>Habakkuk: Seeing SIN from God’s Perspective
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. GOD CALLS SIN “SIN”
A. LOOKING WITHIN
>>1. WE ARE UNFAITHFUL/INSINCERE
Hab 2:4 Look – man’s soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him but the just shall live by his faith. (also Job 25:4)
>>2. WE ARE UNSETTLED/UNSATISFIED
Hab 2:5 Indeed, wine betrays that proud man who is restless and unsettled. His greed is as wide as a grave; like death he is unsatisfied. He gathers for himself all lands and collects all people as his own
B. LOOKING AT THE RESULTS
>>1. MOCKED
Hab 2:6a Will not all these take up taunts against him, with scoffing and parables saying:
>>2. TAUNTED
II. GOD CONDEMNS SIN
A. JUDGMENT ON EXTORTION/ROBBERY
>>1. CRIMES
Hab 2:6b-7a WOE to him who stacks up what is stolen and becomes rich on extortion — how long? Will not your own creditors arise? Will they awake and make you tremble? (also, Is 5:8-22; Jer 22:13; 23:1; Amos 5:18; 6:1; Deut 24:10-13; 2 Kgs 4:1-7; Neh 5:1-13)
>>2. CONSEQUENCES
Hab 2:7b-8 Then you will be their target. Because you have plundered many lands, all the people who are left will plunder you, for shedding men’s blood and destruction of lands, cities, and human lives. (also Ex 20:15)
B. JUDGMENT ON EXPLOITATION/COVETOUS
>>1. CRIMES
Hab 2:9-10a WOE to him who builds his house on unjust gain, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! You have plotted to destroy others . . . (also Ex 20:17)
>>2. CONSEQUENCES
Hab 2:10b-11 bringing shame on your family, forfeiting your own soul. For the stone in the wall will cry out, and the beams in the woodwork echo. (also Luke 12:16-21; 19:40)
C. JUDGMENT ON VIOLENCE/MURDER
>>1. CRIMES
Hab 2:12-13 WOE to him who builds a town with bloodshed and establishes a city on injustice! Hasn’t the Lord Almighty declared that all people work for is simply fuel for the fire, and nations exhaust themselves for nothing? (also Micah 3:9-10; Ex 20:13; Dan 4:27; Jer 51:58)
>>2. CONSEQUENCES
Hab 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (also Is 11:9; Num 14:21; Ps 72:19; Heb 8:11)
D. JUDGMENT ON DEBAUCHERY/DRUNKENNESS
>>1. CRIMES
Hab 2:15 WOE to him who makes his neighbors drink— you vomit it out and make them drunk, in order to stare at their nakedness! (also Eph 5:18; Rev 18:6)
>>2. CONSEQUENCES
Hab 2:16-17 You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Drink, and be exposed! The cup from the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will replace your glory! The violence done in Lebanon will devastate you, as will the destruction of their animals that terrified them. For you have shed men’s blood and destroyed lands, cities, and their people. (also Jer 49:12; II Kg 25:7-21)
E. JUDGMENT ON IDOLATRY/PAGAN WORSHIP
>>1. CRIMES
Hab 2:18-19 What value is in an idol carved by a craftsman, or a metal image that teaches lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! WOE to him who says to wood, Awake! Or to a lifeless stone, Arise! Can this teach? Look, it may be overlaid with gold and silver, but there’s not any breath in it (also I Kg 18:27; Jer 2:27)
>>2. CONSEQUENCES
Hab 2:20 But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.” (also Ps 11:4; 73:17; 46:10; Jas 4:7; Acts 17:29; Jn 1:3; Col 1:16; Rev 4:11)