TRUSTING IN THE PROMISES OF GOD

Habakkuk 2:1-4

“A story of a 3 year old boy named Todd went to fly his kite one day. Never having flown a kite before Todd, obviously had doubt about the kite ability to fly at all. But his father was with him and assured his son that at all is well and the kite will fly as planned.

As Todd unraveled the string and watched the kite go up in the air, his father heard his son say to himself “I knew it would fly daddy, you said it would.”

A simple statement that has profound implications! Something as simple as trusting your dad about the ability of a kite to fly is the same principle we learn from this letter as we approach chapter two. Sometimes this is hard to do, as we have seen so far in life of Habakkuk. Here is a man who struggles to reconcile his theology of God with the word of God that been revealed to him by God. Trusting our Heavenly Father despite the circumstances has its moments but we are none the less are to trust in God’s perfect plan for our lives. As the simple hymn song goes “Trust and obey for there is no other way too happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” It’s the understanding that we trust in God because he knows what He is doing.

We see this principle in the teachings of Jesus when He said “And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 18:2-4

It’s a childlike trust that our children have when we tell them something. I could say to Sarah I could pick up a car with my bare hands and she wouldn’t bat an eye lash doubting her daddy, even though I can’t pick up a car. But! She trusts her daddy, because she believes that I can do it. Children will follow without question at least until they get older then they think they know everything under the sun. 

Thought-out the New Testament we see God and His disciples referring to you and me, as being like children. Why? For the very same reason Jesus said we must come to Him as children because we need His direction and guidance. Apostle John penned these words “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you many not sin.” 1 John 2:1 Paul wrote “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” Gal 4:19. He also wrote in 1 Cor 4:14 “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.” Why all of this! To build you up in the most holy faith in Jesus Christ.

So what is faith? The Biblical definition of faith is a complete trust or confidence in the LORD of the universe. For example the object of Abraham’s faith was not in God’s promises; his faith was resting in God, Himself. John Calvin said it this way “We call it a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence towards us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promises in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

The greatest example of this is found in the Hebrews 11, the hall of faith.

In Hebrews 11:1 we read this “Now faith is the assurance (confidence) of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

“of things hoped for” What are some things hoped for in the Christian life?

Eternal fellowship and complete satisfaction resting in God.

The vindication of Christ over this evil world system.

The display of His power and eternal glory.

The meeting that we shall have with Him one day.

The final redemption of these sin-filled bodies.

The judgement and removal of sin and wickedness forever.

The Hebrew writer also notes “the conviction of things not seen.” See! True faith is not based on observed evidence, but on divine assurance, which is a gift from God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Eph 2:8. Faith is a gift from God given to the child of God, to have confidence in the things that are unseen. I can’t see Heaven, but I know I’ll see Him one day there. I didn’t physically see Jesus die on the cross, but I know this to be true and that He died for my wretched soul. See faith is not mere human hope; our faith is based and grounded on the Word of God alone. This is the faith that the true believer possess through Christ’s finished work on the cross. I have no faith in my abilities apart from the saving work of Christ in the gospel confession. If had faith in myself I would still be on the course leading to eternal damnation.

Why do I say that? Because God is the object of my faith, not me. Just as Jesus said “Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1. God, being the object of our faith is essential for the gospel. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Heb 11:6

Faith means trusting in Christ alone as the one who died in our place and therefore also turning from sins to follow Him by faith. The faith we have in Christ doesn’t cause us to shrink back or fear of being destroyed, because we are anchored by His benevolent grace through the gospel. Faith is essential for the ability to love others “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Tim 1:5. Faith is the key that we as God’s children need to understand as we witnesses times of unrest and uncertainties; as we live in this present world system. Faith requires commitment of the heart, mind and soul through the gospel confession in Christ alone. This commitment carries on throughout life until God is done with us here. We learn that in this portion of Habakkuk’s letter this morning. 

“But the righteous shall live by his faith.”(v4)

This simple statement “the just shall live by faith” Has been the underlining theme all the way through some 600 years later into the New Testament.

We see it first in Rom 1:17 “the just shall live by faith.”

We see it again in Gal 3:11 “the just shall live by faith.”

We see it a third time in Heb 10:38 “the just shall live by faith.”

The life of faith mentioned in this verse has one of two distinct paths set before us.

One is the way of faith the other is the way of un-faith or unbelief. We see here that Habakkuk makes the right choice of the two. Why? The prophet concludes his response to the Lord’s revelation by declaring “I will station myself on the tower and look out to see what He will say to me…concerning my complaint.” (v1) Something that is important to understand.

Habakkuk says  “I will stand at my watchpost.” “

Watch” gives the idea of duty or an act of watching from a high place overlooking with a panoramic view of the grounds. This is important to note! Because in ancient times the watchmen were responsible to watch and warn the city of approaching danger or enemies. And if they were not faithful with this responsibility their hands would stained with the blood of the people who died.

Let me explain! Ezekiel 3:17-21 it says this "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul."

In Ezekiel 33:1-6 we read this “The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.

The tower is a place of watching and waiting. So what is Habakkuk hoping to get out of God’s response? What does he think God’s response is going to be this time? So far God’s answer has caused him greater grief and this has lead Habakkuk into a struggle for lack of wisdom and insight into the ways of God. The same could be said about us as well! What are we to think when God does something beyond comprehension? The wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6 is instructive for questions like this “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” See! Faith in God, leads to understanding, not the other way around. We must trust by faith even though we do not understand everything. See! The Lord is testing Habakkuk’s trust in Him and He does the same to us from time to time. James 1:3-4 says “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Things don’t often go the way we hoped or planned it to be; but they always turn out nonetheless in the end as a teaching moment in our lives.

Remember! God does not answer to our timetable, rather He answers by his sovereign timetable. This is the problem in our culture we expect results in minutes, not days or weeks or years, we wanted it yesterday. But this is not the way God operates or works in the life of His children! Why? God requires faith and patience as we walk in Him, by His grace. We are to exercise our hearts and mind to wait patiently on His timing as we wait in our watch towers of our hearts. Sadly though many impatient Christians never finish well as they reach the finish line. We give up on God’s answer to our problems because we are too impatient to wait for God to do anything. This always ends badly and we need to heed the words of Isaiah. “The LORD is a just God. All who wait patiently for Him are happy.” Isa 30:18

Faith in God helps produce a patience that has divine power to sustain the child of God until He answers in His providential time. Be ready for it because when it comes… it produces a deep seated faith that is unshakable through the word of God. So deeply rooted in strengthening our faith; God tells Habakkuk to do something of importance.

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets.” (v2)In today’s terms that means “get a pen and write  this down!” Why? So that future generations will be able to see the promises fulfilled by a holy and sovereign God. Habakkuk was to make this message plain and published for the people to know God’s plain for them. Why? The word of God is revelation that comes from inspiration and is intended for illumination of the heart and mind. We as God’s children get to see the God of the Bible revealed through Holy Scripture in His ordinary people, who struggle like you and me.

The word of God strengthens our faith; let me explain by reading this.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1-2

And it’s because of that, we know how things end and that should cause our hearts to sing for joy! But it should also cause our hearts to cry from brokenness for those who are lost and have faith in themselves, without eternal hope. The word is for our benefit of understanding and to keep our faith grounded in His love as we patiently wait for Him to do His perfect will in our lives. Our faith gives us the ability to have patience when we know we have none. Our times of unrest and struggles is a time to refine our faith in Christ as we await His appointed time to reveal or answer our prayers of joy or prayers of complaint.

(v3) reveals that truth “appointed time”

We must be patient when it comes to God’s promises. We must at times wait for the word of God to be fulfilled first.

Example:

Abraham waited 24 years to have son who he could call Isaac. (Gen 12:1-3; 17:1) 

Noah built an Ark and waited for 120 years before the flood came. 

Daniel prayed for 70 years until Israel would find rest from captivity. (Dan 9:2) 

Simeon was of old age before he looked into the eyes of his Savior. (Luke 2:25-32) 

My dear wife Julie waited 7 years into our marriage for the Lord to break her unrepentant husband to saving grace. 

Maybe You are waiting upon God for something! My advice is be patient and walk by the faith that He gives you to endure for His glory and your good.

Our faith in Him is what keeps us motivated and moving closer into His sovereign arms of care and rest. Though we go through times of drought and confusion with seasons of lack of faith….. Our God never stops working! See the beauty of this promise is that He has given us an eternal faith that will never fail even when we have moments of doubt and unrest. Paul reminds us of this truth “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Tim 2:13. This letter of Habakkuk reminds of a song by Sovereign Grace called “Out Of The Depths” when my faith seems lacking.

Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to You

When I am tempted to despair

Though I might fail to trust Your promises

You never fail to hear my prayer

And if You judged my sin

I’d never stand again

But I see mercy in Your hands

So more than watchmen for the morning

I will wait for You, my God

When my fears come with no warning

In Your Word I’ll put my trust

When the harvest time is over and I still see no fruit

I will wait, I will wait for You

The secret mysteries belong to You

only know what You reveal

And all my questions that are unresolved

Don’t change the wisdom of Your will

In every trial and loss

My hope is in the cross

Where Your compassions never fail

By faith I will wait for You Oh God of my soul! As God tells Habakkuk this simple truth we are to listen and follow suit to God’s response to a man who needs his faith strengthened. So let me ask you! How is your faith holding up this morning? Are you waiting and watching or are you running and screaming? Is it filled with unbelief and fear or is it filled with an inexpressible joy that is firmly planted in Him as you wait out the storm in your life?