THE LAST LAUGH!
TEXT: Habakkuk 2:6-20
THESIS: To show that sin will be dealt with and God will have the ‘last laugh.’
INTRO.: A. Men course God and thumb their noses at Him. They violate every commandment and break every one of God’s rules. They laugh at morality and mock the moral minority. They boast of their success and scoff at honesty and integrity. They spread themselves as the “green bay tree” and laugh at
We “poor, uneducated, deluded and deprived Christians.” But, “He who laughs last, laughs best!” And it is the Lord Who will have the last laugh.
Psalms 2:1-6 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
B. Today things are backwards. The wicked prosper, and the righteous perish! The ungodly laugh, and the saved weep! The sinner scoffs and the saint sorrows! Habakkuk pondered this inequity and injustice in his day. The ungodly, idolatrous and heathen Chaldeans were on the march, and God had revealed to him that they would be victorious over Israel. God had also revealed in a vision (v.2,3) that wrongs would be righted and judgment would come on the sinners. God pronounces five “woes” on five sins which the Chaldeans (and Israel!) were guilty. Oh yes, He will have ‘THE LAST LAUGH!”
TRANS.: There are only two principles of life in the world, that of those who are self-centered and “puffed up” and have a “do your own thing” philosophy, and those who are God-centered and trust the Lord to work everything out. “The just shall live by faith…” v.4
I. WOE TO THE PROUD: v.6 (cf. v.4,5)
A. Pride of Race:
1. The Chaldeans thought they were invincible.
2. Some think that through an accident of birth they are better than others – a “superior race.”
NOTE: No one had anything to do with his place of birth, time, health, strength, intellect, or even the color of his eyes. Pride of race is the height of stupidity8. We need to thank God for who we are, where we are, and what we are.
The Jew in Jesus’ day felt sujperior to all others, because God had chosen him…but that should prompt humility, not pride.
B. Pride of Place:
1. This is the “Diotrophes syndrome” – he “loved to have the preeminence.”
2. Jesus said he that is least shall be greatest and that he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
C. Pride of Grace:
1. Some who are saved sin by thinking themselves to be superior to others.
2. But we did not save ourselves – it is 100% of God, so we have nothing to be prideful about.
D. Pride of Face:
1. Because some are more handsome or prettier than others they become “puffed up.”
2. The shape of your nose, color of your eyes, etc. was determined before you were born.
NOTE: (Cf. 6b) “Woe to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!” Whatever you are proud about is a burden to you. None of us have any right to be proud! Pride was the number one sin in the universe. Your pride only proves that Satan is your father!
Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
The five “I wills” of Satan is balanced by the five “woes” of Habakkuk. Pride goeth before a fall. Cf. v.7
II. WOE TO THE COVETEOUS: v.9-11
A. This is the Sin of Shameful Greed:
1. The Chaldeans had an insatiable appetite for more and more land, power, and possessions.
2. The Chaldeans built the great Babylonian Empire because of their greed, but God says He hates this sin and will punish it. “Woe…”
B. This is the Sin of Pseudo Need:
1. Like the child who “needs” every new toy or everything he sees at the store.
2. The covetous must have what others have.
ILLUS.: The commercial world advertises every product as a “need” – a necessity. Credit cards make covetousness simple. Come and get it…no money down…don’t pay a cent now!” But, you WILL pay!
III. THE WOE TO THE OPPRESSOR: vv. 12,13 (Cf. v.8)
A. This Was Military & Political Oppression:
1. The Babylonians were ruthless!
2. They “buildeth…with blood.”
ILLUS.: Today the Muslims want to “convert” the world to Islam through the use of force. They are ruthless and teach their children in school to hate all “infidels” (every Jew and American, specifically). In the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s it was the Communists who wanted to take over the world and “bury” the West. Now Islam is on the march. They do not understand any language but violence.
It is this author’s belief that you cannot trust ANY MUSLIM who believes the Quran! The Quran teaches hatred, and violence towards all non-Muslims. The nominal Muslim, like nominal Christians, may not know what their “scriptures” teach, but if they understand it and believe it they are dangerous and untrustworthy.
a. The oppression was God’s chastisement of Israel. v.13
b. The day will come when oppression will cease. v.14
NOTE: God permits oppression now for His own reasons, but could intervene at any time and will do so ultimately. V. 14 gives insight into the human reason for oppression – no knowledge of God!
B. There Was Economic & Religious Oppression:
1. Economic oppression occurs where employers take advantage of employees & God is aware of it.
James 5:4-5 Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.
2. Religious oppression occurs when men wish to force their religious beliefs upon others or deny religious freedom to others; in Habakkuk’s day that was Babylonianism – today it is Islam (and Catholicism where they are in power.)
ILLUS.: America was founded on the principle of freedom from religious oppression by our Baptist forefathers, but we are in danger of losing it due to the ACLU, the liberals in politics, and other non-believers in our society.
IV. WOE TO THE DRUNKARD: vv.15,16
A. The Sin With A Twin: Nakedness
ILLUS.: Drinking and nakedness are Siamese twins; like lust and pornography, and greed and gambling – they cannot be separated. Booze and topless go-go girls go together. Near naked cocktail waitresses are a part of the booze scene. Show me a booze hound and I will show you a man with a problem with fidelity (adultery), fornication, pornography, homosexuality, or some other lewd and lascivious sin. If it is sinful to drink, it is sinful to serve booze! Our nation has a booze problem of epidemic proportions. We have made airline stewards and stewardesses into bar-maids! Booze flows freely on every level of government and the business world as well.
B. The Drinker Is A Stinker: Multiple Sins! Cf. v.5 “…BECAUSE he transgresseth by wine”
1. He is proud.
2. He is unfaithful. “…neither keepeth at home”
3. He has an insatiable appetite. “…enlargeth…cannot be satisfied”
4. He is greedy. “…gathereth…heapeth”
V. WOE TO THE IDOLATER: vv. 18,19
A. A Stupid Sin: “…make dumb idols”
Isaiah 44:9-16 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
1. A “do-it-yourself” god.
2. Attempts to remove God’s authority over man.
CONCL.: God has not abdicated His throne! One day all the world will hush the cacophony of the sounds of sin and hear His “LAST LAUGH” of judgment and justice.
Woe to YOU…if you do not repent of your sins and receive Christ as your Savior. If you do, ALL your sins will be blood covered! Accept Him now and escape the “woes” of an omnipotent God.
TEXT: Habakkuk 2:6-20
THESIS: To show that sin will be dealt with and God will have the ‘last laugh.’
INTRO.: A. Men course God and thumb their noses at Him. They violate every commandment and break every one of God’s rules. They laugh at morality and mock the moral minority. They boast of their success and scoff at honesty and integrity. They spread themselves as the “green bay tree” and laugh at
We “poor, uneducated, deluded and deprived Christians.” But, “He who laughs last, laughs best!” And it is the Lord Who will have the last laugh.
Psalms 2:1-6 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
B. Today things are backwards. The wicked prosper, and the righteous perish! The ungodly laugh, and the saved weep! The sinner scoffs and the saint sorrows! Habakkuk pondered this inequity and injustice in his day. The ungodly, idolatrous and heathen Chaldeans were on the march, and God had revealed to him that they would be victorious over Israel. God had also revealed in a vision (v.2,3) that wrongs would be righted and judgment would come on the sinners. God pronounces five “woes” on five sins which the Chaldeans (and Israel!) were guilty. Oh yes, He will have ‘THE LAST LAUGH!”
TRANS.: There are only two principles of life in the world, that of those who are self-centered and “puffed up” and have a “do your own thing” philosophy, and those who are God-centered and trust the Lord to work everything out. “The just shall live by faith…” v.4
I. WOE TO THE PROUD: v.6 (cf. v.4,5)
A. Pride of Race:
1. The Chaldeans thought they were invincible.
2. Some think that through an accident of birth they are better than others – a “superior race.”
NOTE: No one had anything to do with his place of birth, time, health, strength, intellect, or even the color of his eyes. Pride of race is the height of stupidity8. We need to thank God for who we are, where we are, and what we are.
The Jew in Jesus’ day felt sujperior to all others, because God had chosen him…but that should prompt humility, not pride.
B. Pride of Place:
1. This is the “Diotrophes syndrome” – he “loved to have the preeminence.”
2. Jesus said he that is least shall be greatest and that he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
C. Pride of Grace:
1. Some who are saved sin by thinking themselves to be superior to others.
2. But we did not save ourselves – it is 100% of God, so we have nothing to be prideful about.
D. Pride of Face:
1. Because some are more handsome or prettier than others they become “puffed up.”
2. The shape of your nose, color of your eyes, etc. was determined before you were born.
NOTE: (Cf. 6b) “Woe to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!” Whatever you are proud about is a burden to you. None of us have any right to be proud! Pride was the number one sin in the universe. Your pride only proves that Satan is your father!
Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
The five “I wills” of Satan is balanced by the five “woes” of Habakkuk. Pride goeth before a fall. Cf. v.7
II. WOE TO THE COVETEOUS: v.9-11
A. This is the Sin of Shameful Greed:
1. The Chaldeans had an insatiable appetite for more and more land, power, and possessions.
2. The Chaldeans built the great Babylonian Empire because of their greed, but God says He hates this sin and will punish it. “Woe…”
B. This is the Sin of Pseudo Need:
1. Like the child who “needs” every new toy or everything he sees at the store.
2. The covetous must have what others have.
ILLUS.: The commercial world advertises every product as a “need” – a necessity. Credit cards make covetousness simple. Come and get it…no money down…don’t pay a cent now!” But, you WILL pay!
III. THE WOE TO THE OPPRESSOR: vv. 12,13 (Cf. v.8)
A. This Was Military & Political Oppression:
1. The Babylonians were ruthless!
2. They “buildeth…with blood.”
ILLUS.: Today the Muslims want to “convert” the world to Islam through the use of force. They are ruthless and teach their children in school to hate all “infidels” (every Jew and American, specifically). In the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s it was the Communists who wanted to take over the world and “bury” the West. Now Islam is on the march. They do not understand any language but violence.
It is this author’s belief that you cannot trust ANY MUSLIM who believes the Quran! The Quran teaches hatred, and violence towards all non-Muslims. The nominal Muslim, like nominal Christians, may not know what their “scriptures” teach, but if they understand it and believe it they are dangerous and untrustworthy.
a. The oppression was God’s chastisement of Israel. v.13
b. The day will come when oppression will cease. v.14
NOTE: God permits oppression now for His own reasons, but could intervene at any time and will do so ultimately. V. 14 gives insight into the human reason for oppression – no knowledge of God!
B. There Was Economic & Religious Oppression:
1. Economic oppression occurs where employers take advantage of employees & God is aware of it.
James 5:4-5 Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.
2. Religious oppression occurs when men wish to force their religious beliefs upon others or deny religious freedom to others; in Habakkuk’s day that was Babylonianism – today it is Islam (and Catholicism where they are in power.)
ILLUS.: America was founded on the principle of freedom from religious oppression by our Baptist forefathers, but we are in danger of losing it due to the ACLU, the liberals in politics, and other non-believers in our society.
IV. WOE TO THE DRUNKARD: vv.15,16
A. The Sin With A Twin: Nakedness
ILLUS.: Drinking and nakedness are Siamese twins; like lust and pornography, and greed and gambling – they cannot be separated. Booze and topless go-go girls go together. Near naked cocktail waitresses are a part of the booze scene. Show me a booze hound and I will show you a man with a problem with fidelity (adultery), fornication, pornography, homosexuality, or some other lewd and lascivious sin. If it is sinful to drink, it is sinful to serve booze! Our nation has a booze problem of epidemic proportions. We have made airline stewards and stewardesses into bar-maids! Booze flows freely on every level of government and the business world as well.
B. The Drinker Is A Stinker: Multiple Sins! Cf. v.5 “…BECAUSE he transgresseth by wine”
1. He is proud.
2. He is unfaithful. “…neither keepeth at home”
3. He has an insatiable appetite. “…enlargeth…cannot be satisfied”
4. He is greedy. “…gathereth…heapeth”
V. WOE TO THE IDOLATER: vv. 18,19
A. A Stupid Sin: “…make dumb idols”
Isaiah 44:9-16 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
1. A “do-it-yourself” god.
2. Attempts to remove God’s authority over man.
CONCL.: God has not abdicated His throne! One day all the world will hush the cacophony of the sounds of sin and hear His “LAST LAUGH” of judgment and justice.
Woe to YOU…if you do not repent of your sins and receive Christ as your Savior. If you do, ALL your sins will be blood covered! Accept Him now and escape the “woes” of an omnipotent God.