Habakkuk 8
יהוה Acts! Habakkuk 3.
Mercy in judgement: Have you ever longed for God to act, to do something? If you don’t, I don’t know what you are doing here! Don’t you long for God to show that He is God, His power and His glory to be displayed? (Isaiah 64:1 Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence—). That was Habakkuk’s prayer [Read Hab 3:1-16]. Habakkuk wanted יהוה to act – let us remind ourselves why Habakkuk wanted יהוה to act [OHP]: he saw injustice and overwhelming evil which a holy righteous and just God could not tolerate. יהוה said that He would use Babylon to carry out His judgement, but Habakkuk said that they were worse than Israel. יהוה said that they would have their day of judgment too. This chapter describes the judgement that יהוה will ultimately bring upon Babylon - man’s self-made empire. Before this revelation is given to Habakkuk, he prays to יהוה that He would carry out what He had said - he aligned himself with יהוה’s purposes [OHP]. He longed for יהוה to act but at the same time he didn’t. Yes we want justice and righteousness to come, but at the same time we want mercy – otherwise we would be wiped out too. Yes we want justice, but in that justice we want יהוה to remember mercy. Previously Habakkuk’s cry has been for justice; now, as he sees the severity of יהוה’s judgement, his prayer is for that judgement to be tempered with mercy (cf. Matthew 24:22 “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.); he stands in awe of יהוה’s work. In anticipating the final consummation in the Day of the LORD, he pleads for mercy in the midst of wrath. v.2 - Twice "in the midst of years" is mentioned - NIV translates it "in our day", "in our time" - it is a "near time" ("שָׁנִים בְּקֶרֶב"). Habakkuk is crying for יהוה to act and to act soon. He longs to see the יהוה’s mighty hand at work again as it was in the past. This is the longing of many saints today. It is not the usual words for wrath or anger - it is more agitation and trouble - in the time of tribulation, distress, tumult all around; Habakkuk prays for compassion, just as Jesus instructed us to pray (cf. Matthew 24:20 “But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.). We should be praying for mercy now before the distressing time of the tribulation comes, when events will so overtake us that opportunity to pray then may not be possible. Many cry out for justice, for their “rights”, but we need mercy. Dispassionate justice will destroy us – we need grace as well as truth. Habakkuk heard of what יהוה did and was full of fear, stood in awe! Is that how we react? Perhaps the report that we have heard is not of יהוה, if it does not inspire fear. Do we long for יהוה to make His work known, in order that man will know Him and fear before Him, honour Him? Habakkuk now describes יהוה’s coming wrath that left him so trembling. He sees יהוה coming as Judge and Warrior.
יהוה is coming in glory: v.3 - יהוה is coming! Christ returns as conquering King! It is the Day of the LORD! He has come in all His holiness and splendour and majesty. The earth quakes at the sight! All His holy ones, His saints and angels come with Him. Paran lay south-east of Edom and mount Paran is a prominent peak of the Sinai wilderness highlands. Teman is in south-central Edom near Sela (Petra). Cushan is in Midian, south of Edom and east of the gulf of Aqabah - so His coming to Israel is from the south-east (cf. Isaiah 63:1-6 Who is this who comes from Edom, with garments of glowing colours from Bozrah, this One who is majestic in His apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? “I have trodden the wine trough alone, and from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger and trampled them in My wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, and I stained all My raiment. “For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption has come. “I looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me, and My wrath upheld Me. “I trod down the peoples in My anger and made them drunk in My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”). It is a fearsome and awe-inspiring time, a time of dread. All the earth sees יהוה in His full glory - even those that hate Him and deny His existence will be forced to praise Him, for His glory has been made manifest (cf. 2:14; Isaiah 40:5). His glory covers the heavens and His praise fills the earth! "Come LORD Jesus, come!" v.4 - יהוה comes in His judgement - all the earth will see His glory which covers the heavens and will praise Him as He comes in His splendour and power, executing judgement in His fierce wrath, punishing the wicked Babylon; man’s established system will be utterly destroyed. Hallelujah! יהוה is glorious - His splendour outshines the sun. He is Light! (cf. 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 Timothy 6:15 He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honour and eternal dominion! Amen.). All the earth will full on their faces when they see יהוה in all His glory and splendour. Light flashes from Him. His coming will be and awesome sight! (cf. Matthew 24:27 “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be; Revelation 4:5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; Psalm 18:7-15 Then the earth shook and quaked; and the foundations of the mountains were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up out of His nostrils, and fire from His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with thick darkness under His feet. He rode upon a cherub and flew; and He sped upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, hailstones and coals of fire. יהוה also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, and lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them. Then the channels of water appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke, O יהוה, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.). His power is hidden but now is to be revealed, released in judgements upon the earth. Long man had said that God does nothing, He is impotent, He doesn’t exist - now they will see that the truth is otherwise. His power was hidden but now it is manifest in terrible plagues – just as Israel thought that God did not see their oppression under Egypt, but delivered them by His strong right arm, with out-poured plagues upon Egypt (the world) so too, in the end time, יהוה will act with power that all the world will experience to their own destruction.
יהוה is coming in judgement: v.5 – Just as יהוה judged Egypt, so too He will judge Babylon, and delivers His people, showing Himself mighty on their behalf. He comes with vengeance and retribution upon those who have oppressed His people (cf Revelation 18:1-19:21 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.” I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. “Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her.)With terrible plagues Babylon/human might and cooperation is punished - who can withstand His great fury when He comes in judgement?! v.6 - יהוה comes! He stands! - All else falls! Even the mountains which are so permanent; and ancient hills that have always been there. These solid, "eternal", stable things are shattered and brought low. All that can be shaken is removed so that only יהוה is. Praise His Name! There will be great seismic upheavals when Jesus returns! It will be terrifying as mountains quake! Only those who are "in Him", remain - for they have no life or will of their own, Christ is their life. יהוה surveys the earth, looks upon it and finds it wanting, full of evil, judgment must fall. The nations will be startled and tremble as יהוה unleashes His judgment. If the mountains are dashed to pieces, what will become of frail man who is steeped in his own wickedness?! Man (Babylon) builds his empire, makes his plans - but it will all come to naught and be consumed. But יהוה’s ways will remain - His ways are everlasting! Hallelujah! (cf. Daniel 6:26 He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever.). v.7 - The earth is in great distress as יהוה’s wrath is unleashed against the kingdom of man. Habakkuk was given insight into the future judgement - he actually saw the distress that the surrounding nations would suffer. This judgement is on all the world, all the nations, all the kingdoms of man - not just "Babylon" the country, but "Babylon" the world system of man. In their homes, their dwelling places, men will tremble with fear and suffer distress. v.8 - יהוה is angry! (cf. Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness; Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.). This fact is inescapable so it is emphasised - God’s wrath burns, overflows, sweeps away everything before it. Was it with the rivers and sea that יהוה was angry? No, His burning, passionate and overflowing wrath was outpoured against the wickedness of man. It was because of man’s sin, his rejection of God and trust in his own resources. v.9 - יהוה’s fierce anger was released in warfare against the earth. His bow was made bare; He called for spears to be directed against the wickedness of man. The natural elements around, nature, were called into יהוה’s arsenal as His indignation and overflowing fury is poured out against man - the rivers split the earth, causing havoc, torrents and waves devastate the earth. Who can stand against the LORD when He fights against you?! The very forces of nature itself are pitted against you! The earth is torn apart by the fury of יהוה outpoured against the accumulated, inveterate sin of God rejecting man! v.10 - The very earth itself is torn apart by the outpoured wrath of יהוה against evil man in the Day of the LORD! Who can stand before Him in His fury?! Again it refers to the mountains, so fixed, strong, secure and majestic; they reeled and writhed before the coming of יהוה. There will be a great down-pour sweeping all away before it - possibly a hail-storm (cf. Revelation 16:17-21 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe. - an earthquake and hail-storm comes upon Babylon). The waters rage and roar. As the earth is shaken on its foundations, the waters are turbulent in a mighty deafening upheaval - great tidal waves ("lifting high its hands") - terrifying seismic activity. But this upheaval is not merely global, it is celestial - the sun and stars themselves stop in their places v.11 - There are wondrous signs in the heavens - the sun and moon stand still and יהוה sends bright flashes of glorious lightning upon the earth like spears. יהוה has some awesome weapons in His armoury! (? the rotation of the earth is affected) (cf. Joel 2:30-31 “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke. “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of יהוה comes; Matthew 24:29-30 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.). There is war, flashing spears killing the wicked as יהוה strides through the earth in His furious wrath! What a terrible picture it presents of when יהוה’s fury is unleashed! Mountains quaking, seas roaring, storm raging, heavens shaken! Imagine the Almighty storming throughout the earth in unstoppable fury - a man incensed is terrifying enough, but when God is angry! What hope is there for man?! v.12 - יהוה will stride through the earth in rage and indignation - destroying the wicked in His path - we’ve seen the merest foretaste in (John 2:13-17 – cleansing the temple). יהוה is angry! Full of wrath! How awesome! How terrible! He threshes the nations as a man threshes grain - harshly striking and bruising them. This time of tribulation reveals what is really in man - whether he is of the dust (Adam) or from above (Christ) - tribulation reveals quality - its fires burn the chaff (the worthless efforts of man - Babylon) and the good grain remains (that born of Christ) (cf. Matthew 3:11-12 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”) – like the parable of the tares, the weeds are burned in the fire and the good wheat remains. יהוה will trample the nations in the winepress of His wrath. (Revelation 14:14-20 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles. Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”). v.13 - Although the nations are trampled in יהוה’s coming, His own people are saved. יהוה comes to judge the nations that have oppressed His people but He comes to save His own people. Twice it says He comes "to save" - to save Your people (Jews and Christians), to save Your anointed One (מָשִׁיחַה" - Messiah). In contrast, the leader (antichrist) of the wicked land (Babylon) is utterly crushed and humiliated. Hallelujah! (cf. Revelation 19:20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.). Babylon and antichrist, man’s demonic inspired system will be revealed for what it is - laid bare to its foundation - from head to toe - completely destroyed (cf. Rev 18). v.14 – It is a terrible day of judgement for some but a wonderful of salvation for the others. יהוה causes some kind of confusion amongst the troops of the evil - for they attack themselves. Like some kind of mutiny, the spears of his own warriors pierce their leader. A wild army on the rampage, they delight in battle and exultantly invade Israel to scatter them. There is no heart, no compassion or relenting with them - they are like those that would even devour the poor and oppressed - no pity or mercy. They know such behaviour is shameful because they do it in secret - but still they delight to rout Israel, יהוה’s people. But although Babylon presses in to scatter God’s people to the four winds יהוה has a different plan. They had left יהוה out of their calculations! He will act in the day that Babylon attacks His people. He will tread on the sea! He will act! He will come in judgement and destroy those would destroy His people. יהוה steps into human history to stop men’s evil plans. He comes full of fury and consuming wrath! v.15 - The seas speak of the nations - restless in their endless tossing, struggling against יהוה and His will. יהוה will tread upon them, trample them. Babylon is more than a nation. "Babylon" is all the nations of the world ("many waters") who unite together by human effort and resource to make themselves great and oppose יהוה - make themselves god - humanistic in basis. יהוה comes with His horses His army, ready for battle. The seas may roar and toss in rebellion but יהוה merely walks over them and treads them down (cf. v.12; Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.) – there was a prophetic picture of this when Jesus walked on the raging sea of Galilee – there is no need to fear if we trust Jesus, let’s hope we have more faith than His disciples did.
Responding to יהוה’s acting: v.16 - We see the effect this vision had on Habakkuk, the revelation of this ultimate and final judgement when יהוה’s wrath is poured out (v.16-19) - I will look at that in more detail next time. It was terrifying! Habakkuk was terrified by what he saw. The vision made him tremble - he was shaken in his inner-most being. His lips quivered at the thought of what was coming upon the earth. This revelation ate away at the prophet’s very self and being - such is the coming devastation and the intensity of יהוה’s fury. Yet although he fully realized its horror, his faith in יהוה was as solid secure as ever. It is those with faith that will live - their faithfulness will be credited to them as righteousness. He didn’t try to avoid what was coming or prevent it; plead with יהוה to stay His hand. Habakkuk was content to leave things in יהוה’s hands. He knew that יהוה was in control, that His ways are perfect and so he had complete confidence in his God and waited calmly and patiently for יהוה’s perfect justice to be out-worked. A fierce and invincible army would overwhelm Israel and the kingdom of man - Habakkuk knew it must happen. It filled him with dread yet at the same time welcomed it as יהוה’s perfect will (cf. Jesus in Gethsemene, He knew what had to take place and it filled Him with dread but still He prayed: “Thy will be done.”). Habakkuk professes deep faith in God despite outward suffering to be endured. His reaction and quiet trust reflect the attitude of the future godly remnant during the Great Tribulation. Habakkuk shows that utter dependence upon יהוה and His promised salvation despite the whole world falling apart around him in terrible punishments. This is what it means that "the righteous will live by his faith" – trusting in God as our refuge and strength in trouble, not fearing though the earth give way and the mountains be cast into the depths of the sea – there is still a river that makes glad the city of God. God is going to do fearful things! A day of distress is coming but we wait quietly and confidently for it because God is our Refuge.