Habakkuk 3:1-16 Fear to Worship
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Today we will see Habakkuk go from fear to worship
even though he is afraid.
this is a very unique passage for several reasons
but one is that this is the only time we get
the word Selah
in the OT outside of Psalms (71 times)
3 times in Habakkuk 3
The word Selah
The meaning of the word "Selah" in the Bible
is uncertain and debated among scholars.
Some scholars believe that "Selah" is a musical
or liturgical term indicating a pause,
break, or change in the music or singing.
in verse 1 it says on the Shigionoth
the shigonoth may be referring to rapid changes of rhythm
either with instruments or voices,
which the music director needs to know.
It may refer to a kind of lament.
in Hebrew it gives the idea of strong emotion
and passionate triumph
the last verse in v19 says on my stringed instrument
showing us that Habkkuk is a musician
which probably the explains the emotions haha
Others suggest that "Selah" may be related to the Hebrew word "sul,"
meaning "to lift up" or "to exalt,"
and may be an instruction to raise the voice or instruments in praise to God.
It is possible that the word was intentionally left ambiguous or mysterious,
as a way to encourage reflection or contemplation
on the text or message of the psalm.
no matter what it definitely seems to be an emphasises marker
we will see them in
v.3, v, 9, v.13
making these unique scriptures
and so we will try to highlight what is going on there.
so now as we start to look at verses 1-2
you will notice a change in tone with Habakkuk
he is not going to questioning God any more
or trying to get done to do what he thinks is right.
instead we see..
I. Habakkuk's Prayer and Pleading for God's Mercy (Habakkuk 3:1-2)
I. Habakkuk's Prayer and Pleading for God's Mercy (Habakkuk 3:1-2)
Habakkuk acknowledges God's power and he pleads for God's mercy and intervention
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth. 2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
So we see that Habakkuk has a changed perspective
As Habakkuk has heard what God is going to do
he isnt questioning God’s methods this time
although he is afraid of what God says is going to happen
now he is asking for God to revive His work with His people
While Habakkuk is afraid
he is also accepting of God’s discipline
now
so he instead pleads
for a revival
and in his wrath to remember mercy.
Habakkuk is creating a sandwich of fear here.
He begins this chapter with fear and in verse 16 he references this fear again
16 When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.
for Habakkuk right now
he is accepting what God is going to do
in raising the Babylonians to judge them
and he is admitting he is really afraid...
Sometimes we may know what is ahead of us
we know that what is ahead is obstacles after obstacles
its surgery after surgery
its trial after trial
Habakkuk is acknowledging to God that he is afraid.
I know as men fear is something we don’t often talk about
I want to share a 4 verses that talk about fear.
3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. 4 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
These verses acknowledge that fear can exist,
Fear happens
but they also encourage believers to place their trust in God
and seek His strength, assurance, and protection in times of fear.
They remind us that God's presence
and power can overcome our fears
and give us the courage to face difficult situations.
2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
A similar thing is going on with Habakkuk here
he is afraid but he is acknowledging it to God
and is looking to God
so he says that in His wrath remember mercy
So basically he is saying
okay God
I am accepting that you're
using the Babylonians to judge us
just when this happens
show us mercy
Something special about
God’s presence in the midst of trials
Yeah we will face hard times
sometimes its in result of our sin
like with Judah here
sometimes its result of someone elses sin
Sometimes its the result of just this fallen world
no matter what we should
like Habakkuk
desire God’s presence with us
Jesus said that
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
In Jesus we can have peace
through our tribulations
but now Habakkuk is going to
remember and reflect on God’s power
in verses 3-15
Habakkuk recalls God's majestic appearance and glory
He describes God's power over nature, including earthquakes and storms
Habakkuk recounts historical acts of God's deliverance,
such as the Exodus and conquest of Canaan
its going to cause him to be able to trust God
and to rest.
So with Habakkuk we are going to see him move from
fear, to worship
which will result in trust, and rest.
II. Reflection on God & His Power (Habakkuk 3:3-15)
II. Reflection on God & His Power (Habakkuk 3:3-15)
so in verses 3-7 we see
A. God's Majestic Appearance and Glory (Habakkuk 3:3-7)
A. God's Majestic Appearance and Glory (Habakkuk 3:3-7)
Habakkuk describes God's radiant appearance
He portrays God's glory and power as covering the heavens and the earth
Habakkuk mentions God's brightness and flashing arrows of lightning
He mentions pestilence and plague going before God
3 God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise. 4 His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden. 5 Before Him went pestilence, And fever followed at His feet. 6 He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting. 7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
show map
Teman is an edomite city.
Mount Paran is located in the Sinai peninsula.
The mention of Teman and Paran appear to be allusions to the events of Israel's wilderness wanderings
during which God demonstrated great power
to His covenant people as He brought them on their journey
to the Promised Land.
READ MORE IN Dt 33:2; Judges 5:4
so as he is remembering God’s power there
he says this amazing thought about God’s glory
“His glory covers the Heavens”
Picture the sunrise and how the sky is lit by the sun.
God’s glory causes the heavens to light up
while the earth reacts with joyful praise.
what a picture!
verse 4 says his brightness is like the light
with rays flashing from his hand
the Hebrew word for rays here is normally translated horn
like the horn of the alter
the horn is a symbol of power
and so there is power in His hand
and as the verse continue that the power is hidden
in verse 5 shows us that God's judgments precede His arrival
and that in verse 6 He inspects the earth
in which the mountains that seem so strong and long lasting
and the hills flee and bow to God
His look startles the nations and causes creation to flee and bow
in verse 7 we see that the enemies of Israel
judged and in fear because of God.
so we got this really big picture of God.
B. God's Power over Nature and Nations (Habakkuk 3:8-12)
B. God's Power over Nature and Nations (Habakkuk 3:8-12)
Habakkuk describes God's control over the natural elements,
including rivers and seas
He depicts mountains trembling before God
Habakkuk recounts how the sun and moon stood still at God's command
He highlights God's intervention in the deliverance of His people
8 O Lord, were You displeased with the rivers, Was Your anger against the rivers, Was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? 9 Your bow was made quite ready; Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah You divided the earth with rivers. 10 The mountains saw You and trembled; The overflowing of the water passed by. The deep uttered its voice, And lifted its hands on high. 11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; At the light of Your arrows they went, At the shining of Your glittering spear. 12 You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger.
verse 8 is likely a rhetorical question.
that no he was not displeased with the rivers, or sea
because...
God did not fight against the rivers or the sea,
but used its power to defeat the Egyptian army.
he uses nation to accomplish is purposes
but in God’s anger creation fears the Lord.
the mountains tremble,
the sun and moon stand still
God’s anger trampled nations
God's anger is not like man's anger!
God's wrath is never petty or inappropriate, but is always perfectly righteous.
But when God’s time of wrath comes it is something to fear
that even creation fears
This reminds me of Rev 1:7
7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
God’s power is displayed in his wrath
but as we will see in this next section that
so is His power
displayed in His salvation
C. God's Past Acts of Salvation and Deliverance (Habakkuk 3:13-15)
C. God's Past Acts of Salvation and Deliverance (Habakkuk 3:13-15)
Habakkuk recalls how God went forth for the salvation of His people
He mentions God's anointed,
Habakkuk describes God's judgment upon the wicked nations
He highlights God's piercing of the enemy with His own arrows
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah 14 You thrust through with his own arrows The head of his villages. They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret. 15 You walked through the sea with Your horses, Through the heap of great waters.
Here we see God’s power in saving His people
from their enemies
That God has destroyed their enemies with great power
This is true from Egypt, to the battles in Joshua, and Judges
So now in result to Habakkuk now reflecting on God’s power he says in verse 16
III. Fear to Trust (Habakkuk 3:16)
III. Fear to Trust (Habakkuk 3:16)
16 When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.
At the beginning of this chapter, Habakkuk said "I have heard Your speech and was afraid”
And now after Hab 3:3-15 he says he trembles,
convulsing to the very depths of his being!
Why? He has been overwhelmed by his realization of who God is, and His power
Try to picture Habakkuk's heart pounding,
his breathing racing,
his lips quivering.
The phrase "decay entered my bones"
suggests that his skeletal frame could not even stabilize him,
making him unsteady on his feet.
He was a real person just like us
and so the reality of the coming Babylonian judgment
caused him to tremble.
There are times in our life when we tremble,
when we are so weak,
we feel we might faint from fear or despair.
yet Habakkuk says he will rest in the day of trouble!
how???
Given his feelings,
how could Habakkuk wait quietly for the day of distress?
Clearly if he had depended on and yielded to his feelings ("inward parts trembled...my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones...I tremble"),
he could never have waited quietly
or make such a great confession of faith.
If Habakkuk looked ahead, he saw a nation heading for destruction,
and that frightened him.
When he looked within,
he saw himself trembling with fear,
and when he looked around,
he saw everything in the world about to fall apart.
But when he looked up by faith, he saw God,
and all his fears vanished.
Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV)
4 “... But the just shall live by his faith.
One of the marks of faith is a willingness to wait patiently for the Lord to work.
Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)
16 ...Whoever believes will not act hastily.
When we run ahead of God, we get into trouble.
Abraham learned that lesson when he married Hagar
and fathered Ishmael (Gen. 16),
and so did Moses when he tried to deliver the Jews by his own hand (Ex. 2).
15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not,
Habakkuk could wait quietly because
he knew that God was at work in the world
and he had prayed that God’s work
would be kept alive and strong (Hab 3:2).
When you know that God is working in your life,
you can afford to wait quietly
and let Him have His way.
Also God had commanded him to wait (Hab 2:3-note),
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
It is a terrible feeling to know that calamity is coming
and that you cant do nothing to prevent it.
Habakkuk could rest in the day of trouble
because he remembered that the omnipotent God of Israel
had consistently defended her in the past
and promised to do so in the future.
Earlier when the prophet heard about the powerful Babylonians,
he wanted to talk with God (Hab 2:1-note).
But now having been reminded
of the infinitely more powerful God,
he had nothing more to say
God would handle the Babylonians.
All Habakkuk had to do was wait.
There is 3 verses that mean a lot to my family
that have to do with waiting when in the face of hardships
“Stand still” (Ex. 14:13)
“Sit still” (Ruth 3:18)
“Be still” (Ps. 46:10)
Whenever we find ourselves getting “churned up” within,
we can be sure that we need to stop, pray, and wait
on the Lord before we just react
because there is no affliction,
severe or trying, which can
ever separate us from our Father in heaven (Ro 8:35-39).
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s covenant with us is sure and everlasting,
because it is founded Jesus Christ.
The storm will pass,
but God's presence and comfort will endure
forever for His ways are everlasting! (Hab 3:6)
Corrie Ten Boom
If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God you'll be at rest