Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Thursday,
April 30, 2020
Pastor Rick Kabrick
Why does GOD allow evil? The Book of Habakkuk. Pastor Rick Kabrick.
MAR 4:24, And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to.
By your sta
ndard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides.”
Habakkuk dealt with the questions that come up when someone really believes GOD, follows HIS commands as best they can,
yet looks around and sees that the world doesn’t seem to match up with how they imagine it would be, or could be, or should be.
DAN 7:25, He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One.
GOD is just and merciful, even though HIS people may not always understand HIS ways. HE is always just and merciful.
Wickedness will eventually be punished, and the righteous will ultimately see GOD’s justice.
GOD uses some wicked nations to punish other wicked nations, but ultimately GOD will judge all nations.
To keep us humble.
To keep us close to HIM in the hour of trouble.
To make us value salvation all the more.
To show us what we might have been ourselves if not for HIM.
To make us see the wickedness of sin, that we might pass by it and hate it, and not indulge in it ourselves.
To make us admire the grace of GOD when HE saves sinners.
When the Babylonians would come and overwhelm the land of Judah, they would wrongly give the credit to their false gods. The LORD knew and said they would do this before it ever happened.
Some people face crisis times like this all the wrong way. They withdraw from the LORD, from their Church and from fellowship and they pull back into a little spiritual corner. Others give up on GOD altogether.
Often when people question GOD they don’t expect HIM to answer, but Habakkuk did.
How often GOD’s answers come, and find us no longer there!
So LORD, correct me in my way of thinking. Correct my error in my perception so that my reality is the truth.
The effective Preacher, cannot make anyone else see what he does not see himself.
The one who is declared just by faith is satisfied, but the proud arrogant are never satisfied.
Having dealt with the greedy man, the violent man, and the drunk man, GOD now speaks to the idolater – who treated statues as if they had life and intelligence.
Now that God had answered Habakkuk, the prophet brings a prayer to close the book.
As Habakkuk prayed for revival he began to praise the GOD who brings revival. In this song of praise Habakkuk glorifies the power and majesty of GOD.
Habakkuk knew what would happen, the LORD had told him. So he waits for it remembering GOD’s wrath and Mercy.