The Pattern of Babylon

Sermon Transcript:

(transcribed with AI)

Promontory Community Church exists to make disciples of Jesus who know, live, and share the gospel for the glory of God.

Well, good morning everyone. It is good to be here with you all. My name is Jonathan, for those of you who might not know me, privilege of being one of the pastors here, and if you have a Bible with you, let me invite you to open to the book of Habakkuk. We are continuing on our series in this little book here and as you find your way there, I want to do a little thought experiment with you all.

I want you to think, when you walked into the building today and you found your way to a seat, how many warning or instruction signs did you pass? Think back, it's not very far, it's a very short amount of distance. How many warning signs — I'll be a little loose with what I'm calling a warning sign — how many warning or instruction signs? I actually had to do this this morning because I couldn't do it at home, so I walked through and I counted: there are 9 different warning signs on the way in. There's quite a lot. In fact, we actually pass warning signs so often, by and large, we ignore them, don't we? I'm going to guess most of you weren't thinking there were even that many in this building. We're so used to seeing them all around us all the time that we've actually begun to just ignore warning signs. We have them on everything. You buy a coffee and it will say hot, right? Caution, be careful, it's hot. You can buy a chainsaw and it will have a warning not to hold onto the chain. One would think that's obvious. I saw a warning sign on a hair dryer that says do not use while sleeping. And I thought, why and how? How on earth would you even do that? We've gotten used to warning signs that are so ridiculous, so pointless, that we've begun to ignore all of them. Despite the fact that there are some warning signs that are really important for us to pay attention to. If you're driving down the road and you see a red light, that's a pretty important warning sign not to keep going. If it says bridge out ahead, that's a really important one for you to stop at and not continue on.

And so this morning as we're opening our text, that's really what we're going to see — we're looking at a warning sign this morning. If you've been with us for the past couple of weeks, you'll know that as we've been walking through this book of Habakkuk, it is a conversation between the prophet Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk has been complaining to God: God, I've been looking around and there's just so much evil going on, don't you care about this? And so God actually responds and says, not only have I noticed all of that, Habakkuk, in fact I'm doing something about it. God says, I'm raising up the Babylonians, they're going to come and they are going to utterly wipe you out. And Habakkuk is a little shocked by God's answer — you're going to do what? Sorry? Actually, hold on, they're even worse than we are. God, why are you using them to punish us? How come they get away with it? And so last week we began looking at the first half of God's answer to that question, and God reminds Habakkuk that actually, those who escape this punishment will be those who have faith, those who place their faith in God. But this morning we're going to pick up the second half of God's answer to this prophet and to this question. And that is that actually they're not going to get away with it. They're not just going to get away with everything that they're doing. In fact, God is going to hold them accountable.

And so if you found your way to the book of Habakkuk, I'll invite you to follow along with me. We're going to start in chapter 2, verse 4. It's our tradition here, we stand as we read God's word. If you're able to, please stand with me.

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death, he never has enough. He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples.

Shall not all these take up their taunt against him with scoffing and riddles for him and say, "Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own — for how long! — and loads himself with pledges." Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be spoil for them, because you have plundered many nations. All the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.

Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm. You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life, for the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond.

Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity. Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink — you pour out your wrath and make them drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness. You will have your fill of shame instead of glory. Drink yourself, and show your uncircumcision! The cup in the Lord's right hand will come around to you, and utter shame will come upon your glory. The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to the cities and all who dwell in them.

What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols. Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, "Awake"; to a silent stone, "Arise"! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.

You may be seated.

Well, we are looking at God's answer to the problem of evil. Habakkuk is complaining, God, they're getting away with it, and God's answer is no — actually they're not going to get away with it. Now I'm going to bet that if you were just reading this book on your own time and you came to this section, this is the kind of section that you might start to just gloss right over. This is the kind of section that you read after a little while and your eyes start kind of glazing over and you think, I don't know what any of this means, I don't think this has anything to do with me. This is written about Babylon, ancient Babylon, some 2,600 years ago. This doesn't really concern me. And so it's worthwhile asking the question — does this have anything to do with us?

I'm actually going to answer yes, for quite a number of reasons. We should actually take some time to understand this. First, this did happen 2,500 years ago. See, Habakkuk is talking about things that are future for him, but we have the advantage of being able to see them in the past. We can actually see that God's word did in fact come true, that his judgments did in fact happen, and so we can actually trust what God has told us. God promised to deal with the evil of Habakkuk's day, and that is exactly what happened. It should give us some hope even for our day as we look out and see the evil that happens around us. Often it's not until afterwards, as we get to look back, that we can see what God's hand has been doing.

But really, this is a passage written to help show that we are held accountable for our actions. And in fact, that's exactly why God is writing this — so that we would recognize the pattern that the Babylonians have been going through and recognize that some of those patterns still exist and very well may be part of our own lives. See, God is giving this warning for Babylon, but we are very much intended to pay attention. If you know your Bibles, you know Babylon starts getting used a little bit more loosely to talk about people who follow the same ideas — a spiritual successor to Babylon. In fact, it gets used all the way to the book of Revelation, where it is used to describe everyone's antagonism against God and ultimately where that leads. And so even now as we're looking into this prophecy, this judgment on Babylon, we're meant to take heed of the warning. Not because there is no hope — in fact, God has given us a warning because there is hope, to turn away, to place our trust in God. The pattern of Babylon shows us what to avoid, the outcome of their life, but also the reminder that only what's done for Christ will last.

And so we're going to see this pattern of what happens when you trust in your possessions, when you trust in your accomplishments, and ultimately what happens when you trust in God. So look back with me at your text. Look at verses 4 and 5, where we get this introduction to Babylon.

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him. The righteous shall live by faith. Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death, he never has enough. He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples.

Ultimately, this is describing Babylon, and the sin that will define Babylon moving forward is their arrogance, their pride, their self-seeking. They only care about themselves and do not care about anyone else. So everything that follows is really a description of what happens when you let pride out of control. When you let your pride dominate and dictate what you do, where does that pattern lead? Babylon gives us that picture and shows us what happens when we ignore God, and ultimately how God holds them accountable. One of the things we recognize right off the bat is that while Habakkuk is complaining that God is letting all of it go, as God begins to detail every aspect of what they've been doing, we're reminded that God hasn't let any of it go. None of it was ignored. In fact, God very much has been paying attention.

And so the first thing we see is what happens when they are trusting in their possessions. This whole section takes place over what are called five woes — woe, woe, woe. And it's a statement of mourning, because that's the right response to seeing our sin: to mourn because of it. For these first two woes, they're really about their trust in what they can get. Look at verse 6:

Shall not all these take up their taunt against him — against Babylon — with scoffing and riddles? Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own — for how long! — and loads himself with pledges.

At this point in history, Babylon is just violently conquering nation after nation, literally hoarding up wealth at the expense of everyone. They're taking a pledge and going, yeah, I'll pay you back — not. No, it's mine, I'm just going to hoard up more and more and more. And right in the middle there, God asks the question: for how long? Remember, that's actually the question Habakkuk's been asking — God, how long is this going to happen? God flips this around somewhat ominously to Babylon: how long do you think you will get away with it? In fact, God has been paying attention to what they have been doing.

Verse 7 says:

Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be spoil for them.

God says, you have gone and plundered everyone, and now God's going to flip that around — you are the one who's going to get plundered. And here's really what we see in all of these judgments: God is saying, I have seen what you have done, and in fact you will face a judgment for each of them. What you have done to others will be done to you. So not only has God taken note of all of their sin, in fact he will bring a fair and right judgment against them. Jesus himself even warns us of this:

For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

God actually pays attention. His justice is not random or arbitrary. God has very detailed accounts and actually holds us accountable for what is there. They have been hoarding up what is not their own — stealing, plundering, killing other nations in order to continually get more. Greed in its purest form: I just want more. And the problem is that just leads them into greater and greater evil.

Verse 8:

Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.

God tells them that because of what they have done, God will bring judgment against them. Remember, Habakkuk's been complaining that everyone's getting away with it. God's answer is that no one is getting away with it.

In fact, verse 9, he continues:

Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm.

The second woe is for those who gain evil for the house — talking about not their literal house but their family — who gather up more and more and say, because I have so much, now I'm like a bird up in a nest and I'm safe away from everyone else. Because I have hoarded up enough for me, now I am safe. They're willing to harm others in order to make themselves safe. Once again, God says, well, actually that's going to turn around on you.

Verse 10:

You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life, for the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond.

He says, look, the very safety net that you think you have put together will betray you. The thing you trusted in to keep you safe will be your undoing.

And so really what we see in these first two woes that God pronounces is this pattern of trying to hoard up enough in order to keep ourselves safe. If I have enough stuff, my life will go well. While we might not live in ancient Babylon, I'm going to argue that pattern is still very well and alive. This false idea that if I just have a little bit more — a little bit more money, a little bit more stuff, a little bit more status, whatever it is — now I am safe, nothing bad can happen to me. And God is reminding not only his people but even the people of Babylon that doesn't work, because that attitude is what has led them now to seek the harm of many people. Ultimately, not only do possessions not keep us safe, we will actually end up serving them. Jesus warns his disciples:

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

So often we just assume, well, I'm in control of my money. I'm in control of the money that I have. Yet so often it is the other way around. Our greed or our fear of not having enough makes us into slaves of our money. This was the impulse that led the Babylonians to conquer those around them. Praise God, we're not on a war path at the moment — that is a good thing. But it's the same impulse that makes us put our jobs in front of our families, that makes us sacrifice our time and our health on the altar of more. How many times have we said, well, I don't have time to read my Bible, I don't have time to pray, I've just got so much work to do — I gave all my energy at work, I'm just so exhausted, I'm too tired to do any of that. And my answer is, you're right, you cannot serve God and money. I'm not saying you shouldn't work hard or shouldn't have a job — yes, you should. I'm asking the question: who is serving who? Are you always looking for more? Worried that if you don't have it, you won't be safe?

Ultimately our money is not a safe bet. Paul reminds Timothy:

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

Where have we actually placed our hope? Is it on the shaky ground of hoarding up enough wealth? Markets collapse, inflation prices you out, investments fail. If that is your hope, it will not stand. God is the one who provides — trust him. See, as God is pronouncing this judgment on the Babylonians for their arrogant greed that drives them into greater and greater sin, we are to see that pattern of self-reliant greed and recognize where it will lead us. We're to pay attention to the warning sign on the wall. Placing your trust in possessions does not last. Rather, we trust that God will provide.

But neither then should we be trusting in what we can accomplish. The next three woes in this passage all have to do with the trust the Babylonians have placed in what they thought they could do. Again, their arrogance and their pride has led them into greater and greater sin. Verse 12:

Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity.

Again, the Babylonians were quite literal in this one. They were conquering, killing, and enslaving people in order to build their own cities. In fact, they were famous worldwide for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, written about for its beauty and splendor — one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. They built for themselves one of the most impressive cities on earth, founded on conquering and plundering everyone. And what does God say? None of it is going to last.

Verse 13:

Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing?

They had built this incredible city, and here we sit 2,500 years later and we're not even sure it existed. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon — we only have a few writings of it, nobody's ever seen it or even knows where it would be. They had put so much faith in what they could accomplish, and yet it was reduced to nothing.

In fact, verse 14 contrasts:

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

We're meant to see the contrast between the unbelievably transient nature of all that mankind could build in Babylon and the steadfast eternal knowledge of God. Babylon no longer exists, and yet the glory of God is known across the world. But more than just the contrast, this is also a promise of what God is going to do yet in the future. We're called to mourn over the accomplishments that we have pridefully built on ourselves at the expense of others, and instead let us build on an eternal foundation of God's glory. In a day and age when self-promotion is considered such an accomplishment, where views, follows, and subscribers are prized, let us be focused not on ourselves but on God's glory, because that is what will last. Just like the tower of Babel, Babylon was founded on the work that they could do themselves and was reduced to nothing.

God brings this judgment on their pride that had led them to harm others, both physically and as we see also sexually. Look back at verse 15:

Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink — you pour out your wrath and make them drunk in order to gaze at their nakedness.

Let's be clear: God is judging them for their sexual exploitation of others. That phrase — to gaze at their nakedness — is a phrase used throughout the Bible to basically describe taking advantage of someone sexually. So they are guilty of taking their enjoyment from the sexual exploitation of those under them. Just as they had used violence to build themselves up, so they will exploit others to build themselves up, abusing others to satisfy their sexual desire. That should make us feel uncomfortable. Rightly, this is what God is bringing judgment on. And at a time where we are more aware of the sexual misconduct of the powerful and elite all around us, and yet they seem to always get away with it — where it seems as though people who have enough money, fame, or power can just abuse others and get away with it — God's answer to the problem of evil is: they won't. None of them are getting away with it. Do not envy them, do not follow them. God has taken note of all of it, and in fact he will bring judgment against all sexual misconduct.

But here is the point where that matters for us, because while it's so easy to point fingers at those far away, the reminder as God talks about judgment is that he comes and judges everyone equally. In fact, we need to even consider our own hearts, our own lives. So much of the entertainment that exists around us is based on the premise that sex sells. If you exploit just a little bit, well, then people pay attention — it makes a better TV show, movie, whatever it might be. In fact, let me suggest that perhaps the most modern equivalent of what God is talking about here is pornography: the exploitation of women and men in order to satisfy a sexual desire. That's what the Babylonians are doing. But let me suggest that in this case, I think we're actually way past that. Modern pornography is far worse than what the Babylonians could have accomplished on their own. We have more access to this kind of sexual exploitation than any time in history has ever had.

And so for a few moments, let me just be a little bit blunt, because I am well aware of what the statistics look like for the use of pornography, how ubiquitous it has become, how accepted it has become. In fact, it is no longer a minor or fringe issue — it is a scaringly common one. We need to recognize that God is very clear: he is giving a warning sign because the outcome is already decided. God will turn that around on them. Verse 16:

You will have your fill of shame instead of glory. Drink yourself, and show your uncircumcision! The cup in the Lord's right hand will come around to you, and utter shame will come upon your glory.

Throughout the prophets, they'll refer to this cup of God's wrath that is essentially slowly filling up, filling up, filling up, and eventually will be poured out. It's not that God has been ignoring everything that is happening — in fact, God has been keeping track very carefully. The shame that they have gloried in of others will be turned around on them. In fact, Jesus again warns us about this:

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Many of you will know the Greek word there for adultery is pornea — it's where we get our word pornography from. Over and over again, the Bible is very clear about this: this is sin, and God has said there is a judgment against it.

And so let me simply say: if you are currently using pornography, repent. By that I mean you need to recognize that this is a problem. It is an entire industry based on the exploitation of others. It is a sin before God. So repent, confess your sins before God, ask for his forgiveness, and then turn away from it and have nothing else to do with it. And hear me — if you're going to do that, you're going to need somebody else's help. It's not something we can easily do on our own. Pornography is an addiction simply because of the high degree of chemicals released in the brain that create habits, pathways, a literal chemical dependency that is not always easy to break. Don't keep that in the dark. If you're struggling, repent, turn away from it, and seek after God. But hear me — the reason I'm saying this is because it's not hopeless. It's because when God gives us a warning, it's so that we would turn to him and be forgiven, because there is hope. God doesn't give warnings for no reason. There is forgiveness, there is hope, and there is healing. So hear the warning of God and respond.

Don't trust in what you can accomplish on your own. That was the whole problem that Babylon had. They were trusting in what they could do, in what they could build, in what they could satisfy, and ultimately they trusted that what they could build would bless them. The final woe we find in this chapter is verse 18:

What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols. Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, "Awake"; to a silent stone, "Arise"! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.

Here is the pinnacle of self-reliance — that they could build something, craft something in order to guide them and direct them, that they could be blessed by their own creation. And yet we see how foolish an impulse that is. We look at that and we think, well, yeah, how could you ever pray to something you've just built. Yet might I suggest we sometimes do that with the little bits of metal in our own pockets. We trust our phones will guide us, bless us, instruct us, and keep us safe. Hear me, I'm not against phones — they're helpful tools, technology can be a good thing — but again, I'm asking, have we begun to worship it? Trust it, rely on it not only for information but even for our fulfillment and enjoyment? We trust in what we can accomplish and build to satisfy ourselves, to guide us, and the pattern of Babylon is still very much alive. The warning is just as much for us as for them. Hear that warning and turn away.

Because what I love about this passage is not simply the warnings, but actually the promise that is given. It's an invitation to place our trust in God, because we are shown the outcome of what it looks like to trust in ourselves, but also the outcome of what happens when we trust in God. Remember, all the way back — where did we start? Habakkuk complaining, there's so much evil around. God's answer is that judgment is coming, God will deal with all evil, and that includes ourselves. And so rightly the question then becomes, but is there any hope? And God answers in abundance: yes, there is still hope, but it's not found in what we can accomplish, it's not found in living better, it's found in trusting God. In his perfect salvation. We looked at this even last week in verse 4:

The righteous shall live by faith.

It is only through faith in God that we are kept from this judgment. The warning is not to try and do better, but to trust him. Trust in what Jesus has done, because Jesus is the one who came to drink that cup of God's wrath in our place. He's the one who died to pay for our sins, so that anyone who would trust in him would be saved. He rose again to show us that debt is paid for in full, there is nothing left, and all that awaits us now is eternal life in the presence of God. God does not leave Habakkuk nor us in a place that is hopeless. God actually provides an incredible answer to the problem of evil. Not only is justice to come on this world, but so has mercy and grace been poured out on all those who would believe. God has made a way for mercy and justice to be accomplished together. That is a promise for us — that all who would trust in him would be saved, that our future would be with Christ.

Verse 20 ends this chapter:

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.

In contrast to the silent idols who cannot say anything, it is we who keep silent before God. Habakkuk is no longer going to be complaining. It comes to an end. God will bring justice, and God is holding out mercy. God is the one who sits in his temple. He is the one who is in control. While we see evil for a moment, we know what the outcome is, so we can rest in his presence.

Psalm 37 says:

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices. Refrain from anger, forsake wrath, fret not yourself — it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

How do we respond when we see the evil of this world? Do not worry, fret not, do not be afraid. God is the one in control. Trust his plan, trust his righteousness and goodness, because it is those who trust in him that will be saved. We know where the outcome of Babylon takes us. In fact, Revelation puts it very clearly. Revelation 18 tells us the end of Babylon:

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more."

The pattern of Babylon leads to destruction. Our call is to recognize that and flee to Jesus, because the hope we have in him is far greater. Ephesians 2 tells us:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.

What we have waiting for us, for all who trust in him, is the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness poured out in lavish abundance for all eternity. It is the unending joy of God. Why should we trust in what God has? Because the future, the hope we have in him, is so much greater. The outcomes of these patterns are clear. Let us keep our minds fixed on the joy of heaven, not get ourselves tangled in the mess of this present. Let us rejoice — our future is secure in Christ, and all who wait on God have an incredible hope. Trust in Christ, not what we can gather here on this earth. The arrogance of greed so easily leads us to harm others, and it will not save. Let us not trust in what we can accomplish — whether building for ourselves, satisfying ourselves, or even worshiping what we've created. God alone is eternal. He alone satisfies, and he alone is worthy of our worship. Let us place all our trust in God alone, for the righteous will live by faith.

Let's pray together. Oh heavenly Father, I thank you so much for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Father, thank you that it is not up to us to live a good enough or perfect life in order to work our way, but that you have sent Jesus to die in our place so that it is by faith that we are saved, so that anyone who would believe in you would have the hope of eternal life, that we do not have to face this condemnation but rather we can know you, enjoy you, and delight in serving you. Father, I pray that you would restore to us a joy in our salvation as we seek you, as we behold your glory. Father, would you quiet our hearts and allow us to trust and sit and rest in your presence. We ask all this in your name. Amen.