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Monday, November 6, 2023

Habakkuk 2:1-20 The Oracle's Revelation: The Righteous Shall Live by Faith = Week 45 - Monday

The Oracle's Revelation: The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

Habakkuk 2:1-20



Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:
  • What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
READ THE SCRIPTURE (Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)
Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. It is a Great app, better on computers or on smartphones)
StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)
Literal Word  (New American Standard Bible) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)
Biblia.com (New Century Version) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)



Themes
Justice
Faithfulness
Divine Judgement
Human Pride
Redemption

Topics
Vision and Prophecy
Pride and Destruction
Consequences of Exploitation
Concept of True Wealth
The Triumph of Faith


Potential Sermon Titles: ??

Intro Questions to get us thinking:

ESV Text with Highlights
#God = 
#People = Habakkuk, God
#Time
#Place = Babylon
#Obedient faith = 
#Sin = 
#Key Idea = 

Habakkuk 2 ESV

1I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith

2And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
3For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.

4“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.a

5“Moreover, wineb is a traitor,
an arrogant man who is never at rest.c
His greed is as wide as Sheol;
like death he has never enough.
He gathers for himself all nations
and collects as his own all peoples.”

Woe to the Chaldeans

6Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,

“Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own—
for how long?—
and loads himself with pledges!”
7Will not your debtors suddenly arise,
and those awake who will make you tremble?
Then you will be spoil for them.
8Because you have plundered many nations,
all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you,
for the blood of man and violence to the earth,
to cities and all who dwell in them.

9“Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house,
to set his nest on high,
to be safe from the reach of harm!
10You have devised shame for your house
by cutting off many peoples;
you have forfeited your life.
11For the stone will cry out from the wall,
and the beam from the woodwork respond.

12“Woe to him who builds a town with blood
and founds a city on iniquity!
13Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts
that peoples labor merely for fire,
and nations weary themselves for nothing?
14For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

15“Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink—
you pour out your wrath and make them drunk,
in order to gaze at their nakedness!
16You will have your fill of shame instead of glory.
Drink, yourself, and show your uncircumcision!
The cup in the Lord’s right hand
will come around to you,
and utter shame will come upon your glory!
17The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you,
as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them,
for the blood of man and violence to the earth,
to cities and all who dwell in them.

18“What profit is an idol
when its maker has shaped it,
a metal image, a teacher of lies?
For its maker trusts in his own creation
when he makes speechless idols!
19Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;
to a silent stone, Arise!
Can this teach?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
and there is no breath at all in it.
20But the Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him.”








OBSERVATIONS (Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)
ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)
Bible Project (NLT) (Helpful videos and instructions for the bigger picture)
Thematic Bible (Books and Chapters Structure)
Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions


Habakkuk 2  continues the dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God, addressing themes of justice, morality, and the nature of God's actions.

The prophet Habakkuk receives a vision from God about the future. God tells him to write down the vision clearly so that others can understand it. The vision reveals that although it may seem like justice is delayed, it will surely come to pass in due time. 

God then explains that the proud and wicked will face judgment, but those who are righteous will live by their faithfulness. The chapter also contains a series of "woes" directed at oppressors and unjust leaders, highlighting their eventual downfall. These woes emphasize that exploitation, greed, and violence will not go unpunished. Ultimately, the chapter concludes with a vision of God’s majesty and the assurance that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of His glory.


Structure and Content

The chapter can be divided into three main parts:
1. A vision of judgment (verses 1-5)
2. A call to wait patiently (verses 6-8)
3. A description of the proud and the righteous (verses 9-20)

Vision of Judgment (Verses 1-5)
This section begins with Habakkuk asking God why He doesn't act immediately against injustice. God responds that He will raise up the Babylonians to judge Judah, despite their own wickedness. This revelation shocks Habakkuk, leading him to ask how God could use such a morally corrupt nation to execute His judgment.

Call to Wait Patiently (Verses 6-8)
God tells Habakkuk not to worry about the timing or methods of His plans. Instead, he should focus on his own faithfulness and integrity. These verses emphasize the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and wisdom, even when we don't understand His ways.

Description of the Proud and the Righteous (Verses 9-20)
This final section contrasts the fate of the proud and arrogant with that of the righteous. It describes how the proud will be overthrown and the righteous will live by faith. The famous phrase "the just shall live by faith" appears here, emphasizing the importance of trust in God's promises.

Key Themes
Throughout this chapter, several important themes emerge:
- The tension between divine justice and human understanding
- The need for patience and trust in God's timing and methods
- The contrast between pride and humility
- The role of faith in living according to God's standards

Significance
Habakkuk 2 has significant theological implications:
- It challenges readers to consider the nature of God's justice and mercy
- It emphasizes the importance of personal integrity and faithfulness
- It provides insight into the complex relationship between divine judgment and human morality

In conclusion, Habakkuk 2 offers profound reflections on faith, justice, and the nature of God's actions in the world. Its message remains relevant today, encouraging believers to trust in God's wisdom and timing, even when faced with difficult circumstances or moral dilemmas.





STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are more resources than you can go through completely)
NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)
BlueLetter  (King James Version) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)
BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)
BibleHub (BSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)
BibleRef.com (New King James Version) Basic able to compare core translations.
StudyLight (Amplified Bible) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)
KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)
Bible.com (Lexham English Bible)
  • God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
  • We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?



APPLICATION (God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)
ESV (English Standard Version) Good translation with some helpful resources.
Biblegateway (Christian Standard Bible) has some application resources.
The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)
Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)

  • I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
  • What transformative move needs to be made?
  • You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Take Away Challenges
  • What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
  • Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
  • What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts, or actions need to be addressed or changed?






Other Resources:


Habakkuk: "Living By Faith"
Earthly success is not necessarily the measure of faithfulness. Many people reject God and still accomplish and possess much. God's measure of success is not a prosperous life but rather a life of faithfulness.


Habakkuk: "Woe to the Wicked"
We lament the evil and injustice of our world, we can also learn from it. God is clear about the ways of the wicked and where those ways lead.




  • Other YouTube Videos
SearchTV
  • Discovery Bible Study

  • Articles

  • Devotions

  • Links 


    Please let me know if you find any broken links or corrections that need to be made. Thank you for the help to make this most useful.

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