Habakkuk Explained: A Bible Study

Bible Explained
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Who wrote the Book of Habakkuk? What is the Book of Habakkuk about? When the prophet Habakkuk looked at the violence and injustice in his nation, he demanded answers. The response he received challenged everything he knew about divine sovereignty and judgment. In this complete Bible study, we walk through the Book of Habakkuk to understand how to wrestle with doubt, respond to a chaotic culture, and ultimately rejoice in the God of our salvation. This verse-by-verse exposition provides clear, biblical truth without compromising the depth of Scripture. Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary. Dr. Holt's sermons have reached over 1.9 million listeners on SermonAudio. He focuses on clear, verse-by-verse teaching that makes the Bible easy to understand. Support New Geneva: To support Dr. Holt's ministry at the seminary, please visit: newgeneva.org/give

Episodes

  1. Introduction: A Frustrated Prophet

    06/28/2025

    Introduction: A Frustrated Prophet

    What does Habakkuk 1:1-4 teach us in Introduction: A Frustrated Prophet? In this introductory sermon on Habakkuk 1:1-4, Dr. Toby Holt of New Geneva Theological Seminary teaches that God is not indifferent to evil but sovereignly governs history, even raising up wicked nations like Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar as instruments of His justice and glory. Habakkuk's cry of 'how long?' models how the righteous wrestle with the problem of a good, holy, sovereign God who permits wickedness for a season, and God's answer is that justice delayed is not justice averted. The just are called to live by faith, trusting that God will deal with all evil in His time and use every circumstance for His purposes. Questions this sermon answers: 1. What is the main issue in this passage? In this introductory sermon on Habakkuk 1:1-4, Dr. 2. How does this text point us to Christ? It shows the need for God's grace and the hope fulfilled in the gospel. 3. How should Christians respond? With faith, repentance, and renewed trust in the Lord's Word. "The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, with no hand to help her!" - Lamentations 4:6 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    26 min
  2. The Just Shall Live By Faith

    06/21/2025

    The Just Shall Live By Faith

    Why does God let the wicked win? In Habakkuk 1:12 through 2:20, the prophet asks how a holy God could use a nation even more wicked than his own to carry out judgment. Dr. Toby Holt walks through God's answer — and the famous verse that helped spark the Reformation. Habakkuk accepts that his people need correction but is stunned that God would use the cruel Babylonians. God's reply: wait and trust. The proud will fall, the vision will surely come, and "the just shall live by his faith." A hard season will end, has a purpose, and God is with you in it. This very verse broke through to Martin Luther. Questions this study answers: 1. Why was Habakkuk troubled by God's answer? Because God planned to discipline Judah using the Babylonians, who were even more wicked. He could not see how a holy God could use such a tool. 2. What was God's answer? To wait in faith. The proud and violent would fall in time, but the righteous would live by trusting God, not by understanding everything. 3. Why is "the just shall live by faith" so important? It is quoted throughout the New Testament and was central to the Reformation. We are made right with God by faith, not by works. "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith." — Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

    28 min
  3. Heartache And Hope

    06/14/2025

    Heartache And Hope

    Can you still rejoice when everything falls apart? In Habakkuk 3:1-19, the prophet ends his book with a prayer of bold, unshakable joy — even though hard times are certain. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt traces Habakkuk’s journey from worry to worship. Habakkuk began his book anxious and confused, troubled that God would let evil go unpunished. By chapter 3 he has changed — not because his circumstances improved, but because he has remembered who God is. He looks back on God’s mighty acts in the past and finds courage for the future. Dr. Holt also corrects the popular saying “God won’t give you more than you can bear,” explaining that God’s promise is not escape from the valley but His presence in it. Habakkuk’s closing words are some of the most defiant joy in all of Scripture. Questions this study answers: 1. How did Habakkuk move from worry to worship? By remembering God’s faithful acts in the past, he found peace for the present. His circumstances had not changed, but his focus had. 2. Is it true that “God won’t give you more than you can bear”? Not as people often mean it. God does allow more than we can handle on our own, but He promises to carry us through it with His presence. 3. How can we rejoice in hard times? By resting our joy in God Himself rather than in our circumstances. Habakkuk rejoiced in the Lord even when the harvest failed. “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines … yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NKJV) Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Habakkuk Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

    25 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

Who wrote the Book of Habakkuk? What is the Book of Habakkuk about? When the prophet Habakkuk looked at the violence and injustice in his nation, he demanded answers. The response he received challenged everything he knew about divine sovereignty and judgment. In this complete Bible study, we walk through the Book of Habakkuk to understand how to wrestle with doubt, respond to a chaotic culture, and ultimately rejoice in the God of our salvation. This verse-by-verse exposition provides clear, biblical truth without compromising the depth of Scripture. Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary. Dr. Holt's sermons have reached over 1.9 million listeners on SermonAudio. He focuses on clear, verse-by-verse teaching that makes the Bible easy to understand. Support New Geneva: To support Dr. Holt's ministry at the seminary, please visit: newgeneva.org/give

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