Title: The Secret to Avoiding Disaster
Contents
Text: Habakkuk 2:6-20
If you look at this age, it is like the age in which the prophet Habakkuk lived. Habakkuk was a great prophet who embraced God and embraced man, a name meaning “hug”. Habakkuk's historical background is that King Josiah died at Megiddo in 609 BC, and his son Jehoash became king, but was taken captive in Egypt, and his son Jehoiakim succeeded his father as king. However, injustice is done to please the Egyptians, and evil and injustice are rampant throughout society, and rape and rebellion are prevalent. At this time, the prophet Habakkuk cried out to God and prayed and prophesied about the five judgments that God received.
1. Woe to the sin of plundering others (2:6).
2. Woe to sin for unrighteous gain (2:9).
Both are used with similar meanings. Rightful wealth is used for just purposes, but it is the logic that unjust profits are used unjustly. For example, no one gets rich by winning money from the game board. Eventually, everything will be ruined. So play is an unfair advantage. Christians should stay away from playing games for money, cards, horse racing, racing, and speculative stock games that are not for investment because they are for unjust profit. In particular, because of the nature of the game, if you lose money, you try to make up for it, but you lose more. But we Christians should not be tempted and receive grace. Don't be tempted, let's be empowered. Let us not be heated, but receive the fire of the Holy Spirit.
When there is a change in government, our country is always plagued with corruption. Nevertheless, it seems that these people are very fond of unrighteous gains, given that they are not eradicated. But the Bible says that woe will come upon you. Even if you accumulate wealth, your children will perish with it. As you can see in verse 10, “You curse your house”, unrighteous riches are a slander, not happiness, so you have to work rightly and earn justly. You have to work hard, receive the blessings God has given you, and pass on those blessings to your children. And we must give and use a lot for the work of God so that the blessing goes down from generation to generation. I wish you many seeds of good fortune in the new year.
3. Woe to the sin of building a city with blood (2:12).
Those who come to power through bloodshed, or who cause the death or murder of innocent lives by taking power may hold power for a while and enjoy wealth and glory, but the end result will be disastrous. Blessings come when we value human life and are human, and there is happiness. Don't be too greedy, and if you have food, clothing, and a place to rest, you should live with gratitude for it.
4. Woe to the sin of committing immorality and evil (2:15).
In particular, the practice of “drinking a neighbor” is mentioned here. For those of you who have not stopped drinking alcohol, I hope you will stop thinking that the sin will pass through my throat and the snake will pass through my throat. I hope you make the decision to hold your right hand firmly, shout “drink-dump,” and “tobacco-duk”. Ephesians 5:18 says, “Do not get drunk, for this is debauchery, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
5. Woe to the sin of worshiping false idols (2:18).
Just like the golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar standing on the plain of Dura, there are too many idols in our country right now. It would be a curse before God to build a larger temple complex in the name of cultural property and to set up huge Buddha statues here and there. What does it mean that most of the world's richest developed countries are Christian countries?
1 Corinthians 10:20 says that sacrifices are made to Gentiles and to demons. Now the Lunar New Year holiday is approaching. There will be people who are still worried about the ancestral rites and have conflicts with the elders of the family. Obviously you know Sacrifice is something God hates. Your relationship with your parents is a living relationship. It's not that those who die don't eat the sacrificial rice. While you are alive, do your best and love to the fullest.
Dear members of Shepherd Church,
It is clear that today's text, written 2600 years ago, is speaking to us living in this age. Please refrain from unrighteous wealth, cherish human life, reject immorality and evil deeds, and refrain from worshiping vain idols. This is the secret to avoiding anger and receiving blessings. The image of a person who lives by faith is shown in 3:17-18, which is to rejoice in the Lord and live satisfied with God alone. May this blessing be with you. Hallelujah!! Amen!