Prayer of Praise Rob Keller 23 rd November 2008

Relationships Between God and the Jews God Jeremiah 18:18, Ezekiel 7:26 Elders King Priest Teach Word Conviction Offerings Prophet Fresh Revelation

Habakkuk's Reality People are increasing in wickedness and there seems to be no consequences. God, what’s going on? Why aren’t you doing something about all this wickedness? Habakkuk, watch and be amazed! God, you must be kidding! Why are you using even more wicked people to punish those who aren’t quite so wicked? Habakkuk, write the revelation, make it understandable and get out its message!

People are increasing in wickedness and there seems to be no consequences.

God, what’s going on? Why aren’t you doing something about all this wickedness?

Habakkuk, watch and be amazed!

God, you must be kidding! Why are you using even more wicked people to punish those who aren’t quite so wicked?

Habakkuk, write the revelation, make it understandable and get out its message!

Habakkuk's Request (3:2) Acknowledges God’s majesty and past deeds. Petitions God to repeat his works of the past . to allow others to recognise them as the works of God ... and pleads that despite God’s wrath, he’ll remember to be merciful.

Acknowledges God’s majesty and past deeds.

Petitions God to repeat his works of the past .

to allow others to recognise them as the works of God ...

and pleads that despite God’s wrath, he’ll remember to be merciful.

Habakkuk's Revelation (3:3-15) The visitation of God ... is in splendour and majesty (vv 3-5) God’s coming in judgement causes creation to tremble & shake (vv 6-8) and reeks havoc and destruction on the wicked (vv 9-12) ... is for the salvation of his people

is in splendour and majesty (vv 3-5)

God’s coming in judgement causes creation to tremble & shake (vv 6-8)

and reeks havoc and destruction on the wicked (vv 9-12)

Habakkuk's Response (3:16-19) The physical response: Pounding heart, quivering lips, decaying bones, and trembling legs (v 16a) I will wait patiently (v 16b) Yet I will rejoice in the Lord (vv 18-19) The personal response:

I will wait patiently (v 16b)

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord (vv 18-19)

Lessons for Believers It’s ok to tell God your concerns Realise we don’t always know what we’re really asking of God Ask God to bring new life out of death ... and to reveal his work to people Ask God, in his wrath, to be merciful Learn to wait patiently on God, and ... rejoice in God himself, not his blessings

It’s ok to tell God your concerns

Realise we don’t always know what we’re really asking of God

Ask God to bring new life out of death

... and to reveal his work to people

Ask God, in his wrath, to be merciful

Learn to wait patiently on God, and ...