Habakkuk 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKBj457ILUo God of the Impossible

Psalm 18:20–36 NIV

20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. 22 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. 23 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. 24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. 27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. 28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. 29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. 36 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.

Psalm 18:49 NIV

49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.

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Habakkuk

Has anyone here ever watched that television series, “Mountain Men?” If you have there is one man that is from Yaak, MT. The Yaak is high in the mountains and close to the Canadian border. Driving to the Yaak is somewhat treacherous. The road is narrow and winds up the mountain with sheer cliffs on one side at times. What makes it the most treacherous is that you cannot usually see if there is a vehicle coming from the other direction. If you live in the Yaak, you are required to have a CB and the logging trucks are to call out every mile post they come to. As they get closer to you, you are to take the first turnout you come to for them to safely pass you on this narrow, windy patch of road.

However, it is also a beautiful drive. I know all of this as I lived there for a time much to my delight. One of my favorite spots as we would drive home, was an area where it dropped off to a small meadow where the river widened. Often there were Moose that would be wading in this spot. Just beyond the river, the mountain towered high with rugged cliffs which were often populated by Big Horn sheep. It was always amazing to observe them walking so surefooted around areas that would be treacherous to people. We would find it hard to walk on these rugged, rocky, cliffs, however, the sheep could literally run up the cliffs and never lose their footing.

Habakkuk gives his final response to God’s answers, declaring that God gives us this same kind of footing in a dangerous world.

Habakkuk 3NIV

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth. 2 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. 3God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. 4 His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. 5 Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. 6 He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever. 7I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish. 8Were you angry with the rivers, Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory? 9 You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers; 10 the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high. 11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear. 12In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. 13You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot. 14With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding. 15 You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters. 16 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign Lordis my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

I. Habakkuk Sings God’s Praises

Habakkuk has moved from the depths of despair into the heights of glory! God has given answer to his questions and proven once again that His ways our higher than ours. God’s scope of work is always far greater than we would have ever deemed possible. When we take the time to ask, watch and wait upon God’s answer, there is only one response one can give and Habakkuk does not fail to do so.

A. Habakkuk’s Prayers Turn to Worship

Habakkuk’s worship is a “full meal deal” if you will. It is comprised of praise, worship, awe, respect, appreciation, and even some requests in there. The cherry on top was his faith! He trusted that God would do what He said and would bring them all through it.

Habakkuk is a great model for us to follow in our difficult times. He teaches us to humbly ask God and even question God at times to gain greater appreciation and understanding of God. He shows us that our faith is something to be “worked at” and “worked out” by seeking God’s answers and then meditating on them. He also shows us that it is a good practice to keep our eyes on the past even as we are looking for answers for the future. In the end, we need to put our full trust in God. When we do so, we move from the dark valley to the bright light at the top of the mountain. In fact, by chapter 3, Habakkuk is singing. He writes his praise and worship in a song to be sung in the temple.

Psalm 96:1–2NIV

1 Sing to the Lorda new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

I know that there are those of you who would prefer we only sing the old hymns. I know they contain good memories for you. However, I would much prefer to sing new songs describing what God is doing today! That is exactly what Habakkuk is doing here. He has heard of God’s great deeds in the past, and he includes some of those in his song, but he is also creating a new song for the things God is doing in that moment!

Shigionoth is a word whose meaning has been lost over time, but there are indications that it is a musical term. The final note of this passage is “For the choir director, on my stringed instruments” noting that this was to be sung as a new song for their day.

The song begins as...

1. Habakkuk praises God’s person . Habakkuk 3:1-3

Habakkuk 3:1–3NIV

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth. 2 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. 3God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.

In chapter 1, God told Habakkuk to listen and be amazed. Now as we come to the ending, we find Habakkuk “standing in awe of God’s deeds.” He is truly amazed! He has heard of God’s great deeds in the past, but now he is perched to experience God’s wondrous deeds in his time. Even though it is going to be a tough action, Habakkuk wants to see God move. “Make them (God’s deeds) known” he cries. Then he pleads for God’s mercy as He does so.

Like Moses, Habakkuk intercedes for his people. They are not perfect. They deserve what they get. But he loves them, he is part of them, and he requests God’s mercy on their behalf. However, he has previously declared his trust in God stating his faith that God would not allow the nation of Israel to be destroyed.

Another way we see Habakkuk’s great faith is that even though God says He is going to do something frightening, Habakkuk trusts God enough to say, “Yes, I accept Your plan and even request You see it through.” He is not saying God needs His approval. However, no matter how tough it may be, Habakkuk is God’s cheerleader. He desires to see God’s plans succeed. It is still a movement of God and Habakkuk knows that it is a privilege to see, understand, and watch how God works.

This doesn’t mean Habakkuk is jumping up and down with pom-poms. In fact, some translate part of this verse as, “I fear.” It is appropriate to do so. He stands before Almighty God, that is reason enough to fear. However, what God has reported He will do is also reason to feel fear. Yet, Habakkuk has enough faith in God to say (I paraphrase here), “Bring it on God, that we may see and know You alone are God. I know you will be merciful. My trust is in You!”

Actually, my translation is somewhat poor as it doesn’t demonstrate well the fear Habakkuk had in that moment as he spoke with God. Isaiah and the Psalms give a better idea of Habakkuk in this moment.

Isaiah 66:2NIV

2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

Psalm 119:120NIV

120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.

Habakkuk is in good company, many throughout the Old and New Testament found themselves prone with fear in God’s presence understanding fully God’s power and His ability to use it for judgment.

Habakkuk then moves to God’s splendor (brilliance/glory). Teman is Jordan and Mount Paran is a mount south of Mount Sinai. He is declaring God as the God of the Tribe of Judah here, yet the whole earth is full of His praise.

If our hearts are in the right place, this should be a natural progression for us. We know we have had a breakthrough in our prayer, when we suddenly cannot help but break out in praise of God for who He is.

Next, we see that...

2. Habakkuk praises God’s power . Habakkuk 3:4-7

Habakkuk 3:4–7NIV

4 His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. 5 Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. 6 He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever. 7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish.

Two incredible images of God are pictured here; light and power.

Light always accompanies God’s presence.

Revelation 21:23 NIV

23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Habakkuk is declaring God’s presence along with demonstrations of God’s power. His power is so great, it cannot be contained. Habakkuk’s description creates this illusion of power literally bursting from His fingertips. As I read this, my mind goes to the event where the woman touched his garments and was instantly healed. His body radiates power. His power is so great it cannot help but escape.

Habakkuk uses both light and power as he recalls the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. This event was so well known that other nations often spoke of it. In fact, Rahab spoke of it when the spies were investigating Jericho. When she said, “we have heard what the Lord has done...”.

Habakkuk knows their history and even in his day, that knowledge gives courage that this is the same God who is still their God. Habakkuk has faith for today because of what God had done in their past. These marvelous works that God had done were to be told over and over again.

Psalm 78:3–4NIV

3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

It is appropriate to remember displays of God’s power and to give Him praise for the mighty things He has done.

Nehemiah 9:5–6 (NIV) 5...“Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

It is appropriate that we first acknowledge God’s person, but wherever God is, there is always light and power as well. We need to have a healthy respect for God’s power, yet His power should never be a focus above His person. Respect for the person of God is first, followed by a healthy respect for His power.

Next...

3. Habakkuk praises God’s purpose . Habakkuk 3:8-15

Verses 8-11 recount God’s works when Joshua advances to take the land that will become their national heritage. There is one very strong theme in verses 8-15 and that is salvation. God’s purpose is always for the salvation of His people. His people are anyone who has put their trust in Him. Habakkuk begins by recounting God’s past salvation and weaves back and forth between the past and the present work of God. All for the sake of saving His people. God is about saving His people from all their enemies, including Satan and sin. God’s justice has two purposes; the first is to turn people from their sin to Him that they may be saved. God’s first desire is always for salvation. Only after all opportunities to be saved have been exhausted do we see God’s final act of justice. Then it comes to punish and remove the guilty parties from among His people forever.

Psalm 33:5NIV

5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Romans 12:19NIV

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Proverbs 28:5NASB95

5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all things.

Once Habakkuk has given praise to God for all these things; His person, His power, and His purpose, Habakkuk closes his prayer in faith and we see...

4. Habakkuk moves from distress to rest . Habakkuk 3:16-19

Habakkuk 3:16–19 NIV

16 I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 17Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign Lordis my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

In verses 16 and 17 we find a very bleak picture. It is the sign of a nation under judgement. No buds, no grapes, no crops, no food, no livestock of any kind. It does not feel good to think about such things. Habakkuk describes well the response we feel when facing such times. We can identify with his feelings. We would not be human if we didn’t look around at what is taking place in our world and as we read scriptures regarding the end of days and not feel some of those same feelings. However, those are not the things we should stay focused on. Instead, we turn from those just as Habakkuk did and we can find rest, even amid the storm. We make a conscious decision to trust God. It is in our trust in Him that we find our peace and our joy. And when we do, we become like those deer, or even like the big horn mountain sheep I so used to like to watch, we can leap and play among the rockiest of ground and still find our footing because the rock that we tread upon is the rock of God.

Psalm 78:35NIV

35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

Conclusion

Where are you in this process this morning? There are many things taking place in our world today that can make us feel like our heart is pounding, our lips quivering, and legs about to crumble under us. It is not fun to think that perhaps we are nearing the days of tribulation, yet when we look around us it is hard to believe we are not.

If you are struggling with these things, I know it doesn’t help to just be told to trust in God. That is why I wanted to preach this series from Habakkuk. Habakkuk helps us find the way to find that rest in God. If we were to ask him, he would say, “Do the hard work. Take your questions and your concerns to God. Then seek in His Word, pray, be vigilant and wait for Him to answer you.”

If you do that, I can guarantee you two things. First, He will not take you to a calendar and say, you are here on this date and the end comes here! However, He will answer you in some way. It will be in a personal way. It will be a way that will reveal that His is God, He is in control. It will give you a sense of peace and like Habakkuk, you will move from distress to rest.

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