Habakkuk & Malachi Overview

Pondering with Purpose Podcast

0:00

-30:32

OTS: Pt. 12

May 06, 2025

This is a recording of my message on Habakkuk & Malachi for our Old Testament Survey series to the ABF Junior High Group.

Below is my outline for those who would like to follow along.

INTRO:

SPOKE: (BibleProject)

HUB: Responding to Doubt

Everyone at one time and most many times struggles with doubts. Doubts about the future. Doubts about relationships. Doubts about being loved. Doubts about faith. Doubts about anything
Fitzpatrick: We think that admitting that we doubt means that we don't have faith. I think you can doubt and have faith at the same time.
Two ways to respond to doubt

SPOKE: Questions about Care

Explanation/Exhortation/Exaltation:

Habakkuk 1:1-4, God Responds 1:12-2:1 How Long O YAHWEH
Habakkuk is asking honest questions.
He is telling God how he really feels. He is experiencing doubts
But he is not stuffing them, or denying them he is going to God with them
And his doubts are at the same time based on the character of God. he knows God and his doubts are arising from who God is and how what is happening doesn’t make sense.
Staton: Prayer itself makes us anxious because it uncovers fears. We can’t ignore as long as we don’t engage deeply thoughtfully vulnerably with God.
Little kids that always ask why why
Confident their parent knows the answer
Trusts them even when they don’t understand and have doubts.
DO we go to God with questions and doubts.
Do we think he can handle it?
Do we trust him? Do we care enough to go to him with questions?

SPOKE: Conclusions about Carelessness

Explanation/Exhortation/Exaltation:

Malachi 1 What a Weariness
The people have wrongly interpreted God’s discipline as apathy or abandonment
And in response they have stopped caring. They think God’s not watching so why bother.
They come with the assumption that God doesn’t care and see everything through that lens.
Has anyone seen the new Apple TV movie Family Plan?
Poster
The daughter goes through that phase of rebellion where she gives up her passion for writing cause she’s convinced it doesn’t matter. And there is this scene that made me think of this passage.
“I’m serious that piece you wrote about pervasive corruption in the Board of Education…my gosh, I got chills..
You actually read that??
Of course I did Come on. I’m your biggest fan. Always have been always will be.
Tim Keller: Two things can happen when you suffer. One is you think, I'm being punished." But the cross says, no, Jesus took your punishment.... The second question comes: Well, maybe God doesn't care….
Have you found yourself deciding things for God. Deciding like Israel or Job’s friends how God works. Deciding you don’t care anymore
Dropping a habit or relationship or anything else cause you’re done?
QUESTIONS?

Conclusion: Gospel & Jesus

Gospel of Grace
Finish the quote
Tim Keller: …But the cross says God does care, he lost a child out of his love for you.
The Gospel from Genesis is that God cares so much that he promised hope in Genesis 3: WHAT?
Cares enough to redeem from Exodus.
Send prophets to tell them etc.
Our Savior
Jesus Ask Questions
If it is possible let it pass
Jesus Answers the Question
He is the answer. Every promise is yes and amen
Jesus Encounters Those Who No Longer Care
Pharisees, saduccees, etc
Jesus Corrects Wrong Conclusions
They have been asking if God cares.
He claps back that he obviously cares. Have you not read your Bible.
Then Jesus shows the full expression of how much he cares.
No other religion claims God came to us.
Bruce Shelley: Christianity is the only major religion to have at its central event the humiliation of its God...
QUESTIONS?