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HABAKKUK’S PIOUS
PRAYER Hab
3:7-12 (05-20-15) Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. GOD’S SOVEREIGN POWER PETITIONED (Hab
3:1-2) II. GOD’S SOVEREIGN POWER PRAISED (Hab 3:3-6) III. GOD’S SOVEREIGN POWER PROVOKED (Hab 3:7-12) A. The Nations will Tremble at Yahweh’s
Presence (Hab 3:7) 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). |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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