IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY

Hab 3:2

“There is a story about a group of pioneers who were traveling in covered wagons drawn by oxen, and the progress was very slow. One day they were horrified to note a long line of smoke in the west, stretching for miles across the prairie, and soon it was evident that the dried grass was burning fiercely and coming toward them rapidly. They had crossed a river the day before but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames would be upon them. One man only seemed to have understanding as to what could be done. He gave the command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon it. As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a little girl cried out in terror, "Are you sure we shall not all be burned up?" The leader replied, "My child, the flames cannot reach us here, for we are standing where the fire has been!"

Isn’t this a picture of the believer, who is safe in Christ?

On Jesus, the full force of God’s anger was placed on the Son for our wickedness and sinfilled behavior. Almighty vengeance fell on Him, sparing the wrath we deserve and the eternal state of Hell. He bore it for a chosen race, and this is and has become our Hiding Place as we wait eternity. The fires of God's judgment burned themselves out on Christ, and all who are in Christ, are safe forever. For the child of God is now standing where the fire has been. For the unsaved it’s a scary thing to fall into the hands of an angry God who is the sovereign Creator of the entire universe. Habakkuk is stunned with fear as he comes to the throne of grace in his closing answer of prayer. Habakkuk is beginning to understand what he already knew that God is going to do something unimaginable and horrific with the Babylonian tyrants. Habakkuk is beginning to understanding that God truly hates the wickedness of mankind and He will deal with it swiftly.

Again! We need to understand that God is holy and He will judge this earth and everyone on it according to His perfect Law and there is nothing that you or myself can do to stop Him. We really need to take this seriously and stop sweeping it under the rug as if God is complacent with the sins of man. God hates and He has a flaming angry against the wickedness of man every day. It’s the sin that violates God’s perfect and holy Law and His holy standards; but it’s His anger and wrath that are against the rebellious image bearer of God.

Psalm 5:6 says “the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”

  

Psalm 11:5 says “The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”

  

Psalm 106:40 says “Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;”

  

Psalm 145:20 says “The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.”

Jesus said “…but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3

The bible is very clear and specific about God’s judgements against the sins of man.

We have seen this in the….. 

Judgement of the globe flood…… “For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.” (Gen 6:17)

Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah…… when brimstone and fire came and consumed thousands of people who loved their sin and hated God. (Gen 19:24)

Korah & his followers…… Num 16:33-35 says “and fire came out of the LORD and consumed 250 men offering the incense.”

Eli for allowing corruption in the house of God due to his own sons…… I Sam 3:13 it says “For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.” In 1 Sam 4:18 we see God’s judgement fulfilled.

Jezebel….. who was found with missing parts…..2 King 9:35

Ananias & Sapphira for lying…… (Acts 5:1-10)

All living generations…… apart from the gospel will come face to face with a holy God who is angry with sinners. Matt 25:41 we read these chilling words from Jesus "Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

Let me ask you! Does God’s wrath and judgement concern you?

You might say no… because Jesus died for me, ok that’s great…but what about someone you know who doesn’t? This definitely concerned Habakkuk because it says “I have heard the report….do I fear.” (v2)

The bible says Habakkuk was “afraid” which can be translated as “fear”, “reverence” or “to tremble”.

To be in Habakkuk’s position would have been jam-packed with mixed emotions from relief, happiness and good dose of fear.

It’s like riding a roller coaster you’re fearful on one hand, but awestruck with the other. ( I know this is not a great analogy) but it’s a fear and excitement to see God vindicated for His glory and separateness through His judgements.

Habakkuk has something that the church needs to have more of.

That is a fear of a holy God who is transcendent (otherness) and separate from His creation.

Realizing who is in complete control of my life and your life….and that we were created for Him, not the other way around.

This is something that has been instilled in all of God’s image bears as it relates to God’s awesomeness.

Adam in the garden….. “I heard your voice in the garden, and was afraid” Gen 3:10

Moses….. “Trembled” at Mt Sinai when God gave the Law. (Heb 12:18-21)

Joshua….. fell on his face when he was in the presence of God’s holiness….(Josh 5:13-15)

The disciples…. in the boat when Jesus calmed the weather and the sea “

Mark 4:41 says “And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

The Apostle John…… when he was in the presence of God “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” Rev 1:17 The body of Christ & the local church…… Acts 9:31 says “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” This is why Proverb 1:7 makes sense “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The body of Christ needs to submit to this truth and live! Under the grace He gives to His children, who fear Him, because He is transcendent and holy and who is separate, but personal with creation. But in this separateness…. He invites us into His fellowship through the perfect sacrifice of His Son in the gospel. We as God’s children recognize this truth that God is above everything and He is doing His prefect will.

We as God’s children know and walk by faith that He gives us to rest in this truth that God will one day get rid of sinful mankind. Paul Washer says “I have good news and bad news, the good news God is here, the bad news is that God is here.” Exciting for us who are saved by grace through the gospel confession, but a terrifying time for the unsaved who mock and curse His holy name. There is coming a day when God will get rid of sinners for good, and the smoke of their pain will be forever and ever. Rev 14:11 says “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night…” This is why Habakkuk is fearful because He knows who God is in light of who we are. Sinners in desperate of grace. Habakkuk says “O LORD, I have heard your report of you, and your work” (v2) What have we learned about God through history? That God will deal with each generation in the same way according to His perfect Law. There is no hiding or stopping this…it’s not out of control, it’s in perfect control, this is how God deals with each individual thought every generation. From the past to the present and into the future. 

Habakkuk understands this and submits to how God deals with sinners. Unfortunately God’s justice must be executed and this displays God’s wrath for His holy standard. And Habakkuk prays with this request knowing who God is and His justice for holiness, he says “In wrath remember mercy.” (v2) The prophet agreed that the people of Judah needed discipline for their actions and wickedness, but Habakkuk pleads with God that while doing this… God’s heart would reveal His love and mercy. Let me ask you! Where have we seen God’s wrath displayed and His mercy displayed at the same time?

Let’s go back to the chapters of Genesis 6,7,8,9 & 10.

Noah was declared a righteous man chosen by God to build an Ark that was three football fields long, three stories high. This took 120 years in the making to hold and preserve mankind and two of each kind of animal. During those long 120 years besides building the Ark! What did Noah do? Noah would preach to the people…..of God’s coming judgement and His mercy to flee the wrath that is to come to those who will not fear and submit to instructions of the LORD. 2 Peter 2:5 says this about Noah “he was a herald of righteousness.” Proclaiming to the people before it was too late and sadly it was for millions of people who refused to enter in God’s rest. Only 8 people entered into an Ark that was the size of three football fields; where God sealed the door shut. Gen 7:16 says “And the LORD shut him in.” 8 people who received mercy from God, despite knowing they deserved His wrath. 8 people who would hear the excruciating cries and the clawing at the walls of the Ark because it was too late for lost sinners. Lost sinners who were condemned and now facing the wrath of God because they had no fear of a holy God who was displaying mercy for 120 years. Let’s fast forward to the New Testament. Where have we seen God’s wrath displayed and God’s mercy displayed at the same time? At the precious Cross of Christ, our Lord. At the Cross we see God’s flaming anger towards sinners, and at the Cross we see God’s loving mercy on display saving sinners through the sacrifice of His perfect Son. God’s perfect hatred and perfect love was poured out on His Son…that’s mercy displaying grace to sinners who don’t deserve it.

Mercy for ……

Every click of the mouse or webpage visited.

Every bitter thought or deed

Every foul word I’ve ever spoken

Every impure thought

Every gossiping conversation

Every wicked act

Every evil deed

Every act of disobedience

Every covetous desire

Every sexual immoral act ever committed

Every murderous thought or deed done

Every baby slaughtered in the womb

Everything you I have done and though we have not been crushed for it, is an act of God’s mercy. Everything that the justice of God requires was poured out on the only begotten Son of God, because God is angry at sinners. Rom 5:8 says “but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The cross reminds us of God’s anger and His mercy for sinners like you and me. As for the time of Noah and for our generation through the gospel this message still falls on deaf ears. We know this to be true “But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against His people, until there was no remedy.”2 Chron 36:16. Habakkuk pleads with God over his people but also for the Babylonians as well. Never assume you are more important than someone else despite their level of wickedness. The Babylonians needed forgiveness and salvation like your neighbor, or the worst harden criminals or your relative who shakes their fist at God and says “It’s my life and I will do as I please”.

Habakkuk prayers and pleads on behalf of sinners who desperately need God’s mercy. Without mercy, God’s wrath would completely destroy God’s people. Without mercy there would be no opportunity for sinners to receive grace. Mercy tempers justice and the prayer for mercy is appropriate for Christians to pray today for the church and the world. Have you ever done that? Pleading to God in the midst of judgement, and pleading for His mercy to be revealed in your life and in someone else’s life. Again it’s a scary reality to fall into the hands of an angry perfect and holy just God. “In wrath remember mercy”

Let me ask you as we close!

Does God still display judgement and mercy today?

That’s an easy one to answer! Yes…. because we are still alive. God desires that no one perishes; now this doesn’t mean that everyone will be saved. It means that His grace is overflowing and He desires that people would repent and believe the gospel message. Did God give enough time for the people to enter the Ark? Yes 

Is God calling out into the streets to come to Him today though the gospel? Yes

God’s mercy is overflowing with love and concern for every image bear. But there is coming a day that the door will be shut and He will judge the earth according to His perfections. 

John 3:36 says “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God remains him.” If Christ were to show up this morning…. every person we know and love who deny the gospel because they love their sin will be subject to God’s holy wrath. 

God has been displaying mercy ever since the Garden, but there is coming a day when His anger will once again be released. Sadly, this time it will be placed on the sinner, not Christ. We need to be pleading to a holy God today and with every breath for those who are perishing apart from Christ and the gospel

  

Why?

In Your judgement, remember mercy LORD for ______________ !

You fill in the blank of someone you know who is facing this day.