A Panic Attack Paraphrase of Psalm 55.

If Amos 9 were an online video it would be preceded by a warning that said the content contains images some may find difficult, viewer discretion is advised.  But what Amos 9 displays is there is no height, depth or distance the Lion of Zion will not go, no scenario He will not orchestrate, and no violence He will not take to demonstrate His love and eliminate the barrier between Himself and His people.  And not one will be lost.

John is a professional in the work a day world.  He spends much of his time speaking with clients and colleagues about the business concerns of the day, listening and solving problems.  John has a family he loves and church friends in whom he invests and enjoys.  From outward appearance, Johns everyday life looks and feels quite normal. 

However, under the surface John feels an emptiness that haunts him…

So when Habakkuk sees the evil going on inside the city walls, and the evil preparing for attack outside the city walls, he asks a valuable and important million dollar question, "God, where are you?". It is an honest question. It is a pertinent question. And it ranks among the preeminent questions human beings ask the Almighty.

Christ in the garden, trusting and moving forward despite the trial ahead - adds metric tons of value to Christ's humanity. Like us, Christ faces the catastrophe in trust and endures despite the trial. Christ didnt volunteer for the cross. The cross found him. And when presented with it, Jesus trusted and moved forward.

The Bible’s answers to difficult questions is going to ask us as believers to make two commitments.

You will notice that the book of Habakkuk has similarities to the book of Job. In fact, I believe it would be accurate to say that Habakkuk is a mini-Job book…

Next, we see God’s provision and avenue of rescue from the suffering and brokenness of this world. God tells Moses to construct the bronze serpent and gives instruction to trust as the avenue out of their current state. The application is striking…

A point of application is we see the difference between complaining to God and complaining about God. Scripture is loaded with instances when believers complain to God about circumstances. Indeed, entire books of the Old Testament are dedicated to the exploration of tough questions related to God's sovereignty in the valleys of life.

Jesus continues by helping us to see His role in our redemption is not condemnation, rather the inference is that our fallen nature already accomplishes this…

Captain Ahab is a man obsessed with the thing, the White Whale, that changed his life.  The White Whale is his nemesis, an uncontrollable element of life that has left him lame and threatened his reality.  Now Ahab is intent on destroying the thing that has broken him.  Ahab's life was that of a whaler, sea captain and successful merchant.  Now he is uprooted, physically changed, and the dominance he felt over his life’s direction is torn and changed by the will and force of an outside entity with a mind of its own.  The White Whale intends to destroy Ahab and has the power to do so. (Job 41:10)