habakkuk, the righteous prophet, part 3

The Prayer of Habakkuk (Part 3):

The Prayer of Habakkuk (Part 3) Brian Chilton Friendship Baptist Church

Question of the Week::

Question of the Week: Question 24: From what gate does Zephaniah say that “ there shall be a noise of a cry ”? Answer: The Fish Gate Question 25: Who did Haggai speak to at the opening of his prophecy? Hint: He is the son of Shealtiel and is the governor of Judah.

The Prayer of Habakkuk:

The Prayer of Habakkuk A . Introduction (3:1) B. Prayer (3:2) C. Theophany “Appearance of God” (3:3-15) D. Response (3:16-19a) E. Epilogue (3:19b)

Introduction and Prayer:

Introduction and Prayer 1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth . 2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy .

Introduction and Prayer:

Introduction and Prayer (1) This chapter is introduced in verse one. The remainder of the chapter reads like a psalm. “ Shigionoth ” is a mysterious word. It is most likely a word that indicates the way the psalm is sung. There is not a unified agreement as to what the word means. (2) Habakkuk thanks the Lord for His response. The word for “speech” actually means “fame” or “report.” Habakkuk stood in awe of the Lord and prayed that a revival would break forth despite the actions of Judah. My desire for a “3 rd Great Awakening”

Theophany:

Theophany 3 God came from Teman , and the Holy One from mount Paran . Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. 5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. 6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. 7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. 8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? 9 Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. 10 The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. 11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. 12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. 13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. 14 Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

Theophany:

Theophany (3) This section begins what is known as a “theophany” or an “appearance of God.” Teman was in Edom, SE of the Dead Sea. Wilderness of Paran is a large area between Kadesh Barnea and Mt. Sinai. The term “glory” shows God’s authority over everything. (4) “ Ngh ” or “lightness” means “shining. God illuminated the whole area. This light may have been lightning bolts coming from His presence. The hand of God represents God’s power.

Theophany (cont’d):

Theophany (cont’d) (5 ) Plague and pestilence was shown to be avenues of God’s punishment upon the land. (6 ) The mountains and age old hills are symbols of majesty and grandeur. Yet, they fall before the power of God. Earthquakes normally occur when God enters the scene. (7 ) Cushan and Midian are Arab tribes that lived near Edom. (8 ) This verse alludes to the Red Sea as the sea was parted for the Israelites.

Theophany (cont’d):

Theophany (cont’d) (9) The final line of this verse consists of three Hebrew words that are very obscure. They are translated in accordance to the first line. The image of archery is associated with lightning bolts as the bolts are seen as God’s arrows. The earth being split may refer to the Exodus or creation. (10) Verse 10 continues to show God’s power. (11) The sun and moon standing still shows God’s power over the universe and may refer the to events at Gibeon in Joshua 10:12-13. (12) Verse 12 shows a further answer to Habakkuk’s dilemma. Eventually, all people and all nations will give an account for what they do both good and bad. This is why some do not want there to be a God.

Theophany (cont’d):

Theophany (cont’d) (13 ) Verse 13 is an amazing verse. God would save the covenant people for a very special purpose. The term for “anointed” is “ מָשִׁיחַ ( masiah ). Guess how this is translated? “Messiah” God would bring about the Messiah and the Messiah would lead about the destruction of wickedness and evil. Guess who this person was? מָשִׁיחַ יְהֹושֻׁעַ ( Yeshua Masiah , or Jesus Christ) ( 14-15) Despite the evils of the present age, God and His Anointed will crush the wicked and demolish evil. Having an eternal perspective helps answer some of the questions of life. It all comes back to Habakkuk 2:4, “ the righteous will live by his faith.” Faith is trust and trust accepts that God will eventually right all wrongs.

Response and Epilogue:

Response and Epilogue 16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Response:

Response (16) Habakkuk becomes physically weak as he contemplates the fact that God will have mercy, inflict wrath, and allows Habakkuk to know this whilst others are shielded from this information. Just as the “righteous live by faith,” we must live in faith in the fact that God will bring justice and will act in time. (17) Everything was going haywire for Habakkuk in his day. Most of this was a direct result of the covenant that was broken by the people of God. (18) Yet despite all was falling apart, Habakkuk rejoiced in the Lord and said that he would be joyful in God. There is a great principle here. We can rejoice in the Lord despite our troubles and difficulties.

Epilogue:

Epilogue (19) Habakkuk declared that God was his sovereign strength. Also God gives him the “feet of a deer” which is sure footed confidence. Habakkuk closes out the psalm and the book.

Conclusion: What answers did Habakkuk receive?:

Conclusion: What answers did Habakkuk receive? God knows better than we do about the evils that surround us. God will eventually bring punishment by His timing to all wickedness. His timing is far different than our timing. God expects His people to live by faith. Faith is a trust that God will take care of things, especially those things that we have no power over. God will eventually right all wrongs and bring forth justice in the end. The rewards of heaven will far outweigh the problems on earth.

Next Session::

Next Session: Zephaniah: The Worship Prophet Personal problems found in pride Personal accountability God saves a remnant Look into the Day of the LORD “Yom YHWH”