Sermon Title: Hate Your Neighbor
Scripture: Habakkuk 2:4-14 (NIV)
Contributed by Nancy Buschart
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. —Habakkuk 2:14
Last week Habakkuk described the arrogance of Babylon. “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright” (2:4). The contrast is that God’s people will live not by arrogance, but “by faithfulness” to the living God.
In today’s portion of chapter 2, Habakkuk declares God’s judgment to come using four “woes” to those who are arrogant and disregard the Lord and who pursue unjust, selfish gains. “Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion!” (2:6). “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!” (2:9). “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!” (2:12). “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!” (2:15). There is yet another of these “woes” next week in verse 19. To those who are wealthy and privileged now, to those who are riding high on their ill-gotten successes, to those who enjoy perverted shaming of their neighbor, God will bring his judgment in His due time. “Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?” (2:13). “You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn!” (2:16). Those who assume that their ways and methods are untouchable, and who call evil good, are promised that the righteousness and justice of God will surely come. God judges evil! There are always consequences for evil.
The promise is this: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (2:14). The whole earth—there will be no nook or cranny in all of creation that is left in the dark. The knowledge, the understanding of who God is and what God has done and what God requires, will be clear to all. No one will be able to claim ignorance; no one will be able to deny that the living God is above all gods. This knowledge and understanding will bring into focus the righteousness of God that exposes the unrighteous, sinful hearts of all humankind.
In Philippians, Paul tells about this day when the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will come to the whole earth. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11). This Day is an “already / not yet” day. Jesus is already crucified, ascended and exalted and has defeated Satan. But Christ has not yet returned in glory to judge the earth.
Habakkuk foresees the day of God’s judgment and Christ’s return. On that day, the glory of the Lord will fill every part of creation and every human heart will melt before the greatness and glory of God. “As the waters cover the sea” so will the glory of the Lord fill the whole earth.
But when? The Lord’s ways are not ours. The Lord’s timing is wise and right. Although Habakkuk wanted the Lord to bring immediate justice and judgment for the evil of the Babylonians, God’s timing was perfect to bring judgment to the Babylonians and to bring his people Israel to their knees in humility before the Lord of Glory.
Consider—
╬ There are always consequences for sin. It may seem like evil goes unpunished, but we know that God’s judgment will surely come. Until then “the sun rises on the evil and the good,” and the Lord “sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Jesus told us to “love our enemies” and to “pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:45-46). Who is the Lord asking you to pray for today? Pray for God’s mercy and justice to fall on the whole earth.
╬ Even if we know that the blood of the Lamb has washed our sins, daily we need to be washed in Christ’s righteousness again and again. Give thanks that Jesus forgives us. Ask God the Spirit to refresh your understanding of your need for his grace and mercy.
╬ Lord, our God, we eagerly await the day when “the whole earth is filled with your glory.” Like Habakkuk, we want it to come soon. And we quake with the understanding that your judgment of our sin will accompany your glorious return. We cry, “Mercy” and we trust you to give each and every one of us what you know we need to become more truly the people of God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.