Has it ever happened to you? You sincerely prayed, pouring your heart out to God, questioning what was going on around you, when an answer came, but you did not like the answer? Actually the answer did not seem to go along with your preconceived notion of how things should work out.

Last week I introduced you to Habbakkuk, a questioning prophet. Recall the question he asked, "Why is evil going unpunished?" Apparently Habakkuk has been praying to God about the violence and injustices going on in Jewish society for some time and he doesn't seem to think God has heard him because the problem persists. Those who claimed to be the people of God were living in sin and strife with one-another. God's answer came to Habakkuk, but he did not like the answer God gave, "I will use the Chaldeans to punish."

As we move on in this prophetic book we find Habakkuk questioning God again. From the question and answer we discover some important truths. The first is concerning the nature of a just God.

I. Nature of a Just God

Some have suggested that there was an interval of time between the answer of God using the Chaldeans to bring punishment and the question in verses 12-17. If this is true, during the interval the Chaldeans, part of the evil Babylonian Empire could have invaded Judah. This fulfillment of the prophecy could have begun.

From the Biblical text, however, we don't find any clear evidence that a period of time has elapsed. Regardless, Habakkuk envisioned the Chaldeans gathering captives as fisherman bringing in a large catch. Perhaps he thought if the wicked Chaldeans destroyed Judah that the punishment would not only come upon the evil Judean, but the whole land of Judah.

Habakkuk put in the form of a question what I think he knew to be true, but he was struggling to put together his belief in the nature of a just God with what was to happen. "Art Thou not from everlasting?" This truth give confidence to believers - expressed by others including David in Psalm 90:1-2 and Isaiah 40:28. Lord, my God, My Holy One." Again and again the Psalmist gives similar expressions of deep truth. The meaning of Holy One seems to be expressed in v.13. God is too pure to approve of any evil! He cannot and does not regard wickedness with toleration of complacency. God is holy and pure. In it's negative perspective holiness is being separated from evil. To be holy is to be righteous and just. Knowing this nature of God, Habakkuk has expected God to bring justice about by punishing the wicked among the professing people of God.

Now God is bringing justice to Judah, but Habakkuk is not satisfied because he fails to see how a just God can use people more evil than the Judeans to punish them. Having asked this question he waits for an answer. Read Hab 2:1. This prophet focuses his attention on God, as a soldier in a look out tower. He waited expecting God to answer and so should we when we have a complaint. In the answer we find another important truth.

II. Nature of God's Justice

God answered telling Habakkuk to write the vision for two reasons.
1. That all who run the clear message will run and tell others the message - the message was to be spread.
2. The truth of the vision was to be preserved to be proved.

The fulfillment would take place a God's appointed time, not Habakkuk's. Notice the words God spoke to Habakkuk. "If it seem slow; wait for it; it will surely come." In our eyes God's answers and fulfillment of them may appear slow - but they will come. I imagine that most of us who have been walking with the Lord for several years have experienced some really difficult times of waiting. We know first hand that it is not easy. However, are we willing to wait and do as God instructs us today?

We discover the nature of God's justice as we study verse 4 and following. "Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him." Who is the proud one whose soul is not right within him? Certainly the wicked Chaldeans are being spoken of primarily. However, the proud Judeans who disregarded God's laws would also be included. In vv. 5-19 we have a series of woes pronounced upon sinful people, upon the unrighteous aggressors, those who justify their evil way, those who shed blood for personal gain, those who deceive their neighbors, and those who trust in idols.

Though the Chaldeans who did invade Judah were wicked, could the Judeans claim they were not guilty of any sin? Of course not. Some of these were quite descriptive of the sin of those who claim to be God's people. All have sinned.

Today we may look around at the injustice in the world. Could it actually be even more sinful when those who claim to believe in a Holy and Just God live in strife and disobedience? We might not want to admit it. One day, in God's time He will bring justice through judgment. We have a great truth about the nature of God's justice to cling to, "The just will live by his faith." The pronoun here makes this very personal. For our faith to really sustain us in these touch times it must be personal. A second hand faith of a parent or friend will not be sufficient.

We have an unchanging New Testament Principle of God's relationship to His people. We become just and righteous, not merely by trying to be better than others, but by faith alone. We accomplish this by faith in a just God who could not tolerate sin and evil so His Son took our penalty on the cross.

Conclusion

"The Lord is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." This is the closing verse of this chapter in Habakkuk. When we are struggling with concerns about evil and injustice what do these words mean to us? Some might think of God dwelling in His holy temple without concern for what is going on and that we might as well just keep quiet.

Instead, I understand this verse to give us the wonderful reassurance that God is very aware of our dilemma, very concerned, and ultimately in control. We can trust Him! He knows what is going on even when we may not understand! I believe that God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him in prayer, but after we have done that I believe God wants us to prayerfully wait for the Lord to answer. Are we willing to do that?

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