Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. The identity of Cushan is difficult. Cushan could refer to a nomadic people (“tents”) that lay on one side or the other of the Red Sea. Or perhaps Cushan was another name for Midian (cf. Ex 2:15-16, 21 and Nu 12:1).

2. Continuing with the analogy of Mt Sinai and the Red Sea, not only did Israel fear the Lord, but the nations around them were affected as well. In one way or another, these nations saw, witnessed, or heard of God’s mighty presence (Ex 19:18) or acts (Ex 15:14-16; Dt 2:25; Josh 2:9; 5:1).

3. As a result, they too were “distressed” (aven - troubled) and “trembled” (ragaz - quake or shake by literally or figuratively for anger, Ps 18:7).

4. The Midianites were one of Israel’s oppressors in Judges and the Lord defeated them (Jdg 6:1; Jdg 8:22. In the same way, the Chaldeans will tremble at the presence and judgment of the Lord.

B. The Nations will Fear Yahweh’s Chariot (Hab 3:8)

1. Habakkuk asked if the Lord was angry at the rivers and seas? It was a rhetorical question that declared the Lord was not angry at the rivers and seas but rather used them for His judgment against the wicked.

2. When God brought a plague against the Nile River (Ex 7:20-21), parted the Red Sea (Ex 14:27-29), or dried the Jordan River (Jos 3:14-17), it was involved in bringing judgment on Israel’s enemies. The Bible often depicts God’s use of creation to carry out his “rage,” “anger,” and “wrath” upon man.

3. The reference to the Lord riding on His “horses” is a symbol which depicts the Lord defeating the Egyptian army on their horses by His majestic power (Ex 14:17, 28; Dt 11:4; Jos 24:6). The Lord’s power is symbolized by the Lord riding on His “chariots” (angels - Ps 68:17; fire - Is 66:15; cf. Ps 104:3; cf. Ps 18:10-12; Isa 19:1).

4. As with the Egyptians, so the Lord will destroy the Chaldeans and their horses (Hab 1:8). It also can allude to the Lord’s future return defeating His enemies and establishing “salvation” for His people (Re 19:11-16).

C. The Nations will be Chastised by Yahweh’s Bow (Hab 3:9a)

1. The Lord’s “bow” is made bare by unsheathing it and making it ready for war against the nations.

2. The “rods” (matteh - rod, shaft, tribe) could refer to a rod that is used for punishment. Rod may also apply to the shaft of an arrow. Both of these are contextual with God’s divine chastisement (cf. Dt 32:41-42).

3. Some see the Lord calling for or commissioning His arrows (or rod) for judgment. Ultimately, the Lord has “sworn” or promised His “chastisement” upon the nations (Chaldeans) (Hab 1:12 cf. Hab 2:1).

D. The Nations will be Subdued by Yahweh’s Mighty Works (Hab 3:9b-11)

1. [9b] In verses 9b-11, the Lord’s mighty power is demonstrated upon His creation (earth, rivers, mountains, sun, and moon). This same majestic power will come upon the nations in judgment.

2. It appears that Habakkuk recalls the Lord’s power during the judgment of the Flood. The Flood waters caused the earth to be “cleaved” (baqa - divide, break open or through), breaking open and gauging the earth (Ge 7:11; Ps 74:15; Pr 3:20). This will also happen in the future (Zec 14:4).

3. [10] The same Lord who has the power to shatter the mountains (Hab 3:6) has the power to cause the mountains to “quake” (chul - whirl or writhe) or better translated to writhe and whirl. This is reference to the effect of the Flood, which raised and formed the mountains.

4. The mountains were formed by the downpour of water which “swept by” (Ge 7:12; 8:2). The sound of the earth breaking apart unleashing the flood waters is described as a voice. But these were opened by the command of the Lord (Ps 77:16). The rising waters and forming mountains are personified by the invisible uplifting hands of God (Ps 104:8).

5. [11] By God’s power and command the sun and moon began their perpetual circuits at creation (Ge 1:16-18; Ps 8:3; 72:5, 7; 89:37). However, in the day of battle and judgment the mighty power of God caused the sun to stand still (Jos 10:12-14).

6. Both the light of the sun and the moon paled from the flashes of lightning. Referring to the imagery of Mt Sinai, the thunder and lightning were associated with God’s presence and power (cf. Hab 3:3-7; Ex 19:16-18). Habakkuk tied this imagery in with God’s judgment calling the lightning His “arrows.” The lightning is also a symbol of God’s Shekinah “radiance.” The mighty works of creation pale in the light of God’s presence, glory, power, and judgment.

7. It is these glorious and powerful arrows of judgment that are destined to impale the Chaldeans. It is the powerful work of God’s hand that will subdue them.

8. God will use these mighty works of creation to bring forth His judgment in the future (sun and moon - Re 6:12; 21:23; 22:5; earthquake and lightning - Re 8:5; 11:19; 16:18). The symbolism will be reminiscent of Habakkuk’s prophecy.

E. The Nations will Experience Yahweh’s Indignation (Hab 3:12)

1. God does not only look upon the sin of the Chaldeans with disfavor (cf. Hab 1:13), He will execute His righteous indignation upon them.

2. “Indignation” (zaam - intense anger, Ps 7:11;78:49; Nah 1:6) refers to intense anger and fury. It includes both a state of indignation accompanied with the actions of indignation.

3. The Lord is seen as “marching” through the earth in a military campaign because of His indignation (cf. Jdg 5:4; Ps 68:7).

4. It is a successful campaign as He tramples the nations. “Tramples” (dēsh - to tread on, thresh) is an expression used for the Lord’s execution of judgment (2Ki 13:7; Is 21:10 cf. Re 19:15).

5. Judah will be chastised by the Chaldean captivity, but in the end, the wicked Chaldeans will be completely thrashed.

6. Habakkuk’s poetic language has drawn from God’s sovereign power in creation, the Flood, the Red Sea, and Mt Sinai. The emphasis was clearly upon God’s sovereign power in judgment. What chance do the Chaldeans have against such power? Why should Habakkuk continue to fear that God has overlooked their sin? God’s vision of sin is omniscient. God’s power to judge is omnipotent.

II. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Detailed judgment brought encouragement to Habakkuk. Not only because the Chaldeans would not go unpunished, but also because it describes the sovereign power of His God. We are not to fear what man can do to us but trust in God. For we know what our sovereign powerful God will do to His enemies if they do not repent (Mt 10:28).

B. Atheists poke fun at the Scriptures when they claim that God used natural disasters to punish sin. They claim tornadoes and earthquakes are purely natural phenomenon. There is a sense in which catastrophes are natural disasters. But God has and could at any time supernaturally intervene and use them for His divine purposes and even judgment.

C. God will use nature (His creation) to reveal Himself in judgment (sun and moon - Re 6:12; 21:23; 22:5; earthquake and lightning - Re 8:5; 11:19; 16:18). In these cases, men will know that those catastrophes are judgments from the hand of God (Rev 6:12-17).

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516