Overview:
Two disturbing realities troubled the prophet Habakkuk: the wrongs and wickedness of his times and the silence and absence of God. Sound familiar? So the prophet asked two major questions of God: “How long?” and “Why?” Thankfully, we have the short book that bears his name to find the profound conclusions from his spiritual wrestling. Listen in to Habakkuk’s intriguing dialogue with God in this sermon from Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover how to have the integrity of waiting, without worrying—how to live in light of the fact that God is God and we are not.
Message Summary:
In this timely and practical message, Chuck Swindoll explores the “Integrity of Waiting . . . Not Worrying” through the often-overlooked Minor Prophet, Habakkuk. Chuck describes Habakkuk as a “welcome companion” for the modern believer because, unlike other prophets who primarily speak God’s word to the people, Habakkuk speaks our word to God. He gives voice to human bewilderment, asking the raw questions of “How long?” and “Why?” in a world filled with violence, perverted justice, and divine silence. The sermon highlights that the transition from a “sob to a song” does not come from a change in circumstances—as Habakkuk’s world remained dark—but from a change in the prophet’s perspective as he learned to inhabit the world of God’s sovereignty.
The message focuses on the pivotal moment in chapter 2 where Habakkuk chooses to climb his “watchtower” to wait and listen for God’s response. Chuck breaks down the staggering answer Habakkuk receives: God is raising up the cruel Babylonians (Chaldeans) as an instrument of judgment—a solution that initially seems worse than the problem. Through this dialogue, Chuck identifies the core of biblical faith found in Habakkuk 2:4: “The righteous will live by his faith.” By choosing to wait rather than worry, the believer acknowledges that God is able, God knows what is best, and God must be glorified, regardless of the immediate outcome.
Message Key Facts:
- The “Man on the Street” Interviews: Chuck shares a humorous set of responses from people asked what “Habakkuk” means, ranging from a “Jewish holiday” to a “disease of the lower back.”
- The “Hugger” Prophet: The name Habakkuk means “embracer” or “hugger,” signifying a man of deep affection and clinging faith.
- The Chaldean Solution: Chuck uses the metaphor of a house full of roaches where the exterminators show up with shotguns; sometimes God’s solution to our problems is more shocking than the problem itself.
- The Reformation Link: Chuck connects Habakkuk 2:4 to Martin Luther’s spiritual breakthrough in Romans 1:17, which became the foundation stone of the Protestant Reformation.
- The Five Statements of Sovereignty: A practical framework for waiting:
- God is able; I am not.
- He knows what’s best; I do not.
- He sees the end from the beginning; I cannot.
- He should have His way in this; I should not.
- God must be glorified through this; I must not.
Message References:
- Habakkuk 1:1–6: The prophet’s initial complaint regarding pervasive violence and God’s apparent inaction.
- Habakkuk 2:1–4: The decision to stand at the guardpost and wait, leading to the foundational truth that the righteous live by faith.
- Habakkuk 3:17–19: The “song” at the end of the book where Habakkuk rejoices in God even if the fig trees don’t blossom and the stalls are empty.
- Daniel 4:35: A reference to God’s absolute sovereignty over the inhabitants of the earth.
- Romans 1:17: The New Testament fulfillment of Habakkuk’s message regarding justification by faith.
