number of fires under control. No sooner had they managed to bring one fire under control than another broke out elsewhere.

Our son and his family were living at the time in the small town of Sedgefield. As the fires threatened the town, the citizens were warned to be ready to evacuate. When fires broke out on both sides of the town evacuation was almost impossible. Christian groups throughout the country were praying for the fires to be brought under control. Praise the Lord the fires surrounding Sedgefield were doused.

Devastated by fire

Another town in the area was not so fortunate. The fire swept into the suburbs of Knysna where many homes were devastated. The Knysna Provincial Hospital was also threatened and patients had to be evacuated.  Today, years later, as one drives through the town evidence of the carnage can be seen in the form of burnt-out ruins of what had once been elegant family homes.

Bringing fire under control is one of the most frightening experiences of life.

Fuel for the fire

Our text verse focuses on the Lord who remains in control despite the futility of human effort which is no better than wood that feeds a fire.

God’s assessment was that the Babylonian’s hard work was all in vain, would amount to “nothing.” Instead, it would turn out to be fuel for the fire of God’s judgment that would burn them up.

Jeremiah reinforces these words specifically naming Babylon.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground, and her high gates shall be burned with fire.The peoples labor for nothing, and the nations weary themselves only for fire.” (Jeremiah 51:58 ESV)

Babylon’s splendour and its impressive appearance were created by the hard labour of people, in most cases slaves. It was not a labour of love but enforced labour. Yet their labour was in vain because all would be destroyed, never to be rebuilt.

Building failures

In the last session, we noted that within recent months, buildings and causeways have collapsed because inferior materials were used.

  • What specific buildings or constructions do you know of, where builders used second rate building materials and as a result, their construction did not stand up to certain events?
  • Can you think of any project which you were once engaged in that, despite its wonderful potential, proved to be worthless?
  • What building materials are you using to grow your faith? Will they stand up to whatever life throws at them?                                                                                                                             

Fireproof building materials

Paul teaches us about God-glorifying building materials.

“But each of you must be careful how you build. For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid.

Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.

If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.” (I Corinthians 3:10b-15 GNB)

Burned in fire

During His ministry, Jesus spoke of Himself as the vine and His disciples the branches. He warned,

“If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire.

Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you.”(John 15:6,7a CEV)

 

Unless we stay close to Jesus we will be like the Babylonians, “no better than wood that feeds a fire.” Worth nothing!

Even as Christians it is possible to focus our lives on those things that are combustible (of no lasting value). We will still be saved if we have put our lives in Jesus(See 1 Corinthians 3:15)  But how much better it is to be guided by the Holy Spirit into those activities that are not ‘burnt up’ but carry an eternal value.

 

Ask the Lord to pinpoint any activity that you are involved in, which is diminishing rather than building up your faith. Verbalise one step you can take to improve or step away from this activity.

P.S.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

How Blood Money Can Save Us

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Consequences of a Bad Foundation

Two people were killed and 29 people injured when a section of the Tongaat Mall collapsed during construction on November 19 2013. 

After 27 years the Queen Isabella Causeway, the longest bridge in Texas, between Port Isabel and South Padre Island, collapsed. On September 15th 2001 a tugboat pulling barges crashed into the supports of the causeway plunging vehicles and their occupants into the Laguna Madre.

Only two of a number of horrific examples of the consequences of using inferior building materials.

Image by Borko Manigoda from Pixabay
Our text verse for this session speaks of what happens when we build on a poor foundation.

Habakkuk 2:12 CEV

“You’re doomed! You built a city on crime and violence.”

Today’s News

Open your newspaper, turn to the news on the TV. or listen to the radio. The message remains the same. It’s all about crime, iniquity, murder, bloodshed, lawlessness, injustice, violence. All these words are used in the various versions of our verse for this session. 
Often crime results in bloody violence and loss of life. Even the distribution of the COVID-19  vaccine has been subject to lawlessness.

Blood Money

The New International Version of Habakkuk 2:12 introduces us to the third of five woes, “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!”

Do you remember the first two?

  • We saw the first of these woes in verse 6 …. ‘extortion’.
  • And the second was in verse 9 …. ‘unjust gain’. 
  • Today we look at the third woe …. ‘bloodshed’.
  • What do you understand by the term ‘blood money’?

The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘blood money’ along these lines:

  1. money paid in compensation to the family of a murdered person
  2. money paid to a hired killer
  • Can you think of any ways that people are earning blood money today?
    • How about miners dying of a disease caused by their poor working conditions?
    • Or politicians murdered by members of an opposing party?
    • Can you think of any others?

History reveals how often someone rose to a position of power and authority through the shedding of blood. Perhaps by getting someone else to do their dirty work for them.

Cities Built on Blood Money

God denounces those who established a government or built a city with blood money. 

Remember the very first murder recorded in Scripture? Cain murdered his brother Abel. He then built a city (Genesis 4:17).

This particular denouncement is specifically against the Babylonians as can be seen in the NIrV translation of our text,

How terrible it will be for the Babylonians! They build cities by spilling the blood of others. They establish towns by committing crimes.

The city of Babylon was built with blood money. The Babylonians built their cities using their captives as forced labour. Many lost their lives under their cruel slave drivers.

Built on Jewish suffering

We also read in the Old Testament how thousands of years ago, the Jews were slaves in Egypt. The country was being built with blood money. The children of Israel had been in Egypt for generations since Joseph’s day. However, they became so numerous, that the ruling Pharaoh feared their presence.

He feared that one day they would join forces with Eygpt’s enemies. Gradually, he forced the Israelites to become his slaves. And he put them to work on building the grand cities of Egypt.

Then, we read, God met up with Moses in Midian and said,

“I have seen how my people are suffering as slaves in Egypt, and I have heard them beg for my help because of the way they are being mistreated. I feel sorry for them, and I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:7,8a CEV)

We know that under Moses and Aaron’s leadership at the time of the Exodus, the Israelites were set free to return to the Promised Land.

Built on God 

Psalm 127:1 reminds us that there is only one secure and safe foundation,

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (ESV)

  • In what ways may we build a house in vain?

Just as there is a right way and a wrong way to build a city, so too there is a right way and a wrong way to build a career, a home, or a family.

In a parable, Jesus tells about what will happen if a builder takes a shortcut. If they don’t do a proper survey of the land, the building will be in danger of collapsing during storms or disasters.

“Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock…. Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn’t obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand.” (Matthew 7:24, 26 CEV)

So what is the correct foundation for our lives?

According to the words of Jesus Himself, our foundation needs to be upon His teachings.

Shed blood

Paradoxically, the only remedy for our crime and the violence-infested world is the shedding of blood. We have been bought with Blood money! The blood of the only One who can offer us true safety and security.

In instituting what we observe as, Communion, Eucharist, or the Last Supper, Jesus said:

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20 NIV)

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28 NIV)

Jesus Christ paid the price for your sins and mine by shedding His precious blood on the cross of Calvary. He paid blood money for us!

What a wonderful Saviour!!!

How firm is your foundation?

Is there an area you need to start working on today?

We often sing that ancient hymn, The Church’s One Foundation is Jesus Christ, the Lord. Click on this link and sing the words, thinking about their meaning as you sing. 

P.S.

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Posted in Habakkuk

Stones will burst forth in praise

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In order to continue the sequence of verses in Habakkuk, this session is an adaptation of a study that we did earlier this year to fit in with the message of Easter.

Image by D.William from Pixabay – Biblical words added from Daniel 5:25

Habakkuk 2:11 ASV

“For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.”

A Wall of Stones and Timber

Isn’t this a strange concept? Stones calling out of a wall? And beams replying?

Habakkuk was creating a picture for us of the ancient practice of building walls with three layers of stone followed by a layer of timber.

“The inner courtyard of the temple had walls made out of three layers of cut stones with one layer of cedar beams.” (1 Kings 6:36)

So these words related to the walls of Babylon which were most likely constructed in this way.

Often, buildings erected in this way were made from material gained from conquered nations. The walls and timbers of Babylon were the product of hard labour by Israeli slaves. Habakkuk is describing the stones and the timber as witnesses to the cruelty of the Babylonian conquerors.

A Wall Gives a Message

  • Can you recall an occasion in the Bible when this happened?

A wall cried out when God condemned Belshazzar. While he and his courtiers were feasting, God wrote the words, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” across the wall. Belshazzar called Daniel to interpret the words.

His interpretation was, ‘God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’ (Daniel 5:1,26-28 NIV)

God used a wall.

Let’s look at some other objects God used in Scripture.

Stones Echo Praise

On what we refer to as Palm Sunday. Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey in fulfilment of the prophecy of Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9). There the crowd welcomed Him, chanting,

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

But the Pharisees took exception to this and demanded, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” So Jesus responded with that familiar phrase,

“I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:38-40)

The reaction of the crowds to the coming of the “Son of David…the king who comes in the name of the Lord” was one of uninhibited, spontaneous praise. 

God welcomes spontaneous, sincere praise.

  • How spontaneous is your praise of God? At home? In your church?
  • How much is your praise held back by what others might think?

All Nature Praises 

The only ones who were not infected by the joy of the occasion were the conservative, ritualistic religious leaders. They did not approve of this behaviour. It was to them that Jesus said, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.“

Jesus, the Son of God welcomed their behaviour and made it abundantly clear that if mankind chose to remain silent, nature would burst forth into praise. 

  • Have you noticed how the psalms speak of nature participating in praising God?

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.” (Psalm 98:4)

“Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” (Psalm 98:8) 

Again in Isaiah, we read:

“Tell the heavens and the earth to celebrate and sing; command every mountain to join in the song.” (Isaiah 49:13 CEV)

 “..the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)

Uninhibited Praise

On that wonderful day in Jerusalem, Jesus’ disciples, the crowd, and the children were uninhibited in their praise. They allowed themselves the freedom to release their emotions. After they waved palm branches, they placed them on the road to form a carpet.

They did the same with their outer garments, then they shouted out words of praise. Even the children got caught up in the spirit of praise.

This annoyed the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They demanded, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

Jesus simply responded, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:2 NIV Click To Tweet

A Greater Reason to Praise 

You and I have even more reason to praise the Lord. True praise and worship is the overflow of the love and respect that we have for Jesus and for what He has done. It is an expression of the joy that He has brought into our lives.

    Jesus said, “I tell you, if (my disciples do not praise me) the stones will cry out.”

Are we going to be outdone by nature? Nature can but praise Jesus for its creation. We praise Jesus that mankind is the highlight of creation. We praise that we have become a new creation through faith in our Saviour.

Make a point each day in your quiet time to first praise God for something He has done for you during the last 24 hours, before bringing any requests to Him.

PS

If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout our time together.