Day 1

*What Scriptures did you read in your time alone with God today?

*What has God impressed upon your heart today?

1. As a means of review, consider where we have been in the book of Habakkuk. Look back through the book in your bible and write down the main ideas for each chapter. Chapter 1-

Chapter 2-

Chapter 3 (through vs 15)-

Cyril Barber, in his book on Habakkuk and Zephaniah, gives a clear and concise outline to the book of Habakkuk in this way: Faith in God was the key to consistent living, even though violence abounded and justice was perverted (1:2-4). That short statement helps believers to persevere even though God chastens them (1:5-11) and they cannot understand his ways (1:12-17). It provides a solution to the doubt they sometimes feel in His all-wise providence (2:1-3), and helps them to understand his righteous judgments (2:4-20). In the final analysis, faith provides the key to understanding the Lords sovereign purpose, and it

leads men to worship (3:1-19). As we approach this final week of Habakkuk, we arrive at a statement of acceptance and worship. It is a wonderful and appropriate way to conclude the study. Remember that the name Habakkuk means to wrestle or to embrace. Just as Habakkuk, the man, wrestled and embraced, so also have we- as we have studied the book. We have wrestled with our circumstances and, on a deeper level, with our theology. We have seen how the Lord answered Habakkuk and realize that the answer given to Habakkuk is the same answer given to us. This hopefully brings us to a place of gratitude and peace. And because of that, we come to a place where we can embrace. Its a place of worship. 2. Read Habakkuk 3:16-19. 3. Look closely at verse 16. What are your initial thoughts on the passage?

I heard and my inward parts trembled. The first four lines of verse 16 describe the physical reaction of Habakkuk upon understanding the word and the will of the Lord . It can be translated that his heard pounded or his insides trembled (trembled has the connotation of being in anguish). Lips quivered, body went limp, then again, in line four, the word trembled is used again. Clearly, this reaction is intense, emotional, and anguishing. Its important here to note Habakkuks physical condition before you read his verbal response. 4. Now take a minute and jump down to verses seventeen through nineteen and read what Habakkuk says while he is feeling these intense physical reactions. 5. How does this example challenge and/or comfort you?

Peace in the heart and soul does not always mean physical ease. Habakkuk has heard the word from the Lord. He trusts the sovereignty of the Lord. He has found comfort in the faithfulness of the Lord in the past and the promise of Gods faithfulness for the future. He has been blessed with an answer from the Lord. But still he trembles. What is good and right is not always easy. Often it is costly. The last two lines of verse sixteen talk about waiting once again. Its interesting to note that the book of Habakkuk begins with talking about waiting and ends by talking about waiting. The perspective on waiting couldnt be more different though.

6. Go back to Habakkuk 1:1-4. At the beginning of the book, what is the prophets attitude toward waiting?

7. Read Habakkuk 3:16-19. What is the prophets attitude toward waiting at the end of the book?

8. What do you think has changed?

We realize that waiting will always be a part of life and it would be of great benefit to us to learn how to appreciate Gods timing and grow when He gives us this opportunity. Warren Wiersbe comments on these verses by saying, Over the years, Ive often leaned on three verses that have helped me wait patiently on the Lord. Stand still (Ex. 14:13), Sit still (Ruth 3:18), and Be still (Ps. 46:10). Whenever we find ourselves getting churned up within, we can be sure that we need to stop, pray, and wait on the Lord before we do stupid thing. 9. Lets end todays study by looking at each of those verses in either the King James version of the bible or the American Standard version. Make a note on each of them. Exodus 14:13Ruth 3:18-

Psalm 46:10-

Memory VerseThe memory verse this week is a bit longer. It is the conclusion to the journey that we have been on. The aim is that this verse would eventually be our proclamation as it was Habakkuks proclamation. We memorize it in the hopes that the Lord would make it (or keep it) true in our hearts. Write out Habakkuk 3:17-19.

JournalWhat has the Lord shown you today as you have studied His Word? Be sure to discuss at least one verse in particular.

Day 2
*What Scriptures did you read in your time alone with God today?

*What has God impressed upon your heart today?

1. Read Habakkuk 3:16-19. Memory VerseWrite out Habakkuk 3:17-19.

Look closely at verse 17. What are your initial thoughts on the passage?

These six lines show a progression of demise. Each line is worse than the line before. This has actually been the nature of Habakkuks story so farwith regard to his circumstances- and it will continue to get worse for him. This weeks scripture (verses 16-19) is incredibly bold in that it proclaims that even though life will get harder and harder, more and more painful, costlier and costlier, still he will rejoice in the Lord. Is that your proclamation as well? Read this excerpt of explanation from John MacArthurs commentary on Habakkuk. Figs served as a delicacy in Israel, but their loss did not produce severe hardship. Grapes provided the daily drink, but again the loss of the fruit of the vine would produce inconvenience rather than privation. The olive crop on the other hand produced oil for cooking and lighting. Grain (barley and wheat) provided for the staple diet of Palestine. The failure of the fields to produce food might mean starvation for large segments of the population. Both sheep and cattle made up much of the wealth of Palestine. Sheep and goats provided wool and the occasional meat for the Israelite diet. Hebrews did not normally eat cattle, but they were used for preparing the soil for planting and other heavy work. All of these losses together would mean absolute and total devastation. It would be the very worst it could get. Habakkuk was saying that no matter how bad his circumstances may get or how severe his situation might be, the position of his soul will remain unchanged. You can tell by reading verse seventeen that Habakkuk valued God. He valued God more than anything else in this world. Look at the following verses and consider how they relate to Habakkuks ability to be at peace with the very worst that might come his way. 7

Matthew 6:212 Corinthians 4:18-

Colossians 3:1-3-

An eternal perspective changes everything about how we view the world and our difficulties. It is always good to remember, though, that no hardship is wasted. Just as we have already looked at in this study, we can be sure that whatever our circumstances might be, that the Lord will use them for our good. Look up James 1: 2-4 in the NLT and write it out here:

JournalWhat has the Lord shown you today as you have studied His Word? Be sure to discuss at least one verse in particular.

Day 3
*What Scriptures did you read in your time alone with God today?

*What has God impressed upon your heart today?

1. Read Habakkuk 3:16-19. Memory VerseWrite out Habakkuk 3:17-19.

2. Look closely at verse 18. What are your initial thoughts on the passage?

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. By human standards, this seems like it would be the most difficult thing to proclaim following verse seventeen. What a completely unexpected response to the prospect of losing everything that you care about. This statement is as much of a response as it is a promise. It is a commitment that Habakkuk makes. It is a decision to which he dedicates himself. Richard D. Patterson states, The words for rejoicing here represent strong emotions. Habakkuk had used them previously to express his anxiety over the unbridled avarice of the Chaldeans (1:14-15). His choice of them here unscores his repentant heart and triumphant faith. Together they express his resolve not merely to rest in the Lords will through everything that would come to pass but to rejoice fully in his saving God. In other words, Habakkuk has redirected his anxious energy. He is rejoicing with the same degree of emotion that he had been previously grieving and worrying. Its a great lesson to us as we attempt to redirect our concerns and anxieties into rejoicing. The bible talks a great deal of the importance of joy and rejoicing. Look at the following verses and write down what it says about the importance of rejoicing. 3. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-

4. Philippians 4:4-

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5. Psalm 2:11-

6. 1 Peter 4:13-

7. Find another verse that talks about rejoicing and write reference here:

Its important to note that Habakkuk had this perspective and made this proclamation without even knowing the Messiah. He did not have the added blessing of living in a time when he could know Christ Jesus. He was trusting the faithfulness of God up until that point in history. We have actually had a chance to experience the savior and have the security of salvation and the hope of eternity. How much more should we rejoice? 8. End today by reading this final verse and write your own proclamation of rejoicing in response to what the Lord has done for you. Romans 5:1-2:

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JournalWhat has the Lord shown you today as you have studied His Word? Be sure to discuss at least one verse in particular.

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Day 4
*What Scriptures did you read in your time alone with God today?

*What has God impressed upon your heart today?

1. Read Habakkuk 3:16-19. Memory VerseWrite out Habakkuk 3:17-19.

2. Look closely at verse 19. What are your initial thoughts on the passage?

Look at the first line. The Lord God is my strength. The name that Habakkuk uses here is important to note. Nowhere else in the bible, aside from the Psalms, is the name yahway adonay or Sovereign Lord used. This is the strongest name that could be used. Habakkuk used it here. The name he uses shows that this is who he knows God to be. 3. Habakkuk says that the Sovereign Lord is his strength. What do you think that Habakkuk meant by the Lord being his strength?

4. What does that phrase mean in your own life?

5. The next lines say, He has made my feet like hinds feet, and makes me walk on my high places. God has changed Habakkuks footing. What do you think Habakkuk was standing on at the beginning of the book?

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6. What do you think he stands on now?

7. How has his footing been changed?

8. As Christians, what do we stand on?

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9. Another reference to hinds feet is found in Psalm 18. Read Psalm 18:3036 and make notes on how this passage has been true in the life of Habakkuk.

To walk on high places actually might sound a little scary. It might sound like an adventure. However it might sound to you, its definitely not for the amateur. It requires a certain steadiness that must be learned. Its a place that a person comes to as they learn to navigate the ups and downs of life with a perspective that is rooted in truth and lived out with hope. The Lord didnt change Habakkuks circumstances for the better. He changed Habakkuk for the better. The Lord made Habakkuk stronger and better by keeping him in a place of wrestling and embracing. 10. What did Habakkuk gain as he wrestled, questioned, endured, and embraced throughout this book?

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JournalWhat has the Lord shown you today as you have studied His Word? Be sure to discuss at least one verse in particular.

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Day 5
*What Scriptures did you read in your time alone with God today?

*What has God impressed upon your heart today?

1. Read Habakkuk 3:16-19. Memory VerseWrite out Habakkuk 3:17-19

This study has been one of wrestling and embracing. Just as Habakkuk is the name of the book and the name of a prophet, so it is also a process in each of our lives. On this last day of homework, lets recount where we have been in this process. Today, we will go through each week of study and pull out points that we learned, ways we were challenged, and/or how the Lord blessed us in that week. Look through the homework itself, your quiet time notes, and your journal. See what you have wrestled with and where you have grown. Make a note of important points from each week of the study. 2. Week 1-

3. Week 2-

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4. Week 3-

5. Week 4-

6. Week 5-

7. Week 6-

Journal1 Timothy 4:15 talks about taking pains with the things of God, being absorbed in them so that your progress can be seen. As you look back on these past weeks of study and the time you have invested in getting to know the Lord and His word better, are you able to see progress in your life? Are you able to see how the Lord has grown you in some areas? As you journal today, consider what the Lord has done in your life these past six weeks. What is it that you hope to walk away with from this study? These are the types of things to journal about today.

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Many of the bible translations end book of Habakkuk with a final instruction to the choir director. This note reminds us that this book embodies a process and that this final chapter is meant to be sung by many. The song was for the Israelites and it is for us as well. The song is eternal in that it sings the praises of the faithfulness of God and in that it demonstrates the only appropriate response to who He is. It was Habakkuks song, and as you have come to know how God worked in Habakkuks life, it is your song too.

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