Setting – Habakkuk’s sung prayer
Content – After Habakkuk challenges God about the success of sinners and the seemingly lack of salvation of Israel, he sees that God is slowly working. Habakkuk turns his challenge into beseeching (v. 2b NLT) “In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy”. Habakkuk was starting to see God moving to execute what He promised (v. 3 NLT) “I see God, the Holy One, moving across the deserts from Edom and Mount Paran”.
Habakkuk reflects on some attributes of God, (v. 3b-6 NLT) “His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is! Rays of brilliant light flash from his hands. He rejoices in his awesome power. Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. But his power is not diminished in the least!”
Habakkuk recounts what God has done for Israel (v. 13a NLT) “You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones.” and (v. 14 NLT) “With their own weapons, you destroyed those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey.”
After this Habakkuk has a better understanding of his position (as a created being) in comparison to God (v. 16 NLT) “I trembled inside when I heard all this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.” Even though everything is falling apart around him (v. 17 NLT) “the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty” he decides (v. 18 NLT) “yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”
Application – Habakkuk gains the understanding that God was still evolved in the deliverance of Israel, even though He seemed quiet and uninvolved. From Habakkuk’s point of view, everything was falling apart and God was letting it happen. Later, Habakkuk sees that God is working on deliverance. But God didn’t rush in to execute His plan (Hab. 2:3 NLT) “But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
The issue of God being quiet or uninvolved remains true today. But (Hab. 2:4b NLT) “the righteous will live by their faith.” Habakkuk needed to reflect on what the Lord has done and to reflect on who the Lord is (Hab 3:3 NLT) “His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is!”
We need to trust (the righteous will live by faith) that God is still executing His plan. It doesn’t seem to happen quickly and God seems to be quiet, but that never means that God has stopped working out His plan. Page after page in the Bible we see that God hasn’t stopped providing salvation for His people.
Content – After Habakkuk challenges God about the success of sinners and the seemingly lack of salvation of Israel, he sees that God is slowly working. Habakkuk turns his challenge into beseeching (v. 2b NLT) “In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy”. Habakkuk was starting to see God moving to execute what He promised (v. 3 NLT) “I see God, the Holy One, moving across the deserts from Edom and Mount Paran”.
Habakkuk reflects on some attributes of God, (v. 3b-6 NLT) “His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is! Rays of brilliant light flash from his hands. He rejoices in his awesome power. Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. But his power is not diminished in the least!”
Habakkuk recounts what God has done for Israel (v. 13a NLT) “You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones.” and (v. 14 NLT) “With their own weapons, you destroyed those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey.”
After this Habakkuk has a better understanding of his position (as a created being) in comparison to God (v. 16 NLT) “I trembled inside when I heard all this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.” Even though everything is falling apart around him (v. 17 NLT) “the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty” he decides (v. 18 NLT) “yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”
Application – Habakkuk gains the understanding that God was still evolved in the deliverance of Israel, even though He seemed quiet and uninvolved. From Habakkuk’s point of view, everything was falling apart and God was letting it happen. Later, Habakkuk sees that God is working on deliverance. But God didn’t rush in to execute His plan (Hab. 2:3 NLT) “But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”
The issue of God being quiet or uninvolved remains true today. But (Hab. 2:4b NLT) “the righteous will live by their faith.” Habakkuk needed to reflect on what the Lord has done and to reflect on who the Lord is (Hab 3:3 NLT) “His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is!”
We need to trust (the righteous will live by faith) that God is still executing His plan. It doesn’t seem to happen quickly and God seems to be quiet, but that never means that God has stopped working out His plan. Page after page in the Bible we see that God hasn’t stopped providing salvation for His people.
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