Habakkuk 3

Introduction

In this book, God replies to Habakkuk’s confusion, He did so in a way that glorified and magnified Himself. Meaning, the purpose of God’s response was not to answer Habakkuk’s questions but to highlight God’s greatness. The Psalmist in Psalms 139:6 “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.” When we consider God knows not only a part but the overall whole, how much more wonderful is God and how much less can we grasp God’s infinite plan. Is it any wonder that He does not answer many of our questions; rather, He gives us responsibilities.

By the time we get to God’s second response, Habakkuk had asked five questions:

Habakkuk 1:3 “Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance?

Habakkuk 1:13 “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, And canst not look on iniquity: Wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, And holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”

Habakkuk 1:14 “And makest men as the fishes of the sea, As the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?”

Habakkuk 1:17 “Shall they therefore empty their net, And not spare continually to slay the nations?”

In God’s first and second responses did not answer any of Habakkuk’s questions

Habakkuk 2:2-3 God tells Habakkuk to write down the vision, make it clear and plain so that the runner (the heralder) can go throughout Judah declaring the vision. The purpose of declaring the vision was not to the lost and rebellious but to the faithful. Namely, how were they to live their lives when the fulfillment of the vision occurs. The answer is: Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his faith.”

God knew what Babylon will do upon the success they would enjoy. Habakkuk 2:5-6 “Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, He is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, Who enlargeth his desire as hell, And is as death, and cannot be satisfied, But gathereth unto him all nations, And heapeth unto him all people: Shall not all these take up a parable against him, And a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? And to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!” 5 woes will follow.

There is hope in the third woe - Habakkuk 2:12-14 “Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, And stablisheth a city by iniquity! Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts That the people shall labour in the very fire, And the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.”

That is where we have been. Where are we this morning. The dialogue is over with and Habakkuk prays to the Lord. There are three parts to this prayer: Request, remember, and rejoice!

Request

Habakkuk 3:2 “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.”

Within this request there are five points to highlight:

LORD

The phrase “O LORD” appears twice within a short space - as we have gone through this book, I have highlighted three features connected with the name Jehovah

Israel’s name for their God

Jehovah’s meaning - self-existing God

Jehovah is seen as a personal and intimate God. Elohim is seen as a distant, superior and out of touch God, but Jehovah shows us He is personal and desires a relationship with His creation.

After God had responded to Habakkuk’s confusion by adding to his confusion and not addressing his added confusion, Habakkuk still latches on God being Jehovah.

He is still his God

He is self-existing

He is personal.

Habakkuk’s shaken faith caused him to cry out more to the Lord, submit to God’s plans, and confess who God is to Israel and to Habakkuk. In short, Habakkuk’s shaken faith caused him to yearn for God more, not less.

Illustration: Paul’s shaken faith did not further distant him from the Lord but drew him closer to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Illustration: Even when our shaken faith attempts to extend the distance of our relationship with God, there is God, coming to the rescue.

Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”