SSWIFM67

www.touchet1611.org
Adult / Kids Sunday School Series
April 13, 2008

What's In the Old Testament "FOR" Us?
Part LXVII

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:
and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
I Corinthians 10:11
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4 Comment from Pastor Mike Paulson

After one year and 4 months, I have come to understand why I have had such a great time as well as a challenge to present the Old Testament in the manner that we have - "What is in the Old Testament FOR us, not TO us!
I have come to see the many varied 'false foundations' for the false teachings that are prevalent in today's modern Christianity. I have seen in the commentaries and Bible Handbooks their words that have created the actual source of their 'food' used to maintain such a false Christianity today
It is no wonder that today's 'false - imitation - Christian' is so against all of Paul's teachings!

They have no knowledge of the word of God
they have no rightly dividing awareness
they have no self study habits
they blindly follow their edjukated minister and his books that totally "fly in the face' of Paul and his gospel of the Risen Christ.

I am seeing more and more how the anti-christ will be putting the final touches on this world before he comes in Revelation 6. Unfortunately, he is coming to conquer!
It is just like God said in Jeremiah 5:31: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Things will not change UNLESS one learns to turn away from the power of Satan and unto God, which is EXACTLY what Paul's ministry will do - see Acts 26:18-20! Bible Believers today have joined the ranks of clue-less spoiled religious Americans!
Such a shame when we have had the King James Bible through it all!

Habakkuk

The Invasion of Judah and the Doom of the Chaldeans

For the earth shall be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14

The chronology of the period:

641–601 b.c.

King Josiah’s great reformation; the prophet Zepheniah.

625 b.c.

Babylon declares its independence from Assyria.

612 b.c.

The Babylonians destroy Nineveh.

609 b.c.

Jehoahaz reigns three months and is taken to Egypt

609–598 b.c.

Jehoiakim, a very wicked king; the prophet Habakkuk (?)

605 b.c.

The Babylonians invade Judah and take captives.

597 b.c.

Jehoiachin reigns three months and is taken to Babylon.

597–586 b.c.

Zedekiah, a weak, wicked king; he is taken to Babylon.

586 b.c.

Jerusalem is burned; the land is desolated.

Habakkuk's time belongs to the period between 625 and 606-7 b.c.

Early in Jehoiakim’s reign.
The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were sweeping westward

Habakkuk 1:6 - For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

...but had not yet reached Judah

Habakkuk 3:16 - When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

But they will - in Habakkuk's day - he will see it happen!

Habakkuk 1:5 - 'in your days,'

Habakkuk 1:1–11. Habakkuk’s First Question to God

Habakkuk is questioning / complaining to God that He (God) allows His own nation to be destroyed for its wickedness by a nation that is even more wicked.

Habakkuk could not see the justice in this.

1:2-3 - O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

Habakkuk's concluding observation.

1:4 - Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

A little critical of God, eh?

Habakkuk, as well as ourselves, could learn from Paul:

For we dare not make ourselves of the number,
or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves:
but they measuring themselves by themselves,
and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
II Corinthians 10:12 -

God’s answer is that He does have a purpose in the terrorizing conquests of the Chaldean armies.

1:5 - Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Very similiar to how people today respond to Paul's gospel teaching.

It's there - in black and white - inspired and preserved and perfect - rightly divded!!

Too good to believe

Too good to follow - no need to, actually!

1:6-11 - more details of God's response

Habakkuk 1:12–2:20. Habakkuk’s Second Question / Complaint

Acknowledging that Judah deserves correction and punishment for her sins, Habakkuk asks for further enlightenment.

1:12,13 - Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
1:14-20 to 2:1

God’s answer is that the Babylonians, drunk with the blood of nations, shall themselves be destroyed - and God’s people shall yet fill the earth.

2:2-4 - And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Continued judgment described

2:5-20

Habakkuk 3. Habakkuk’s Prayer

A cry to God to again perform His miracles, as He had done in the past.

Yet Habakkuk speaks with sublime resignation and confidence in the eternal security of God’s people

3:1-2 - A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

More description of God's majesty!

3:3-17

More on His own people's glorious future!

3:18–19 - Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

It may be a long way off, but their glorious future is absolutely sure.

Thus, in the midst of his gloom and despair, Habakkuk could be an optimist of the first magnitude.

Bonus Lesson for Us Today

Another and more important lesson in this book FOR us today is from Habakkuk 2:4b

During the Old Testament days, (which included the Gospels as OT), their faith was their own to keep!

...the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:4b

Jeremiah tried to give up, etc.

Romans 3:30

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Old Testament - circumcision by faith
New Testament (Paul) uncircumcision through faith
Reference Book - "Then there is Habakkuk's great message of faith which gave Paul a hint of the most precious truth of the Gospel and aided the Reformation under Martin Luther, the charter of evangelical liberty."

Baloney - they miss the faith OF Christ!

They wrongly believe THEIR OWN FAITH is the key to their salvation!

Faith during Paul's dispensation today is having our faith IN Christ which then gives us the faith OF Christ.

Romans 1:17 - For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Not as it was in the OT with 'his' faith - when meant 'their own.'

Romans 3:28 - Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Galatians 3:11 - But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

It is no longer OUR faith that we have to stand on - it is the faith of Christ!

Philippians 3:9 - And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Romans 3:22 - Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Galatians 2:16 - Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Ephesians 3:12 - In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

A couple of final 'bonus' interesting verses:

1:15-17 - They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

drag - Something to be drawn along the ground, as a net or a hook - a type of holding net.

2:18,19 - What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

This sounds very similiar to Paul's sermon to the men on Mars Hill about their worship TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him decalre I unto you.

Acts 17:22-29