Looking forward to the birth of the hope
Andy Nagahara
A. Looking forward to the hope in despair
1) The people who have been looking forward to the hope across the generations (1:1-4, 13)
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received. How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. (1:1-4)
Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (1:13)
2) Human nature stays the same (11,15,16, 2:18, 19)
Then they sweep past like the wind and go on-- guilty men, whose own strength is their god." (1:11)
The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. (1:15, 16)
"Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, `Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, `Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. (2:18, 19)
B. The hope was born in the desperate world
1) God answers us (2:2-4,20)
Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith -- (2:2-4)
But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." (2:20)
2) Do you have the hope in your heart? (3:17-19)
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. (3:17-19)
Summary
Since over couple of centuries before Jesus was born, there have been sorrows and sufferings of the small, the poor and the weak in this world. Prophets in the Old Testament were petitioning God for their people's grief. The God's answers to them were 'wait', 'The righteous will live by his faith' and 'The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him'. Since after Jesus came to this world about 2000 years ago, the condition of the world doesn't seem to have been improved. But, certainly the hope has been given to us. Because Jesus exists, we can live here by the trust we have in him.
For Discussion
1) Is the condition of the world getting better or worse?
2) Why can Jesus be your hope?