Week 2 Habakkuk Homework

8/4/2019 Week 2 Habakkuk Homework

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Habakkuk Week 2

Day 1

*What Scriptures did you read in your time alone with God today?

*What has God impressed upon your heart today?

1. Read Habakkuk 1:5-11.

Memory Verse-

Our memory verse this week is Habakkuk 1:5. We will be writing it and memorizing it in

the NASB version of the Bible. Remember that you can use Biblegateway.com if you do

not have a copy of that version. Before writing the verse in the NASB version, look at it

in The Message. It sets an appropriate tone for this week of study.

Look around at the godless nations.

Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock.

Something’s about to take placeand you’re going to find it hard to believe.1

1 Peterson, E. H. (2002). The Message : The Bible in contemporary language (Hab

1:5). Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress.

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Write out Habakkuk 1:5 in the NASB version of the verse.

2. Look closely at verse 1:5. What are your initial thoughts on this verse?

One of the first things you may notice about the verse is the fact that God answers

Habakkuk. Habakkuk prayed and God replies. Its part of being in conversation, part of

being in relationship… You may talk to the Lord quite often, but have you listened for

a reply from Him? God answers prayer. Do you believe that? Do you know that to be

true?

3. Read Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 & Psalm 5:3

What does the Word of God say about listening?

Are you prepared for Him to answer it differently then how you may have prayed or

expected? The Lord seems to always have something different in mind than we have…

remember Isaiah 55:9.

Often we are in the habit of talking to the Lord, but are not as mindful to actually listen.

It’s difficult to actually be still and wait to hear something. Today you will need a timing

device… a timer, stopwatch, kitchen buzzer… something of that nature. For the next 12

minutes, put yourself on the clock. Just be still. Wait. Listen. See if the Lord has a word

for you. Hope and expect to hear from Him. When your timer goes off, write down

what you experienced on the lines below.

4. Reread Habakkuk 1:5. God answers prayer in big, mighty, majestic, quiet, loud,

powerful, amazing ways. Ask the Lord to give you a heart to hear and trust His words.

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Verse 5 shows that God is already at work. Look, observe, be astounded. The

word “look” implies that there is something going on that can actually be seen.

Something noticeable, alarming perhaps was underway. Most likely, Habakkuk knew of

the current events. He probably didn’t realize that these events were the answer to his

prayers. God had already been working. Habakkuk was about to understand how the

concerns of his heart and the events of his time would converge.

In your time of listening, what did God reveal to you about areas in your own life where

He is already at work?

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Journal-

What has the Lord shown you today as you have studied His Word? Be sure to discuss

at least one verse in particular.

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Day 2




Memory Verse-

Write out Habakkuk 1:5 (NASB).

2. Look closely at verses 1:6. What are your initial thoughts on this verse?

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Who were the Chaldeans? Some of your translations use the name Babylonians instead.

You may also find that the names are used interchangeably. The Chaldeans were the

group of people that lived in the region of Babylon. They were notorious for their

swiftness in conquering other lands and their ruthless character. According to the NASB

Life Application Study Bible, the Chaldeans were a people who lived “northwest of the

Persian Gulf and made a rapid rise to power around 630 B.C. They began to assert

themselves against the Assyrian Empire, and by 605 B.C. had conquered Assyria and

Egypt to become the strongest world power. But they were as wicked as the Assyrians,

for they loved to collect prisoners (1:9), were proud of their warfare tactics (1:10), and

trusted in their military strength (1:11).”

It appears as though the answer to Habakkuk’s endless petitions to the Lord was Judah

being conquered by a wicked, fierce, and godless people. Shocking, I would guess.

Remember The Message version of 1:5- “brace yourself”?

3. Do you think that is the answer that Habakkuk anticipated? What do you think he

had been expecting?

4. Do you think he realized that while he had been praying and praying, the Lord had

already begun answering those prayers as He was in the process of raising up a wicked

empire? Consider again the things that you have been praying for… waiting on… Have

you come to a place of peace with however God chooses to answer your prayers?

5. Read Romans 8:28. What are your thoughts on God using all things for His glory?

Journal



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3. Why would the second half of verse 7 be especially concerning? Why is it important

that humans' authority and justice NOT originate with themselves?

When the barometer for moral standards lies in the heart of sinful humanity rather than

the absolute, righteous heart of God, the outcome is always terrifying and destructive.

The irony of this particular situation is that the character of the Chaldean people (the

way they were acting) was where Judah was headed as a nation. We know from

Habakkuk 1:1-4 that Judah had begun replacing the authority of God with their own

ways. They would be conquered by the type of people, the Chaldeans, which they,

themselves, were turning into. Though followed by a long list of fearsome attributes

describing the Chaldeans, verse 7 quite possibly is the most alarming. It must be noted

and evaluated in each of our lives.

4. In what ways do you default to having justice and/or authority originate with

yourself?

5. Read Romans 13:1. What does God’s word say about who truly has and gives

authority (whether they realize it or not)?

6. Read Ephesians 1:20-21. Who REALLY has ultimate authority in your life? What does

this mean to you? What does it look like in your life?

7. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-17. How does this truth play out in your life?

Journal



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Day 4




Memory Verse


2. Look closely at verses 1:8-11a. What are your initial thoughts on the passage?

The Chaldeans sound horrific. It's interesting that the Lord has appointed the most

ruthless, wicked nation of the time to rebuke Judah. “Judah has opted for violence

among its inhabitants therefore Babylonia’s violence will be its punishment. The

punishment fits the sin.”

Though this section of Scripture seems particularly harsh, we know that this ultimately

is an act of love on the Lord’s part. The people of Judah are God’s chosen people. They

have been shown great favor. They have been led out of bondage. They have been

given God’s law. They have been given a land and established there. They know God’s

ways. Over time, though, they have drifted. They have been warned, but they have

gone in their own direction. How often are we guilty of the same exact thing? The good

news is that the Lord loves us enough to not let us go. He loved Judah enough to not let

them turn into the Chaldeans. Discipline is an act of mercy. It is an act of love.

3. Read Hebrews 12:4-11. While you read this passage, consider the Lord's utilization

of discipline toward us. Why is this an act of love? Is there anything going on in your

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life right now that you have been warned about? Ask the Lord to show you. Write a

prayer asking Him to show you areas in your life that are out of order. Respond to

what He shows you.

As you read about sin and punishment, it may sometimes be difficult to decipher when

difficult times are an act of refinement or discipline or simply a time that the Lord has

ordained to draw you closer to Himself.

Not all hard times are manifestations of God's discipline. Ask the Lord to give you clarity

in your circumstances. If you’re being disciplined, repent and ask for forgiveness and

appreciate that the Lord loves you enough to let you experience consequences instead

of spiritual death. If your difficult experiences are not discipline, try to appreciate that

the Lord has given you an opportunity to draw closer to him.

No matter the reason for your difficult circumstances, read Psalm 37. Which verses in

this chapter give you particular comfort as you walk through difficult times?

Journal



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Day 5




Memory Verse


2. Look closely at verses 1:11b. What are your initial thoughts on the passage?

The New Living Bible translates this portion of the verse in this way - “but they are

deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god.”

How easy is it to elevate the importance of our own strength? How often do we live

as if we need to rely on our own strength? This must be quite offensive to the Lord

as we can see in 1:11b. He says they are “deeply guilty” for making more of their

own strength than they should. It seems as though this must be the natural state of

mankind.

3. In what ways do you sometimes make your own strength your god?

4. Read Psalm 20:7. What are some of the “chariots” that you put your trust in?

As redeemed people, though, we have been given so much more than a pathetic

attempt to live by our own strength! According to Philippians 4, we have the power of

the resurrection living in us. Strength looks very different and a lot more miraculous in

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God’s economy.

5. Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. What does the Word say about strength and weakness?

6. Why does the Lord want us to acknowledge our weakness?

7. Why is weakness a blessing?

8. Consider your life right now. As you remember that your weakness puts God’s glory

on display, in what ways do you have an opportunity to show off God’s strength and

glory?

Journal



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Week 2 Habakkuk Homework

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