" Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? 

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. " - Habbakuk 2:13-14

Habbakuk - IV

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Here is a lightning bolt that illuminates darkness, to show us the awesome storm clouds surrounding around us!

We have been looking at the picture of a person painted for us in Habbakuk Chapter 2, a person drunk with pride, and 4 woes are pronounced against him/a spirit of mind,  in a formal indictment.

1. "Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!."  - Habbakuk 2:9

Ensuring your safety from harm by dishonest gain (cheating others). 

"You will be like the Most High, knowing good and evil." is how it started in the Garden, but it continues today. People duping the gullible to line their own pockets, and especially this person, and those controlled by him, and a final king!

2. "Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! " - Habbakuk 2:12

Pretty clear....think of all the violence and bloodshed over the ages --- attributed to the sweet ignorance of mankind by atheists, but we know better. The smarter we get, the meaner we get.... and why is that...

3. "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!" - Habbakuk 2:15

Getting a person drunk to remove their clothes... hmmmm... well, this is definitely still being practiced today (:-)) but there is a deeper spiritual implication.

This is a person that is perverting and shaming the children of God, mankind, with his disease....to show just how evil they can get. Get them to kill each other, lie, cheat, all for some shiny pieces of metal and some popularity which perishes the instant they are in the grave!!!!

4. "Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it." - Habbakuk 2:19

Worshipping or putting our trust in inanimate objects is similarly ancient, but now?

Hey look, we're making thinking robots that we are "worshipping" as being smarter than us!! One tiny difference between them and us? 

They are not LIVING! "there is no breath at all in the midst of it." 

Consider LIFE dear doubters, something you had no hand in creating and enjoy, but are happy to doubt the existence of a creator --- it was all an accident!!

Now the woes are pointing squarely at the end times!

A person that cheats people to gain power, a robot that kills people but is worshipped. ? " Arise, it shall teach!! "

A struggle of titanic proportions, and revealed in the end times.

"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. "  Mat_24:14  "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

"Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?" (our text this week)

The problem of evil, pain and suffering is as old as mankind itself. Painful and FUTILE are all attempts mankind can make to pull ourselves up by our bootlaces physically. 

We may be technologically advanced, but spiritually, are cavemen, compared to the standards of our LORD! 

There is a reason for all this, and it is educational. 

Some learn it in their lifetimes, some are blessed to born with a spirit of service for ones fellow humans, and some, like our brother Habbakuk, are privileged to get it directly!

Hallelujah!