Habakkuk 9
When Everything Falls Apart!
The Bible is relevant to today – God’s Word is eternal, it speaks just as much to us in the 21st Century as in Habakkuk’s day. But the world today is different – there were no medical laboratory scientists in Habakkuk’s day, nor AA mechanics or cable factories. To appreciate the impact of the prophecy we need to appreciate what the situation was like then. The economy of Israel was agricultural – your wealth, your life was tied to the land, to your farm. If the rains came, life was good. If your flocks reproduced, if your harvest was good, then life was good. Your wealth was your vintage, your harvest, your flocks and herds. People grew grapes and made wine, harvested olives and pressed oil. Grew wheat and barley, raise sheep, goats and to a lesser extent, cattle. This was the measure of a man – his vintage, the pressing of his oil, his grain, his flocks and herds. If these were hit then suddenly his wealth could go (late frost last month decimated our garden – it doesn’t take much). So it paid to have your eggs in more than one basket, grain, grapes, olives, figs, sheep – then if one suffered you had the other. But your life was directly connected to what the land produced. With that context [Read Hab 3:16-19]. Every area was hit! What else could go wrong?! (cf. Job).
Distress is coming. (v.16) - Trouble will come. I can prophesy with certainty that judgement will come – because this is what God’s Word clearly and consistently states. Over and over again in the prophets predict terrible judgement. What do you do with that information? Some would rather hear something more encouraging. But why does the Bible tell us about coming judgement? To ignore it is to be caught unawares, to have you world unravel, to think everything has gone wrong and fallen apart. But if we are prepared, we realise that everything is going to plan (Luke 21:22-28 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”.) The Bible tells us about coming judgement in order that we might be prepared. For the one who is prepared beforehand these coming days are not terrifying – my personal Bible reading: (Isaiah 43:1 Thus says יהוה, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.) – The waters picture the turmoil of the nations in angry opposition to God. The waters rage, Israel goes through a terrible time of trouble, and (like it or not) we have been joined to them (Ephesians 2:12-19 You were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel … But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He made both groups into one …. so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, and might reconcile them both in one body to God …. through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.) We go through the waters but יהוה tells us not to fear for He is with us, that is all we need. If He is with us we cannot perish. The disciples went through troubled waters (Matthew 8:24 Behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.) Was the boat going to sink and the Messiah die? Unthinkable! Is Jesus with us? Then He will not sink and neither will we. We need to trust Jesus, and not look to the circumstances. (2 Corinthians 5:7 We walk by faith, not by sight). “How are you?” “Pretty well under the circumstances?” Are you under your circumstances? He is with us in the storm. Yes, in the storms of our present circumstances, but they are just preparation for the great storm to come. Habakkuk responds to the vision of this terrifying time of ultimate and final judgement when יהוה’s wrath is poured out. 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. A fierce and invincible army would overwhelm Israel - Habakkuk knew it must happen. It filled him with dread yet at the same time welcomed it as יהוה’s perfect will. Although he fully realized its horror, his faith in יהוה was as solid secure as ever. And his reaction of quiet trust reflects the attitude of the future godly remnant during the Great Tribulation. Habakkuk professes deep faith in God despite outward suffering to be endured. It is those with faith that will live - their faithfulness will be credited to them as righteousness. 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" (cf. Hab 2:4). 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. Habakkuk had cried out to יהוה for justice; and justice will come: (Luke 18:7-8 Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”;) Habakkuk’s great cry was for יהוה to bring about justice. (Isaiah 59:15-20 יהוה saw, and it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice. And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. According to their deeds, so He will repay, wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the coastlands He will make recompense. So they will fear the name of יהוה from the west And His glory from the rising of the sun, for He will come like a rushing stream which the wind of יהוה drives. “A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares יהוה.)
What happens when things go wrong? (v.17) v.17 - Habakkuk is left reeling, overcome by the vision that יהוה has given of the final judgement upon Babylon and the distress that His people must go through before that happens. Habakkuk describes a situation where every area had been struck. Everything that could go wrong had gone wrong. Have you ever experienced that, felt that? Blow after blow comes upon you. What can go wrong next?! How do you react when things go wrong, your world falls apart? I have never experienced such as devastating blow as Habakkuk describes. What do you do when everything falls apart? Are you affected by circumstances? I get upset when my computer plays up or my bike gets a puncture – that’s why I’m fairly consistently grumpy, it’s pretty much all the time. How do you react when things go wrong – relationship under strain, lose a job, financial pressure, sickness, disappointment, loss? Does the blow make you stagger, topple? Remember Habakkuk had just had revelation of terrible coming judgement: war, earthquakes, tsunami, mountains quaking, seas roaring, the order of the heavens disrupted! Devastating circumstances! Although Habakkuk was left trembling, though he knew hard and terrible times lay ahead, his faith was completely unshaken. He had unswerving trust in his Saviour, in his God in whom his salvation was assured. With respect to the promise of God, like Abraham, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God (Hebrews 10:23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful). Our faith is based upon יהוה’s faithfulness. Devastation strikes Israel whose life and economy is based upon agriculture. Every area of productivity is stricken. The crops, both annual and perennial; the animals: sheep and cattle; grain, grapes, olives, figs - all fail to provide. The situation, for the man relying on natural, material things, is HOPELESS! Due to the invasion of the Babylonians their fields and orchards are destroyed - they leave nothing in their wake. For the man whose hope is in this world, in man’s production - this is the end! - it all has failed! But Habakkuk’s (and ? our) hope is not in this world, in material things, in the things that man does and makes - his hope is in יהוה and יהוה alone. That hope doesn’t fail no matter what the external circumstances! Hallelujah! Is my trust in יהוה alone? or is it in God plus .....? How do I react when things go wrong? Where is my hope really fixed?
I will rejoice! (v.18) v.18 – a decision of the will: Habakkuk says “Yet, I will exult/ overwhelmingly rejoice.”! How can he say that?! Everything has fallen apart yet he is rejoicing. He makes a decision to rejoice: “I will rejoice” (cf. Philippians 1:18 What then? Only that Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice). Rejoicing is a decision of the will –
not dependent upon circumstances happiness – depends on selfish circumstances, what happens. Derek Prince describes happiness – sunny day cruising along in a convertible with the top down and a pretty girl by his side. But later the car breaks down, a thunderstorm breaks and his girl dumps him – where’s his happiness now. Where is my joy placed? Are you “under the circumstances”? Does my “joy” depend on what happens?
Joy in יהוה: But joy doesn’t alter because Habakkuk “rejoices in יהוה “; “joys in the God of his salvation” – and God never changes. Joy in יהוה doesn’t change or alter. He is the same. Our source of joy never alters, so joy doesn’t depend upon circumstances. “I will rejoice….” – a decision of will – not positive thinking, closing your mind to the situation, but based on truth, the truth of יהוה and His salvation. No matter what happens, יהוה still is! Hallelujah! יהוה is still in control! יהוה has promised salvation and that salvation will still come, no matter what goes on around us! Praise God! Do you believe it?! Everyone else is in despair! But not the one trusting in יהוה - the one who knows Him. That one exults and rejoices! Hallelujah! This is crazy, irrational! Everything has gone wrong, there is no hope; this is the end! But not for the one whose hope is not fixed in this world, in man! Habakkuk KNEW יהוה - he had a close relationship with God - He was "my God", "my Salvation". If we are in such a relationship with God, when terrible calamity, the ultimate and final blow, the end, come; when all others are beating their breasts in despair; then we will be full of hope and joy - our redemption is at hand! Hallelujah! When all seems black, others think that everything has gone irretrievably wrong; but we rejoice because everything is going according to plan, happening just as God said that it would be! When all is utterly hopeless we know that our final and complete salvation is imminent! Hallelujah! (Luke 21:28 “When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”)
Joy of salvation: Joy in the God of our salvation. Salvation is associated with joy (Psalm 21:1 O יהוה, in Your strength the king will be glad, and in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice! Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation; Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing for joy to יהוה, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation; Psalm 132:16 “Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will sing aloud for joy; Isaiah 12:3 Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.). But salvation is only needed when you are in trouble and distress (cf. lifeguard saving someone on the sand). You only see God’s power and greatness when saved from distress. If no difficulty comes, you won’t see God’s power. I spoke last time about longing to see God act – you will only see it if you pass through times of trouble. God doesn’t need to act all the time we cruise along with no problems. The one who knows the power and reality of God is the one who has faced real trials. The word for “joy” is that which is expressed in singing and shouting - it is not appropriate for one in anguish and for one who has sinned - by contrast, it is a natural response of the faithful (cf. Psalm 149:5 Let the godly ones exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.). Trouble comes but Israel will be saved, salvation will come to her (Romans 11:26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”)
Where is my hope fixed? (v.19) – Terrible times are coming but Habakkuk’s joy is in יהוה, that is where his sight and his hope are fixed. How are we going to survive these troubled times? – by relying on יהוה to be our strength. Although all was falling apart around him, he would not be shaken – he would be as sure-footed as a deer on the mountains. We will not be shaken though everything else is (Hebrews 12:26-28 He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe). Again, the personal nature of Habakkuk’s God comes through - " יהוה the Lord is my strength"; "He makes my feet ..."; "makes me walk on my high places". He sustains us in the time of great distress and tribulation. יהוה is MY STRENGTH and MY SALVATION (cf. Psalm 27:1 יהוה is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? יהוה is the defence of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. One thing I have asked from יהוה, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of יהוה all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of יהוה and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to יהוה. Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of יהוה in the land of the living. Wait for יהוה; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for יהוה. Psalm 18:31-33 For who is God, but יהוה? And who is a rock, except our God, the God who girds me with strength and makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me upon my high places. Isaiah 45:24 ‘Only in יהוה are righteousness and strength.). Despite all the calamity around, the one trusting in יהוה will rise above it all and will walk on the heights - his feet will be sure, he will not falter, stumble or fall because יהוה is his strength and He also saves him! Praise God! Our ways are on the heights, not in the valley of judgement and destruction by יהוה’s wrath, in that day of the LORD (cf. Joel 3:13-17 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of יהוה is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon grow dark and the stars lose their brightness. יהוה roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth tremble. But יהוה is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel. Then you will know that I am יהוה your God, dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. Joel 2:30-32 “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. “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of יהוה will be delivered; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as יהוה has said, even among the survivors whom יהוה calls.). Although all mankind is mourning and crying in distress, the righteous one living by faith is singing with joy in praise to יהוה on stringed instruments! Hallelujah! Glory be to God Almighty who alone is righteous and just and is a merciful stronghold and refuge for those trusting in Him! Bless His Name! In the midst of troubled times we sing because (Psalm 46 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. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. יהוה of armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Come, behold the works of יהוה, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” יהוה of armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.)