HOW TO KEEP HOPE IN THIS WORLD TRIBULATION
Key verse: Habakkuk 3:16-19
Opening Song: 483 “I Need Thee Every Hour” (Seventh-day Adventists
choral)
Final Song: 469 “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” (Seventh Day
Adventist hymn)
I. Introduction
We have lived for a long time in a time of many uncertainties and events the cause of this uncertainty is growing, leading to unprecedented crises. Some of these events include the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences, wars and their consequences, disasters, injustice, terror, violence, etc. Each
countries around the world are going through hard times. The company is in crisis – morally and financially, as well as with identity. We’re going through a time similar to the day when Jesus, seeing the crowd of people, “was moved
in compassion with them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as
sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
The result of all this is fear and uncertainty. But be scared
and insecurity in itself is not a problem because fear is part of being human
being. When Adam, the first man, decided that this would happen, a horror appeared to the world
disobey God. That was the first time a human being got scared
(Genesis 3:10). Fear has its fair side because it proves to what extent we are
limited and weak. Uncertainty dictates that we have no control over it
anything. But both fear and uncertainty will bear fruit only when they are
accompanied by hope.
So, given this local and general upheaval, what remains to be done? How
do we live one day after another with such bad news of this kind? As he should
do we strengthen our soul so that despair does not crush us? As we should
to encourage others to carry on with life even in these terrible times? Let’s learn
from Habakkuk’s experience:
“When I heard that, my stomach was shaking; My lips quivered at the voice:
putrefaction entered into my bones, and I trembled within myself that I was
that he may rest in the day of trouble, when he comes to the people,
he invades them with his troops. Even if the fig tree will not
they will blossom, there will be no fruit in the vineyards; the work of olives will be
they fail, and the field yields no meat; the flock will be cut off
the sheepfold and in the stables there will be no flock; Nevertheless, I will rejoice
Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is mine
strength and make my feet like the feet of a hind, and he will
to walk on my heights. To the lead singer on my string
tools” (Habakkuk 3:16-19).
Background
Let’s go back to see what happened. What Habakkuk will tell us
and teach us how to overcome fear and uncertainty by filling us with hope
and confidence, even when we see no obvious or imminent change.
First, who was the man named Habakkuk? By reading his book we are
note that he was not a self-centered, self-comfortable man and
safety. He cared deeply about the natural, spiritual and moral state
his countrymen. He loved his nation and his people, but he knew that if
they continued to break God’s laws, they continued to approach a
escarpment.
We don’t know much about the prophet. His name may mean ”
one who restrains’ or ‘one who fights’. Many prefer “the one who
limits”. He restrains his people and embraces them. She comforts him
people and gives them courage, like hugging a crying baby to reassure them
that if this is God’s way, things will get better very soon.
Habakkuk spoke to the nation of Judah; it was heavy and dark
time. A time when morality, impressed by idolatry, was almost non-existent.
Injustice was widespread. Two questions were on his lips: Till
when and why? If Habakkuk were here today, he might say the same thing.
We can ask the question for him: Until when, Lord, and why? The
the book of Habakkuk appears in the form of a dialogue between God and God
prophet. Habakkuk was confused by current events and what was going to happen
happened like the Babylonian invasion.
II. Development
How not to lose hope in times of fear and uncertainty? lets go
first see what hope means. It is expected with confidence. It’s waiting for who
the origin is faith in God’s promises and, above all, faith in God’s person
Alone. I believe in God, so I hope for peace. In this study we will talk about
these basic elements so that we don’t lose hope along the way
in the difficult moments of our lives.
a) The first thing we must do if we do not want to lose hope is to do
talk to God
Yes, talk to Him, in other words, pray. It’s quite obvious. One can
to even say it’s too simple. But that is exactly what the prophet did. He
he spoke to God; debated with God. The Prophet opened his heart and
he spoke honestly to God. And not only did Habakkuk talk to God, but he too
he listened. For example, let’s look at how Habakkuk addressed God in v
the following text:
“Lord, how long will I cry and you do not hear! even
cry violence to you, and you will not save! Why you?
Show me iniquity, and make me see wrong? for corruption
and violence is before me;
claim. That is why the law relents and the court never
come forth, for the wicked compasseth the righteous;
therefore comes wrong judgment” (Habakkuk 1:2-4).
Habakkuk expressed his anxiety to God as if God where his friend. If
we will go through the Bible, we will see people in times of crisis and the first thing
they pretended to talk to God. King David fasted and prayed that his son
he had not died with Bathsheba. Daniel, because of the king’s edict o
den of lions, was found in his prayer room. In Mark 14, when Jesus was v
Gethsemane, he was anxious and prays to the Father for the cup which
He was going to drink. And in verse 38, Jesus said to Peter, “Watch and
pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is indeed ready, but the body
he is weak.”
Temptation loses hope. Temptation lies
circumstances. So our spirit is strengthened precisely in prayers. It is in
prayers to open our spiritual eyes. In short, so that we don’t lose hope
should establish a prayer life that includes a strong desire to be with God.
What are the advantages in this? God reveals His to His close friends
secret (Psalm 25:14). Those who seek Him will find Him, according to
Jeremiah 29:13).
What God reveals to Habakkuk in his conversation with him
through prayer?
To answer Habakkuk’s first complaint, the one about knowledge
as long as evil prevails (Habakkuk 1:2-3), God assured that He
he will execute his judgment through the Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:6).
To answer Habakkuk’s second complaint, that of why God chose
for the Babylonians to punish Judah (Habakkuk 1:13-2:1), God assured that
he knew the Babylonians.
