Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture: Hab. 2:15-20

January 11, 2026

Message: “What value is an idol?”

by Pastor George Gnade

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Introduction:

1. Many books of the Bible are named after the men who wrote them. Habakkuk was the author of this short book in the O.T. that we are studying today.

a. Some prophetic books like Isaiah or Jeremiah are very long. That is why scholars refer to them as the major prophets.

b. Other prophetic books are much shorter. They are called the minor prophets. Habakkuk fits that description. But the length of the book does not imply one book is less important than another. 

2. Last week we studied Hab. 2:1-4 where the Bible says: “The righteous shall live by faith.” We learned that a righteous person is a forgiven sinner. 

a. And to live by faith means you believe in what God says and do your best to live according to what God teaches us.

b. In plain words, he who has faith practices what he claims to believe. Or “He who lives by faith is also faithful!”

3. This passage is referred to many times in the N.T. Paul refers to it in Rom. 1: 16-17. He also talks about it in Galatians 3:11. So does the writer of Hebrews in 

Heb. 10:35 - 11:6.  So this little book is the basis of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What could be more important than that?

4. Consider what we have learned so far.  Habakkuk was upset because all around him wickedness seemed to prevail. When he asked God “Why?”, he was told God was going to punish evil be allowing the Babylonians to attack and conquer all of by wicked nations including Judah.

a. When he asked God what would happen to the Babylonians, God basically said their day would come. That is the subject of Hab. 2: 15–20. 

b. Babylon was godless and lived in a godless fashion.

A. Let us consider these verses for a few minutes.

1. In vs. 15-16, it says: “Woe to him who gives drinks to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so he can gaze on their naked bodies. You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed.

2. In Dan. 5, we are told about their last drunken party. The finger of God wrote on the wall and told them this night would be the last.  And it was. The Medes and the Persians took over the city of Babylon that very night.

3. Godless behavior was not the only charge God held against them. In Hab. 2:17, God condemned their violence.

God said: “The violence you have done…will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. 

You have shed man’s blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.”

4. God was not blind to their behavior. In Gal. 6:7, it says: “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.”

a. The world loves to mock us and laugh behind our backs, but they will not laugh when they face the Lord and are confronted at his judgment hall.

b. Babylon’s day was coming.

B. But their greatest sin was the sin of idolatry. 

1. In Hab. 2:18, it says: “Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? He who makes it trusts in his own creation. He makes idols that can not speak. 

a. Vs. 19 continues: “Woe to him who says to wood, 

‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone: ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold or silver, there is no breathe in it.”

b. A false god is no better than a lifeless idol. 

2. Remember the ten commandments. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourselves a graven image or the likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth or under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them for I the Lord your God is a jealous God… You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”

3. Millions of Christians can testify to the fact that our God hears our prayers and answers them. He does not always answer the way we expected; but as you watch, wait, and evaluate, it becomes clear that God knew what was best.

a. Idols and false gods can’t do that.

b. They can’t hear or see or have the ability to respond to us.

4. A while back, we studied the Book of Daniel and learned how God predicted everything that happened.

a. In one situation, King Nebuchadnezzar had a bad dream that he felt was important, but he no longer trusted his astrologers. So while he asked for their help, he refused to tell them the dream! He believed if they could tell him the dream, then he could trust their answer.

b. He was right. Only the true God could do that. He revealed to Daniel the dream and the interpretation. No wonder he began trusting Daniel instead of the others.

c. But that is the kind of answer that I am referring to! Not always, but more often than you would think, our prayers and the answers God gives us couldn’t be faked. 

5. One lady had cancer and could not afford oil but desperately needed some. Unexpectedly, a man knocked on her door. Some place had closed down and had free oil and asked if she could use some. Neither one knew about the other, but God brought them together!

In conclusion: 1. In Hab. 2:20, it says: “The Lord is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth keep silent before Him.”

2. Habakkuk was upset because God was allowing the wicked Babylonians to capture many nations and kill many people. God heard his prayer.

a. But that does not mean he liked the answer! We will learn more about that in Hab. 3.

b. But the Lord guaranteed Habakkuk that He was in complete control. He was ruling from His temple in heaven. The wise person would keep silent before Him.

3. Throughout history, there have been many kings. People quickly learned to be careful what they said in the presence of a king. How much more should we show respect in the presence of the King who rules over the entire earth.

4. Things have not changed. The wicked kept defying Him

in the days of Habakkuk, and they keep defying Him today. But God has spoken and warned us to take Him seriously. Jesus is coming again. He will come when the world least expects it. We all better be ready when He comes. Amen!