Sermon Central
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Words Of Warning Series
Contributed by Carl Willis on Oct 9, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: 5 Woes are given as a warning to those who oppress. Though their wicked ways may succeed for a moment in time, the Lord’s judgment will bring their wickedness to an end.
Words of Warning
Habakkuk 2:6-8 (HCSB)
Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him, with mockery and riddles about him? They will say: Woe to him who amasses what is not his - how much longer? - and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.
Won’t your creditors suddenly arise, and those who disturb you wake up? Then you will become spoil for them. Since you have plundered many nations, all the peoples who remain will plunder you -because of human bloodshed and violence against lands, cities and all who live in them.
Warning to the Thief
- Ill-gotten gain
- Take that which rightfully belongs to another
- Through force or oppression
- Violence and intimidation
- The tools of the trade
- The oppressed will rise up
- The oppressor will become the oppressed
- The riches of conquest will become the plunder of those who rise up
Habakkuk 2:9-11 (HCSB)
Woe to him who unjustly gains wealth for his house to place his nest on high to escape from the reach of disaster. You have planned shame for your house by wiping out many people and sinning against your own self. For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will answer them from the woodwork.
Warning against Unjust Gain
- Accumulated wealth
- Through deception, immorality, violence
- Causes false security
- The wealth will protect, defend and deliver
- Creates greater danger
- Possession of unjust gain
- Levels the accusation of evil doing
- Ultimately condemns
Habakkuk 2:12-14 (HCSB)
Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with injustice! Is it not from the Lord of Hosts, that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire and countries exhaust themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.
Warning to the Cruel & Violent
- Building an empire
- Through violence
- Through captivity
- Through enslavement
- Judgment will come
- The Lord will not allow evil to continue forever
- The promise of a new day
- The glory of the Lord will fill the earth
Psalm 72:19 (HCSB)
May His glorious name be praised forever; the whole earth is filled with His glory.
Isaiah 11:9 (HCSB)
No one will harm or destroy on My entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.
Habakkuk 2:15 – 17 (HCSB)
Woe to him who gives his neighbors drink, pouring out your wrath and even making them drunk, in order to look at their nakedness! You will be filled with disgrace instead of glory. You also – drink, and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory. For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you; the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of your human bloodshed and violence against lands, cities and all who live in them.
Warning to those who Exploit
- Degrade and humiliate
- Steal basic human dignity
- Done for pleasure or domination
- What comes around…goes around
- The Lord will bring about the humiliation of the oppressor
- Their fate will be worse than those they have exploited
Habakkuk 2:18–20 (HCSB)
What use is a carved idol after its craftsman carves it? It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies. For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it and makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up! Or to mute stone: Come alive! Can it teach? Look! It may be plated with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all. But the Lord is in His holy temple; let everyone on earth be silent in His presence.
Warning to the Idolater
- The idol is man made
- It has no life of its own
- It cannot give life
- The idol propagates false security
- The Lord God
- Reigning from on high
- Always watchful
- Mindful of His people
- Worthy of all honor and glory
There are no shortcuts!!!
- Faith is the only means of true security
- Wickedness will always be cut short
- Vengeance is the Lord’s
**Powerpoint available on request
