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The Wicked Die in Arrogance (Habakkuk 2:5-20)

Scott Kercheville
06/28/15 - Sun PM

Upon hearing that God will punish Judah with the ruthless Chaldeans, Habakkuk responded in 1:12-2:1 with three key concerns. We have seen God’s response to the first two statements. First, Habakkuk 1:12, “… we shall not die.” Habakkuk hardly believes God will use the Chaldeans to judge Judah. Despite Habakkuk’s shock, God says judgment is surely coming (2:2-3). Second, Habakkuk 1:13, “… why do you … remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” In certain judgment, God gives an amazing reply: the righteous will survive by faith (2:4). By expecting his people to trust this when death by ruthless armies was imminent, God is teaching us what true faith is. True faith trusts in fear. Others would not believe God’s promise of judgment. When the Chaldean army came and despair set in, others would give up on God, trust their own strength, prey on the weak, and perish. But the righteous would continue rejoicing in the Lord and live. We too can have faith in perils if we trust God’s promise of life in an eternal, heavenly home.

But Habakkuk had a third concern in Habakkuk 1:17. Will God allow the Chaldeans to mercilessly kill nations forever? Here God replies to this third question explaining how he will handle the Chaldeans. In two weeks we will see how God’s response helps Habakkuk and us today trust God when others seem to endlessly gain from corruption. Today we will consider the Chaldean’s sins and judgment so we can avoid similar wickedness and pride. As we read Habakkuk 2:5-20, carefully note the relationship between the Chaldean’s sins and God’s future treatment of their sins.

• Your Wickedness Will Be Repaid (2:6-20)
• Your Arrogance Will End in Shame (2:5, 9, 13-14, 16–20)
• Conclusion
  • Let us not arrogantly believe we will escape the consequences of sin.
  • Let us not arrogantly believe our own creation can save us from trouble.
  • Let us not arrogantly seek our own glory.