King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Sunday, August 20, 2023
Chapters: THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK
Study: Enduring the Pain And Finding Consolation
Hello My Brother/Sister/Friend,
After two weeks, I still have this pain in my side, every time it starts to ease up and I think that it is going away it is right there to remind me that I am not as young as I use to be. While I keep thanking God for easing the pain a little bit, I also keep praying that it will not be another thorn in my flesh that will never go away because this pain gets intense sometimes. Of course, I am reminded that even if it did, Jesus, is my grace to suffice it.
[2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.]
Do you see who the culprit is behind all our pain? Satan himself. Now, sometimes we are at fault for the pain that comes into our lives, and we rightfully accept and endure it because we know we have sinned against God and are better for it. However, when are doing everything that we ought to be doing and suffer it can get a little discouraging as we are left to wonder why and if we are stuck with the pain until God brings us home. Well, just like God proved Job through Satan’s pain and came forth like gold, He does the same for all His faithful, [Job 23:8-10 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.]
The Book of Habakkuk contains three chapters, the author is Habakkuk and it was written to the people of Judah. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 608BC and 590BC. The purpose of the book was to awaken Judah to their spiritual needs and remind them that God is merciful to the just. What we are to learn from the book is that the just shall live by faith alone, [Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.]
Habakkuk, prophesied during the time that the Chaldean’s were about to attack Jerusalem, during Jehoiakim’s reign. This was also about the time that Jeremiah was either in the jail or dungeon and people were being taken captive to Babylon. Habakkuk, is beside himself, wondering where God is, why all these things were happening, and why God is judging them when the wicked are getting away with everything. Well, Habakkuk, does what all of us faithful Christians do from time to time when we do not understand God’s plan, he forms a complaint with God, and asks Him about His judgment on the faithful.
[Habakkuk 1:1-4 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.]
[Therefore the law is slacked,] Habakkuk, is asking God, “Why are you doing this to Your faithful, we have done nothing wrong, and we are the ones getting punished?” Well, God, does answer Habakkuk, and lets him know that He is the one who sent the Chaldean’s.
[Habakkuk 1:6-11 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.]
[Then shall his mind change,] This would be when Nebuchadnezzar would make that giant statue of himself and order the people to worship it every time they heard music playing. He would later be turned into an animal for saying that he was the one who invaded Judah and the other nations under his own power, then converted once he came to his senses of who the real KING is.
[Daniel 4:30-31,34,237 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.]
While Habakkuk, kind of understood the judgment, but still feels a little displaced, no matter where he turns or what he does, he cannot see any consolation. He has the same question that we all have at some point and wants to know why he has to suffer the judgment that God has placed on the wicked. So, he brings up a few more questions to God.
[Habakkuk 1:13-15 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? 14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? 15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.]
[And makest men as the fishes of the sea,] This time Habakkuk is asking God why He is sending judgment on the righteous for their sins, but letting the wicked go without judgment. And on top of that, people are lost and scattered everywhere with no direction from anyone whatsoever. Well, he does have a point, if we are not out in the world preaching the Gospel, then the lost have no direction with the same questions actually. And now we have an answer as to why Jesus told the disciples that He was going to make them fishers of men, [Matthew 4:18-20 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.]
You see, the key to becoming fishers of men is following Jesus, if we are not following Jesus we are going to rightfully suffer as we now belong to Him and there are just some things that we can no longer do without the Holy Spirit bringing conviction. At this point, Habakkuk, just knows that God is going to judge him for what he had just said. Well, unless we are being disrespectful or tempting Him, He actually encourages the questions. Why? God, wants us to prove Him just as much as He proves us. What I mean by that is that God wants us to put Him to the test in a way that shows us that He really is among us. God, loves to show us what He is capable of through our faith in Him. In fact, this is the answer that He gives Habakkuk.
[Habakkuk 2:1-5 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. 5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:]
[and what I shall answer when I am reproved.] We somehow get it in our heads that we cannot ask God why or bring our complaints to Him. God wants to hear our complaints, He wants us to ask questions, but He also wants our trust, and our faithfulness to Him despite our not understanding what it going on, [Psalms 102:1-2 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. 2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.]
[but the just shall live by his faith.] Does this sound familiar? It ought to as we have read this before in the New Testament. It does not matter if we were put on this earth before Christ came here in the flesh, after His passion, or when He returns, the same rule of salvation has always been, we must confess that we are sinners and that we need the Saviour to save us, otherwise, death and hell are the only destination, [Galatians 3:10-12 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.]
[in the day when I call answer me speedily.] Because we are saved by grace and not through any works of the Law we follow the Law faithfully in regards to being obedient to His commands and not the sacrifices because those no longer apply to us. There really are a lot of things which we go through that we do not understand, but in the end we will discover that it was not necessary to understand the reason, rather understand that God used it for good, [Romans 8:27-28 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.]
Sometimes it does not matter that we know we are going to heaven, we just want this life to be a little less chaotic. Of course, God, reminds me every time that if I had not gone through what He allowed me to go through then I would not have trusted Him to see me through. This is what God goes on to show Habakkuk, and also what will happen to the wicked.
[Habakkuk 2:8-9,13-16 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! 13 Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! 16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.]
[that he may be delivered from the power of evil!] Let me tell you, we are going to trip and fall and get back up more times than we care to admit, but each and every time it makes us much more stronger to endure what is yet to come. The reason why we can fall and get back up so quickly is not in our own ability, it comes from the very foundation upon which we do stand, and that is Jesus Christ, [1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.]
[that the people shall labour in the very fire,] You see, when God allows us to suffer, it is not that He does it to punish us, He does it to draw us closer to Him, to get us to see that it is all in His hands and His time, [2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.]
The suffering we face and endure is another way of God saying that He is the one and only living God, and the only thing we need to be fearing is Him. Fearing God is not the same as being afraid to approach Him for fear that He will strike you down if you do not agree with His judgments. Fearing God is trusting Him at all times, being faithful to Him, and yes, confessing our sins when they are made known to us. Habakkuk, realized that while God does allow the pain and suffering in the world because of sin, His faithful will overcome.
[Habakkuk 3:3-6,13 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. 5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. 6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. 13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.]
[Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people,] We are going to face famines, persecution, chastisement, sometimes for our own sins, but many times wrongfully, rejoice anyway, it is only temporary, [1 Peter 4:14-17 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?]
Remember, it is not what we are facing right now that will be eternal, it is what they are facing if they refuse to repent that will be eternal for them. Habakkuk, goes on to praise God in his prayer, with the reminder that God, will see him through.
[Habakkuk 3:16-19 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.]
[Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.] No matter what we go through, even for what we put ourselves through, we belong to Jesus, if we are saved. We can fuss to God all we want for all the chaos that is going on, but God is standing on the sidelines here, He does not have to do anything Himself because the people are destroying themselves. Through our faith and faithfulness in Christ, we will rejoice through the pain as He is not only our salvation, He our consolation, [2 Corinthians 1:3-6 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for saving a wretch like me the second I trusted Your Son as my Saviour. I know that I am prepared for Your return or You to bring me home. I may not know what tomorrow brings, but I do know that You will be there and You will see me through everything that I go through. Lord, it is not always easy to get through the suffering, but I am going to praise You anyway. With You by my side I know that it will all come to pass. Lead me and guide me, keep me looking to You, let me not turn to the right or left, just keep my eyes straight on You. Give me Your mercy, grace, power, and strength to endure all the suffering. I will rejoice in You for You are the God of my salvation, I am nothing without You, and I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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