INTERACTIVE TEACHING/LEARNING GUIDE
Prophetic Words of Yesterday for Today - Week 14
Session Title:
Faith to Celebrate
Focal Passages:
Habakkuk 3:1-19
Central Teaching/Learning Aim:
The learner will examine Habakkuk’s
prayer to God and be challenged to focus on his/her personal view of God.
I.
Hook
A.
Share the following information:
One of the attributes of His greatness is His infinite and awesome power,
particularly displayed in creation. In a children’s book entitled Is A Blue
Whale the Biggest Thing There Is? Robert Wells gives us a taste of God’s
power in creation; he takes us from a size we can grasp to one we can’t.
The largest animal on earth is the blue whale. Just the flippers on its tail are
bigger than most animals on earth. But a blue whale isn’t anywhere as big
as a mountain. If you put hundreds of blue whales in a huge jar, you could
put millions of “whale jars” in a hollowed-out Mount Everest.
But Mount Everest isn’t nearly as big as the earth. If you stacked a hundred
Mount Everest’s on top of each other they would only be a whisker on the
face of the earth. And the earth isn’t anywhere as big as the sun. You could
fit over one million earths inside the sun.
But the sun, which scientists tell us is a medium-sized star, isn’t anywhere
as big as the red super-giant star called Antares. Fifty million – that’s right,
count them all – fifty million of our suns could fit inside Antares.
But Antares isn’t anywhere as big as the Milky Way galaxy. Billions of stars,
including super-giants like Antares, as well as countless comets and
asteroids, actually make up the Milky Way galaxy.
But the Milky Way galaxy isn’t nearly as big as the universe. There are
literally billions of other galaxies in the universe. And yet, filled with billions
of galaxies, the universe is almost totally empty. The distances from one
galaxy to another are beyond imagination. It defies exhaustive
comprehension. And so does the One who made it! To think that He did all
that with just a spoken word. Incredible! “Righteous” as some younger
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members of today would say. But if the truth be known, it was only an
infinitely limited expression of His power.
So when we approach a God of this magnitude in prayer, let us come
humbly, knowing that He is awesome in power, that there is good reason
the Hebrews referred to Him as El-Shaddai, the Almighty!
Now share this story about Thomas Aquinas:
Thomas Aquinas, the famous Italian medieval theologian, created one of the
greatest intellectual achievements of western civilization in his Suma
Theologica. It’s a massive work: thirty-eight treatises, three thousand
articles, and ten thousand objections. Thomas attempted to gather into one
coherent whole all of known truth. What an undertaking: anthropology,
philosophy, science, ethics, psychology, political theory, and theology, all
under God.
On Dec. 16, 1273 - so the story goes – Thomas abruptly stopped his work.
While celebrating Mass in the Chapel of St. Thomas, he caught a glimpse of
eternity, and suddenly he knew that all his efforts to describe God fell so far
short that he decided never to write again.
When his secretary, Reginald, tried to encourage him to do more writing, he
said, “Reginald, I can do no more. Such things have been revealed to me
that all I have written seems as so much straw.”
Next – Place members into groups and have them complete question #1 of
the discussion guide. Have groups read their descriptive words for God
based on Habakkuk 3.
State – God’s power is awesome; it cannot be comprehended. Today, we
are going to discuss the awesome power and wonder of God and observe
how Habakkuk attempted to describe Him.
B.
Optional Method – Show the following web clip featuring the IBM created
computer code named Watson.
Location: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC3IryWr4c8
Length: 3:59
Synopsis: IBM engineers discuss the worlds most powerful sophisticated
computer and show it competing against Jeopardy champions.
State – It took thousands of man hours and millions of dollars to develop
Watson. The human brain still processes information at a 10 quadrillion
operations a second; 10 times faster than a computer the size of a hockey
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rink. As impressive as the human brain is it cannot compare to the
awesomeness of the Creator.
Source: “Nations in race to produce world’s fastest computer,” The Atlanta Journal 2006
Read (Isaiah 55:9) “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Next – Place members into groups and have them complete question #1 of
the discussion guide. Have groups read their descriptive words for God
based on Habakkuk 3.
State – God’s power is awesome; it cannot be comprehended. Today, we
are going to discuss the awesome power and wonder of God and observe
how Habakkuk attempted to describe Him.
C.
Optional Method – Web Clip featuring Tim Ross who is the Young Adult
Pastor at The Potter’s House in Dallas. This clip can be downloaded and
purchased from bluefishtv.com.
Location:
http://www.bluefishtv.com/Store/Downloadable_Video_Illustrations/3304/Trust_the_Almight
y/f=s1&scid=1005&cc=&csc=&ldr=&s=Gods%20Majesty
Length: 0:3:14
Synopsis: In this current video, Tim Ross discusses how we need to trust
and depend on our almighty God.
Ask – For reactions to the clip.
Next – Place members into groups and have them complete question #1 of
the discussion guide. Have groups read their descriptive words for God
based on Habakkuk 3.
State – God’s power is awesome; it cannot be comprehended. Today, we
are going to discuss the awesome power and wonder of God and observe
how Habakkuk attempted to describe Him.
II.
Book
A.
Utilize the discussion guide to examine the Scripture passages.
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III.
Look
A.
IV.
Distribute the handout “Living in God’s Power” and guide members through
it. (You could place members into pairs so that they can share.)
Took
A.
Close in a time of worship. Display the lyrics and play the song
“Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin. Close in prayer.
B.
Optional Method – Enlist a member who has a good speaking voice to
read the poem “Trust in God.”
Ask members to bow their heads and have the poem read.
Next – Read the following quote by C.S. Lewis.
“He who has God and many other things has no more than he who has God
alone.”
Close in prayer.
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DISCUSSION GUIDE
Teacher Copy
1. Read the prayer of Habakkuk and list one word descriptions of God in the verses
below:
v. 3:2
Awesome
v. 3:2
Merciful
v. 3:3
Sovereign
v. 3
Glorious
v. 4
Shining
v. 4
Powerful
v. 5
Destructive
v. 6
Frightening
v. 7-9
Vengeful
v. 10-12 Controlling
v. 13-15 Delivering
2. Which description of God can you most identify with today?
3. Read the following verses and complete the chart?
Scripture Reference
Name of God
Meaning
(Judges 9:46)
El Berith
God of the covenant
(Genesis 33:18-20)
El Elohe
Mighty is the God of Israel
(Psalm 90:1-2)
El Olam
Eternal God
(Genesis 16:13)
El Roi
The God who sees
(Deuteronomy 32:4)
El Shaddai
God Almighty
(Exodus 3:14-15)
Yahweh
The Lord
(Exodus 15:26)
Yahweh Rapha
Lord the Healer
(Judges 6:23-24)
Yahweh Shalom
The Lord is peace
(Jeremiah 33:15-16)
Yahweh Tsidkenu
The Lord our
righteousness
(Genesis 22:14)
Yahweh Yireh
The Lord provides
4. What names of God mean the most in my life?
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5. In (Habakkuk 3:4-7) Habakkuk describes the power of God. When in my life has
God’s power been most evident?
6. In verses (8-15) Habakkuk lists the many actions of God. What is keeping God from
being more active in and through me?
7. How did Habakkuk react to his encounter with God? (Habakkuk 3:16)
[He was paralyzed and speechless by his encounter with God.]
8. Have I ever felt shaken by being in God’s presence? When? Where?
9. What is the key lesson in (vs. 17-19)?
[God will provide, no matter what life brings. All I need is God.]
10. How can I maintain a positive outlook on life even in times of adversity?
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DISCUSSION GUIDE
Student Copy
1. Read the prayer of Habakkuk and list one word descriptions of God in the verses
below:
v. 3:2
v. 3:2
v. 3:3
v. 3
v. 4
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7-9
v. 10-12
v. 13-15
2. Which description of God can you most identify with today?
3. Read the following verses and complete the chart?
Scripture Reference
Name of God
Meaning
(Judges 9:46)
(Genesis 33:18-20)
(Psalm 90:1-2)
(Genesis 16:13)
(Deuteronomy 32:4)
(Exodus 3:14-15)
(Exodus 15:26)
(Judges 6:23-24)
(Jeremiah 33:15-16)
(Genesis 22:14)
4. What names of God mean the most in my life?
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5. In (Habakkuk 3:4-7) Habakkuk describes the power of God. When in my life has
God’s power been most evident?
6. In verses (8-15) Habakkuk lists the many actions of God. What is keeping God from
being more active in and through me?
7. How did Habakkuk react to his encounter with God? (Habakkuk 3:16)
8. Have I ever felt shaken by being in God’s presence? When? Where?
9. What is the key lesson in (vs. 17-19)?
10. How can I maintain a positive outlook on life even in times of adversity?
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“LIVING IN GOD’S POWER”
Take the Following Self-Exam
I consider myself to be a positive person
I think others would consider me a positive person
I seldom whine
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Most days I begin with:
“This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”
It’s just another day to work, endure trials and pay bills.
List your trials/worries on one side and your triumphs/victories on the other.
Trials/Worries
Triumphs/Victories
Read (Habakkuk 3:17-19). How many of your trials/worries can you cancel out if you are
living a life of victory? Cross them out now.
What steps will I take this week to live life in God’s Power? (Check all that apply.)
Begin each day with prayer for guidance.
Begin each day reading a promise from God’s Word.
Live each day in the power of the Resurrection.
Get in an accountability group through my Life Group.
Live expectantly instead of reluctantly.
Strive to out give God (finances, time, ministry, involvement).
Put my focus on others and not myself.
Others
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"Indescribable"
by Chris Tomlin
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
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TRUST IN GOD
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, “Child, you must wait.”
“Wait? You say ‘wait’,” my indignant reply,
“Lord, I need answers. I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked and am claiming your word.
My future and all to which I can relate hangs in the balance,
And YOU tell me ‘Wait?’
I’m needing a ‘yes’, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘no’ to which I can resign.
And, Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And, Lord, I’ve been asking!
I need a reply!”
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate.
As my Master replied once again, “You must wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut.
And grumbled to God, “So I’m waiting…for what?”
He seemed, then to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, cause the mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want-But you, wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of my love for each saint;
You’d not know the power that I give to the faint;
You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You’d not know joy of resting in Me,
When darkness and silence were all you could see;
You’d never experience the fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;
You’d know that I give and I save (for a start),
But you’d not know that depth of the beat of My heart,
The glow of My comfort late in the night,
The faith that I give when you walk with out sight,
The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked,
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that “My grace is sufficient for thee’,
Yes, your dreams for that loved one, overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the loss! If I lost what I am doing in you!”
“So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.
And though oft may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still,
“WAIT”
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THEE WORD FOR THE WEEK
Priorities That Produce
Haggai 1:1-15
Monday – Read Haggai1:1-15
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This is the first of four messages by Haggai that concerned the temple.
Who was Zerubbabel?
Who was King of Babylon?
What did Haggai want to motivate the people of Israel to do?
Tuesday – Read -Ezra 4:1-6:15, Ezra 6:15-16
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What had been the priority of the people upon their return from Babylon?
How long had the rebuilding been halted?
Who stopped it?
Why had the temple not been rebuilt?
What had taken priority over the rebuilding of the temple?
Wednesday – Read Haggai 1:1-5
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With whom did Haggai discuss the rebuilding of the temple?
What excuse did the people use concerning not rebuilding the temple?
When did God say was the time to rebuild?
Does God reprimand the people for using their excuses not to rebuild?
Thursday – Read Haggai 1:6-11
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What had happened to the Jews due to their procrastination in rebuilding the
temple?
What challenge does Haggai give o the people about rebuilding the temple now?
What happens when we neglect God?
Friday – Read Haggai 1:12-15; Ezra 6:15-16; Matthew 1:12; Luke 2:27
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How long did it take to rebuild the temple?
What part did Zerubbabel play in the return of the Jews to Israel?
What importance does he hold in God’s plan of redemption?
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EXEGETICAL – THEOLOGICAL – PEDAGOGICAL
NOTE: The bold in each point represents the subject of the unit – what the author was
talking about, while the bold underline represents the complement – what the author
was saying about what he was talking about. Together the subject and complement
provide the proposition or big idea of each unit.
(Exegetical: What it meant to Judah back THEN)
HABAKKUK’S CONFIDENT TRUST IN THE LORD WHOM HE PETITIONED TO
RENEW HIS FAMOUS WORKS AGAIN, WORKS SEEN IN HIS TIMELESS ACTS OF
DELIVERANCE . . . EXTOLLED/CELEBRATED THE SOVEREIGN LORD WHO
STRENGTHENED HIM TO LIVE THROUGH THE DANGERS AND THREATS OF
COMING JUDGMENT.
Title: A Prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet, (1).
I. The petition of Habakkuk, based on his awe as he reflected on the Lord’s
famous deeds . . . was that the Lord renew His famous deeds (like the exodus
from Egypt and the conquest of Canaan) in Habakkuk’s day, remembering
mercy even as He brought about His wrath, (2).
A. The primary confession of Habakkuk . . . was that he had heard of the
Lord’s fame, (2a).
B. The synthetic confession of Habakkuk . . . was that he now stood in awe of
the Lord’s deeds, (2b).
NOTE: Compare Habakkuk’s confession to that of Job in Job 42:1-6.
C. The primary petition of Habakkuk . . . was that the Lord revive His famous
deeds in Habakkuk’s day, (2c).
D. The synonymous petition of Habakkuk . . . was that the Lord make known
His famous deeds in Habakkuk’s day, (2d).
E. The synthetic petition of Habakkuk . . . was that the Lord remember mercy
even as He brought about His wrath, (2e).
II. Habakkuk’s visions of the Lord’s timeless works of salvation, seen in the
recollections of the Lord’s past famous deeds and in the revelations of the
Lord’s future judgments . . . pictured the reversed fortunes of the wicked and
the wretched, (3-15).
NOTE: Verses 3-15 are more than a review of the past. They are that, but more than
that, they are a vision from God, in response to Habakkuk’s prayer in verse 2, that
shows Him “renewing His famous deeds” on behalf of Israel in the future.
A. Habakkuk’s vision of the holy God coming out of Sinai to cover the earth
with glory and praise, sending judgment as flashing, fiery bolts of
lightening . . . revealed the Lord shaking the earth, causing the nations to
tremble, and collapsing the ancient mountains, (3-7).
NOTE: Wiersbe, pp. 160-163, and Chisholm, pp. 193-197, identify the geographical
and historical references alluded to in verses 3-15. Their brief catalog of events
should prove helpful. These many allusions recall God’s past faithfulness to deliver
His people with sovereign and invincible power. Verses 3-7 reflect on the desert
wanderings of Israel from Sinai to Canaan.
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B. Habakkuk’s vision of the Lord’s anger, wrath, and rage unleashed against
the Lord’s and Habakkuk’s peoples’ enemies (Egypt, 8-9 and Canaan, 1112) to deliver His people and His anointed one (Israel? – Exodus 19:5-8, the
anointed judges? – Judges 2:10-19) . . . reversed the fortunes of the wicked
and the wretched, (8-15).
NOTE: The sea and horse references of verses 8 and 15 recall the deliverance of
Exodus 14:23-31 and the crossing of the Jordan in Joshua 4.
III. The confident trust/faith (see 2:4b) of Habakkuk, based on his humble
willingness to wait for the worsening judgment of Babylon coming upon his
people . . . extolled/celebrated the sovereign Lord who strengthened him to
live through the dangers and threats of coming judgment, (16-19).
NOTE: Drawing a deep breath, God’s prophet readied himself to wait through the Lord’s
judgment of Judah by means of the dreaded Babylonian invaders. This faithful waiting
was possible because God had given him a vision of how things were really – how they
had been in the past and would be in the future – the Lord was the sovereign
warrior/judge who would protect the faithful remnant and provide life beyond the coming
catastrophe. There was reason to celebrate His faithfulness.
A. The confession of Habakkuk . . . testified to his humble willingness to
patiently wait for the Lord to bring the calamity of Babylon upon His
people, (16).
B. The testimony of Habakkuk, in spite of the worsening judgment coming
upon His people (see Deuteronomy 28:31-34, 49-51 and Habakkuk 1:5-11) . . .
affirmed his joyful rejoicing in the Lord God, his Savior, (17-18).
C. The confident trust of Habakkuk . . . extolled/celebrated the sovereign Lord
who strengthened him to live through the dangers and threats of coming
judgment, (19).
Notation to the music director: “To be accompanied with stringed instruments.”
(Theological: What it means for God’s people ALWAYS)
THE LORD’S FAMOUS WORKS OF DELIVERANCE THROUGH REVERSAL OF
FORTUNE . . . STRENGTHEN HIS PEOPLE.
I. The Lord’s famous works . . . remember mercy even in times of judgment, (12). (See parallels in Job 42:1-6 and Exodus 34:1-8).
[In the future: “Lord, in wrath remember mercy.”
II. The Lord’s famous works of judgment . . . reverse the fortunes of the wicked and
the righteous, (3-15).
[In the past: “You came out to deliver your people.”]
III. The Lord’s famous works of deliverance . . . strengthen His people to survive
judgment, (16-19).
[In the present: “I must wait . . . rejoicing . . . joyfully.”]
I.
(Pedagogical: What it means for us TODAY)
CELEBRATE GOD’S PLAN TO BRING MERCY OUT OF JUDGMENT.
What you really want is mercy, (1-2).
A. You may say you want justice . . . (see chapter 1).
“If you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention.”
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B. Then you remember God’s reputation, (2a). (See job 42).
“I knew your reputation, now I know you.”
C. You really want God to act among His people today! (2b).
“How long, O Lord?” (1:2) with “The just shall live by faith!” (2:4)
D. What you really want is mercy, (2c).
II. Remember God’s past faithfulness, (3-15).
A. Remember his deliverance of Israel, (3-15).
B. Remember his deliverance of His church. (Read the Acts of the Apostles).
C. Remember his deliverance of you!
III. Celebrate God’s plan to bring mercy out of judgment, (16-19).
A. Circumstances may go from bad to worse, (16-17).
1. Things got worse for Judah, (see Deuteronomy 28:15ff).
2. Things may get worse for you and your world.
B. But, because the just live by faith . . . Celebrate God’s plan, (18-19).
1. Celebrate God’s salvation, (18).
– Find a place to share your story/testimony, get baptized, invite someone to
the Easter Service and take him/her out for dinner after.
2. Celebrate God’s sovereign protection and provision, (19).
– Write a poem, sing in the choir, send a letter to the editor or to your
children/grandchildren, give to a specific ministry, act faithfully in all your
dealings, throw a party, make the Lord’s Supper meaningful, serve where
there’s a need.
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