Habakkuk's Praise

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to commit to trust God and to praise God even amidst difficult days— He is good, even when our plans, timeline, and methods may not align.}

PQ:

What observations can be made about this prayer?

UW: Observations

Intro.:

TS: Let us examine observations together, now:

Following God’s revealed plan, Habakkuk requested for God’s mercy. [vv. 1-2]

Notice what is said by Habakkuk in this prayer:

I have heard from you

I stand in awe of you

Revive your work

Make it known

Remember mercy.

Habakkuk knew what was coming at this point. It did not look like he thought it would. Ironically, at the beginning of the prophets discourse with God, he is questioning— God, why haven’t you already done something; that has greatly shifted: God, show mercy in what you are doing!

Summary: This is not what I expected…please be merciful to us in your wrath.

Habakkuk recalls God’s coming powerfully in an unexpected way, accompanied with plague and pestilence. [vv. 3-7]

This portion recalls God’s presence in Israelite history.

Remember Deuteronomy 33:2 “2 He said: The Lord came from Sinai and appeared to them from Seir; he shone on them from Mount Paran and came with ten thousand holy ones, with lightning from his right hand for them.” and Judges 5:4-5 “4 Lord, when you came from Seir, when you marched from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, the skies poured rain, and the clouds poured water. 5 The mountains melted before the Lord, even Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel.” — The language here is very similar to such, being a “strong association with Yahweh’s advance to help Israel in exodus and conquest.” [1]

Verse 5 recalls the Exodus account where God’s coming is preceded by plagues and is followed by pestilence. It is also reminiscent of his appearing to them at Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 5:3 “3 They answered, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, or else he may strike us with plague or sword.”” Num. 14:12 “12 I will strike them with a plague and destroy them. Then I will make you into a greater and mightier nation than they are.””)

Notice verses 6 and 7- an elaboration of the recollection of God’s appearing at Sinai and leading the Israelites:

The shaking of the earth; the startling of people; the mountains breaking apart and ancient hills sinking down;

Again, the tents of Cushan and the tents of Midian— the land south, who would have first experienced God’s coming when he came to meet with the Israelites in the Exodus and Sinai wilderness.

Thus, Habakkuk is recalling a time in the past where God appeared to help Israel. However, He came in an unexpected manner, with plague and pestilence. This is consistent with Habakkuk’s current experience with God- not as he would have thought— raising up the Babylonians to deal with Judah. Yet, God assured him, they would be dealt with, too.

Summary: God has been faithful in the past; He will remain faithful now. It may not look like you perceive it to, but you can rest in His faithfulness.

Habakkuk depicts God overthrowing his enemies and saving His people. [vv. 8-15]

Though it is introduced in the earlier verses, especially in these verses, it is understood that Habakkuk is thinking of the power of God in his dealing with injustice.

Also, the shift is noticed from verses 3-7 where Habakkuk uses third person; now, in verses 8-15, Habakkuk uses second person.

Continued from the last section, there are still references embedded within these verses from the account of the Exodus, wanderings in Sinai, and the conquest.

These verses highlight both a cosmological and personal battle, whereby God is depicted as the Divine Warrior overcoming both cosmic powers and enemies of persons who are against Him and His people.

As such, there are two sections within this section.

Verses 8-11 deal with cosmic powers.

Verse 8 is pregnant with hope:

God confronts the rivers and sea in anger, wrath, and fury. This is likely twofold: a reference to the pagan gods yam (sea) known to cause chaos; additionally, it is a simple reference to nature and the power of rivers and the sea; both suggest God, the Divine Warrior, overcoming them in victory.

The reference to hoses and chariots, again with the exodus account in the background, references the Egyptian army— though their horses and chariots were swallowed up by the sea— here, the horses and chariots are representative of God coming to get His people, to provide them salvation and victory.

Verses 9-11 add even more to the imagery and hope present, remembering still the history of God’s faithfulness to Israel to deliver them.

The imagery of arrows have been used of God in times of judgment, often in poetry. [Dt. 32:23 “23 “I will pile disasters on them; I will use up my arrows against them.”; Ps. 7:13 “13 He has prepared his deadly weapons; he tips his arrows with fire.” ; Ps. 18:14 “14 He shot his arrows and scattered them; he hurled lightning bolts and routed them.”]

All of creation is impacted by God’s power and presence. The mountains; the waters; the sun, moon, stars (reference to Josh. 10:12-14 “12 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 And the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on its enemies. Isn’t this written in the Book of Jashar? So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed its setting almost a full day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to a man, because the Lord fought for Israel.”)

Verses 12-15 deal with personal powers.

All people feel the power and presence of God, too.

Previously, again, in the exodus and conquest account, the “Gentiles felt God’s might…so they will again (Ps. 9:15-20 “15 The nations have fallen into the pit they made; their foot is caught in the net they have concealed. 16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed justice, snaring the wicked by the work of their hands. Higgaion. Selah 17 The wicked will return to Sheol— all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy will not always be forgotten; the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever. 19 Rise up, Lord! Do not let mere humans prevail; let the nations be judged in your presence. 20 Put terror in them, Lord; let the nations know they are only humans. Selah”; Is. 10:7 “7 But this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations.”) including the Babylonians.

God, in contrast to the judgment on the wicked and those opposed to him, promises salvation for His own.

Verse 15 closes with the reminder of the background- the theme of the exodus, whereby the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, experiencing victory; here, God’s horses and chariots bring triumph for His people.

God, the Divine Warrior, triumphs over all people who oppose him and his people in order to save his people. [vv. 12-15]

Summary: God is powerful over all of creation, including cosmic powers and human forces. He will conquer powers of evil that oppose Him and His people in order to bring salvation for His people.

Habakkuk resolves to trust God and to praise Him even amidst the coming difficulty. [vv. 16-19]

Notice the similarity to verses 1-2 and verse 16:

I heard…I am in awe [2]

I heard… I tremble [16]

The weakness comes about because he understands the temporary suffering— the invasion of the Babylonians. Yet, he “waits quietly for the day of distress...” which would ultimately come in 539- roughly 60 years after their overtaking Judah.

Notice, though, the trust and expression of confidence in God even amidst the understood suffering:

Though we suffer greatly…yet, i will celebrate in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

The Judahites relied heavily on their crops to sustain life. Yet, the declaration is quite strong— one of great faith in God.

The LORD, my Lord is my strength...

Summary: Though suffering may come, God will bring victory, deliverance, and salvation for His people. (Rm. 8:18); He is worthy to be trusted.

Reflective Questions:

[1] Habakkuk looks back to remember God’s faithfulness in the past to be encouraged and comforted in the present suffering. Is there a time in your past where you can recall God’s faithfulness that would encourage you during your current suffering?

[2] What hinders you from trusting God, even knowing suffering will come?

Bibliography:

[1] David W. Baker, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 27, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 69.

Related Media

Related Sermons