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HABAKKUK 2: 1-4

"THE PLACE OF VICTORY"

I. THE PERPLEXING PROBLEM.
        A. It seemed as though everything was going wrong.
                1. Evil was triumphing over good.
                2. The judicial system had broken down.
                        a. The courts became a mockery.
                        b. The guilty were not being punished.
                                1. They were being released to continue
                                   their crimes.
Thus:
                3. They lost all respect for the law.
                        a. Violence increased.
                        b. Strife and contention were everywhere.
        B. It seemed as though God was doing nothing about it.
                1. Thought he prayed the situation did not change.
                        a. As though God did not hear his prayer.
                        b. As though God would not answer his prayer.
                2. Why would the Lord show him these things.
                        a. It was just frustrating.

II. GOD'S ANSWER TO THE FRUSTRATED PROPHET.
        A. I am working.
                1. Because God's judgment is not always swift.
                        a. The wicked think:
                                1. That God does not see.
                                2. That God does not care.
                                3. They are actually getting by with it.
                        b. The righteous think:
                                1. Their prayers are going unheeded.
                                2. That it really doesn't pay to live
                                   right.
        B. If I told you, you wouldn't believe.
                1. He would not understand.
                2. When the answer started to come it would only confuse
                   him more.
                3. We don't always understand the ways of God.
                        a. The person who insists on understanding
                           everything is in trouble.
                        b. "My ways are not your ways..."

III. THE PLACE OF VICTORY.
        A. I will go in the tower and watch and listen.
                1. Quit trying to figure it out and just wait for God to
                   show me.
        B. There, God spoke to Him.
                1. We get so involved we become deaf to his voice.
                2. Our problems get so big we lose sight of God.
        C. God's message to Him.
                1. "I have an appointed time."
                        a. That's the problem - his timing is not in
                           agreement with mine.
                2. "Though it tarry, wait for it."
                        a. Don't give up.
                3. The soul that is proud is not righteous.
                        a. If you think you can do anything apart form Him
                           you are mistaken.
                4. The just shall live by His faith.
                        a. Believing what I can't understand.
                        b. Believing what I can't see.
                        c. This is the only place of true rest in this
                           world of turmoil.

IV. THE VICTORY OF FAITH. 3:17, 18.