Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-05-09
HABAKKUK FIGHTS THRONE
DOUBT TO FAITH

DOUBT 10 FAITH
LESSON TEXT-Habakkuk lips.
GOLDEN TEXT-The Just SHAH H..
by his faith.-Habakkuk 2:4,
1.-THE just shall live by his faith
the great rallying cry of the Refu,
nation; in fact. the very essence d
Christianity. is found in the glorior,
conclusion which the prophst
Habakkuk reaches in his trium.
plant confidence in God. Trying
circumstance. doubt and fear must
all yield to faith in God.
The lesson for today is peculiary
appropriate to the situation in which
the world finds itself just now
Mems hearts are failing them fO,I
fear. 1t seems to them that all h|
chaotic disorder; they wonder
whether God has any plan for tn.
world and its people, and whether
He really cares. why doesn't God|
do something?" is the question on
many lips. The answer is in our
lesson.
I. Believe, Though Surrounded By
Questions Q:12-1D. 0
Habakkuk does not question that
his people had sinned and wen
worthy Of Gods disciplinary chas
tening, but he is astonished to lean
that God plans to use the wicka
Chaldeans to bring it about. CUES
tons pour in upon him as he de-
scribes their iniquity ". 49,, and
speaks of them as catching judah
in their net wv. IA, 80 and gloatng
over their victims wv. 16, ID.
He does not yet know the answs
to his questions, but he has alreadI
stated the foundation of his faith III
verse IL. Whatever happens, m|
matter how sore the trial and non
understandable the outworking d|
Gods plan, the prophet is sure 81
his God as the eternal and holy One
The point to be borne in mind h|
such q time is that God is not max
ing plans for the moment or becaua
of some unexpected change in Girl
cumstances. He is from everlast|
ing' ". 12). His plans are eternal
But He is also the "HoIy One" vi
1O. It may seem for the presen
that sin and wickedness have TIL
umphed, but let us remember thae'
the eternal plans Of God are con-
ceived and executed in holiness and
power.
II. Be Alert in the Midst Of On
certainty GID.
One who does not have faith NJ
God is prone to say in such times
that all hope is lost, and give Up
in despair. Not so Habakkuk. 70
knew that there is nothing hards
than to wait patiently for God. h
determines to be neither dis
couraged nor impatient, but v
stand watch in the tower ". D.
"His words bespeak a very right
and proper condition of soul. Per
picked and confused by the seemil
enigma Of Gods ways, he owns b
may require reproof, and takes hI
stand upon the watch tower, abcu
the mists Of the earth and beyond
the thoughts and doings Of ml
where he can quietly wait on Co
and look out to see what He will
say to him" Qronside).
How desperately we need such
alert and earnest watchers in oa
day. Christians, arise! Do not per
init yourself to be either lulled into
a false security or into deadenins
encouragement.
III. Receive the Answer Of Tr'
umphant Faith (2:2-4).
''The Lord answered me-" He al
ways does, If we are ready to listen
and to abide His time. HabakklS
received a vision of Gods truth u
which he was to write so plainly
that everyone who read 1t woula
understand it and, in turn, run Y
others with the message. Those o
us who teach and preach would q
well to follow that admonition. Al
too often our message is not under
stood or fails to stir those who heal
1t to 60 quickly and tell others.
Looking forward to Christ, tn
just man Of Habakkuk's day wa
to live by faith; even as we OF TILL
day, looking back to the cross .
Christ, are justified by faith AM
then are to go on to live by farm
This Is the word which, as we nav
already suggested, stirred Lutnel
and his fellows to bring about m'
Reformation. Long before Luther
day, however, the same words nav
come by the Holy Spirits inspra
ton to be the heart Of the grea
messages Of Paul the apostle as d
taught justification (Rom. lis, ID
as he defended grace against lesal
ism (Gal. Bid, and as he pOi
trayed "the pilgrims path througl
this world from the Cross TO VI