I dedicate this website to the memory of my dear mother Doris Harmon, seen here in one of her high school pictures.  I expect to see her again.

 AND

To my sweet wife Gloria who is a great source of joy to me every day.

Habakkuk


 

Habakkuk 1:12 O Mighty God

 

 

Let us say at the outset that this is a special book and I sincerely wish I had the time to do it justice. My problem is that the more I study the more frustrated I become that there is such limited space allotted for it in our present plan. I would plead with those who have not already done so to delay no longer a thorough study (II Timothy 2:15) of it as soon as time may be found for doing so.

There is a difference between this and the writings of the other minor prophets. They are mostly in the form of public messages whereas this seems more like a private matter between the prophet and Jehovah. He wondered why God was not doing something about the current problem but God had His plan and He knew it would not be understood at first (v.5). When Habakkuk found out what God was going to do by using the Babylonians to chastise Israel (v.6) he struggled with the concept.

Using the analogy of fishing the prophet likens the enemy to fishermen who wrongly attribute their successes, which at first were great, to the power of their false god (v.11), "sacrifice(ing) unto their nets and burn(ing) incense unto their drag" (v.16).

In spite of the fact that he didn’t understand why He was doing this and he expected God to rebuke him for it (2:1) yet the prophet shows that basically he has a pretty good grasp of the truth. This is so like us when we sometimes despair at things in Scripture that we don’t understand, yet we freely acknowledge that God has every right to do what He does and He is under no obligation, really, to inform us why, just to keep us happy.

In verse twelve Habakkuk affirms that the "mighty God" is his "rock" (lit.) and he is fully trusting in a perfect outcome even though he can’t see it. Here is a good place to recite Proverb 3:5&6!  

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Habakkuk 2:2 Write the Vision 

 

I will share a few thoughts from a fine little book by D. Martyn Lloyd Jones entitled From Fear to Faith  , a paperback of 76 pages, published by The Intervarsity Fellowship, London, reprint edition 1955.

 

On verses 1-4 of this chapter he sums up by saying "So wait upon God. He will certainly send the answer. Everything He has ordained will certainly and must surely come to pass and at the exact time appointed for it." This after making clear that he believes that the main message of this prophesy of Habakkuk relates to the whole world and its destiny; and you and I as individuals are a part of that larger whole. The Bible has a profound philosophy of history.

"The import of the message from verse 4 to the end of chapter 2 is that the Chaldeans, who were going to be used as an instrument to chastise Israel were themselves going to be chastised and finally routed. God was using them temporarily but their final end was certain."

Habakkuk was to "write the vision" which he did. His message was to be "wait." God has an appointed time for things. It will come, that is, He (Christ) will come (Heb.10:37), the solutions to all problems. Be faithful to that vision. Do what is right and don’t worry about those who are not upright (crooked).

Today Israel is still around, and we wait, but where are those who threatened them? Another proof of God’s holy Word.

Interspersed in a cacophony of a series of "woes" that we may find difficult in places to understand are a couple of verses that shine the brighter due to their setting.

Just wait, eventually the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD. He is in His Holy temple. "Let all the earth keep silence before Him." I have these underlined, do you? 

 

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Habakkuk 3:1 Shigionoth

 

Our prophet decides to end with a dithyramb which is a short inspired but rambling poem. The appearance of the musical direction "selah" gives us a hint of its nature. How often in Scripture do we get treated to a rehearsal of Jehovah’s attributes couched in terms of nature’s wonders! Here we have many to enjoy.

We cannot go too far astray if we quote a few interesting variations from the Septuagint.

First is the fascinating reference that Ambacum (Gr. translation of his name) makes in verse 2..... that Jehovah "shall be known between the two living creatures." This would seem to be a reference to the cherubim but there is no hint of it in the KJV or in any commentary. We do not have to treat it as inspired as we would if quoted by Jesus but perhaps as worthy of consideration. As for the remainder of the verse, I like Young’s Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, "In the midst of years thou makest known, In anger thou dost remember mercy," because this seems better than asking Jehovah to do it as if He might not, or would forget.

This just seemed a good place to toss in something for the scholars among us to get their teeth into.

Here’s another just as a reminder that it sometimes is real helpful to consult another version. Young says in verse 4 "He hath rays out of His hand" (instead of horns!) And how about the Septuagint again in rendering "there was the hiding of his power" with the following "He caused a mighty love of His strength."

Everyone will agree that the last two verses in the KJV are really great - but how do you like "That I may conquer by His song" (instead of the musical footnote). Again, the LXX.

Our prophet decides to end with a dithyramb which is a short inspired but rambling poem. The appearance of the musical direction "selah" gives us a hint of its nature. How often in Scripture do we get treated to a rehearsal of Jehovah’s attributes couched in terms of nature’s wonders! Here we have many to enjoy.