Is it too harsh to charge Habakkuk with some amount of pride or bad judgment, getting too big for his britches, in that he seems to be correcting Almighty God?
Or is it better to see his prayer as the earnest inquiry of a believer who is distressed by all the evil around him and crying out to God for healing for his nation?
How does his prayer compare with many we pray today in modern evanjellyfish-dom? How about in our specific local church? In our own lives?
Take all the things Hab is complaining about and let's keep them in mind as we read Deut 29. Share background of Deut 29 and its purpose. Skim Deut 28 and let's see the basic outline of it:
IF you follow the Lord's Law herein:
-Blessed in city and country
-Children, livestock, crops
-Food
-Military victory
-Everywhere in everything.
If you DON'T follow the Law:
-Cursed in city and country.
-Cursed in children, livestock, crops
-Cursed in food
-Military defeat
-Pestilence
-No rain, impenetrable ground for crops
-All sorts of other horrible judgments
-You will be taken to another country in judgment
-v67 “In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you will see.
What is all this a type and shadow of if not the fate of the unredeemed sinner? And all of this, horrible as it is, pales in comparison to the eternal judgment and torment of the unredeemed unrepentant sinner.
Now let's read Deut 29 aloud.
Interestingly, God predicts in Deut 30 that they WILL turn away and be exiled, and then their hearts will be turned back to Him and they'll return. Like with Nehemiah.
Further discussion:
What questions have you asked God? That you thought were good and worth not repenting over? That sincerely grieved you? Etc.
Did God give a clear answer?
Review the end of Job - what kind of answer did God give Job?
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