Adult Mentor: Adult Bible Study: Faith, Renewal, and Glory

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

The Adult Mentor is a topical Christian quarterly study guide is for the adult learner and is designed to increase Christian faith and biblical understanding using a variety of learning methods. It is a practical resource for every day Christian living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Mar 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781681679471

Book preview

Lesson 1

The Rewards Of Patience

LEARNING SESSION

God used various prophets to give His people directions. Habakkuk was a prophet to Judah, while the nation was in exile in Babylon. Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylonians, including the temple, around 587BC. For the exiles, the loss of both their homeland and the temple was a sign that God had abandoned them. Yet men like Habakkuk continued to call the people back to God, even at times when God seemed distant. Habakkuk’s primary message was that God would act for His people, even though it seemed that the evil done against them would never end. Thus, the people were called by the prophet to patient faith, waiting for the Lord to act on their behalf.

The first chapter of Habakkuk is critical to understanding the audacity of the prophet’s hope found in chapters 2—3. O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save? (Habakkuk 1:2, NRSV). Habakkuk was not simply waiting on God to speak; he was deeply offended at the violence that he saw perpetrated against his exiled people. Yet God’s first reply to him was not one of hope and redemption, but rather an assertion that the people had earned their judgment: For I am rousing the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous nation, who march through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. . . . They all come for violence, with faces pressing forward; they gather captives like sand (vv. 6, 9, NRSV). Not only did God know that the Babylonians (here called Chaldeans) were a violent people, He had chosen them to carry out judgment because of their violence! Habakkuk continued to protest, reminding God that He is holy and that [His] eyes are too pure to behold evil (v. 13, NRSV). The prophet demanded a response from the Lord. After this exchange, Habakkuk waited faithfully at his watchtower.

LESSON SCRIPTURES

Habakkuk 2:1–5; 3:17–19

DISCUSSION POINTS

I. Habakkuk seeks an answer from the Lord

II. The Lord responds to Habakkuk’s prayer

III. Habakkuk declares his trust in God

KEY VERSE:

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

EXPOSITION:

I. Habakkuk Seeks An Answer From God

The prophet told God’s people, I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint (Habakkuk 2:1, NIV). Habakkuk had no reason to hope that God would respond except that He remembered how God had acted on behalf of Israel in generations past. When the people cried out to Him from their slavery in Egypt, He delivered them. After forty years of desert wanderings, He provided them a good, fertile land. In the times of the judges, faithfulness was rewarded with peace from the attacks of enemies. Even after punishment, God would raise a new judge to lead the people back to Him and deliver them from their present troubles.

Habakkuk expected this active God to show up. He was not presuming upon God; he was considering the facts of their nation’s history and whom he knew God to be. Based on this evidence, Habakkuk believed that God would act, even though He seemed to be moving too slowly.

When Habakkuk had taken his place on the watchtower, God answered Habakkuk. However, the people were still required to wait upon the Lord. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay (vv. 2–3, NRSV). Habakkuk was already waiting, so God told Him to wait a while longer. Good news was coming, and it would not be long before it was delivered. The prophet Habakkuk explained to the people of God that they must always be diligent in listening for what God is saying to them.

The following verses confirmed what Habakkuk had said of God in the first chapter. God saw the pride and arrogance of the Babylonians and intended to punish them for their transgressions. Yet the righteous live by their faith (v. 4, NRSV). Judah once again was called to be faithful to God so that the nation would lead the people to God. The message has not changed since the time of Habakkuk: When God speaks, His people must listen and do as God tells them to do. Just as a watchman goes to a high place in order that he can clearly see what is happening around him, so must the people of God place themselves in positions where they can clearly hear God’s words.

THEOLOGICAL CONCEPTS:

• We must trust in the faithfulness of God.

• God is worthy of praise even when He seems slow to act.

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II. The Lord Responds to Habakkuk’s Prayer

The prophet Habakkuk finally heard from God, while he was stationed at his watchtower. God told Habakkuk to write down the words He would say so that the people could understand His message. He condemned those with a proud spirit and reminded His people that He esteems those who trust in and obey Him. The people of God needed to show their faith in God through righteous actions. This message of righteous living by God’s people is still necessary for believers today. Followers of God should tune in to the ways of God and strive for justice for all people. God still is operating against the evildoers of this world and taking care of His righteous followers. God remains faithful in all of His actions. He will never abandon His people.

III. Habakkuk Declares His Trust in God

Judgment for the wicked would surely come (see Habakkuk 2:6–17). Because of this assertion, Habakkuk praised God with revived vigor for His works against the wicked: "In fury you trod the earth, in anger you trampled nations. You came forth to save your people, to save your anointed. You crushed the head of the