His Word Today

“Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long? — and loads himself with pledges!” Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be spoil for them. Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.” (Habakkuk 2:5-7)

The LORD revealed to Habakkuk a series of woes which the prophet was not only to receive but also prophesy to the people. The “five woes” is structured in five stanzas with three verses contained in each stanza. This structural form is reminiscent of the Fourth Servant Song of Yahweh (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) which we have previously studied.

Today’s text contains the first stanza, which was God’s first announcement of woe upon the Babylonians. Each woe contained a particular sin for which God judged the Chaldeans as guilty. The first sin was extortion.

Extortion is the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats. In the Babylonians case, they not only extorted money from conquered nations, they also extorted people (Daniel 1). The irony was that the nations which the Babylonians plundered would eventually plunder them. Those who the Babylonians frightened would frighten them. The truth of Galatians 6:7 resonates here when it says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

John Calvin writes, “Whatever therefore the Prophet subjoins to the end of the chapter tends to confirm his doctrine, which we have already explained—that the just shall live by faith. We cannot indeed be fully convinced of this except we hold firmly to this principle—that God cares for us and that the whole world is governed by his providence; so that it cannot be but that he will at length check the wicked, and punish their sins and deliver the innocent who call upon him. Unless this be our conviction, there can be no benefit derived from our faith.”

As we watch world events unfold through the medium of 24 news channels, it can be to believe that the world is seemingly out of control. However, we must always remember that God is in control and He will do what is right in punishing the wicked.

May the LORD’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

“Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough. He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples.” (Habakkuk 2:5)

In contrast to the righteous who lives by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4), the wickedness of the Babylonians is given a climatic, summary description prior to the LORD’s pronouncement, through the prophet, of five woes. The images God conveyed to describe the nation was not pretty and was not supposed to be. The main idea was that Babylon was greedy.

Greed has often been portrayed in popular culture as a good thing. The more you have, the better off you are. However, one psychologist commented that, “Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.”

I  Timothy 6:9-10 says, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

“Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest.” The ancient Babylonians were betrayed by their love for wine. They were addicted to it. In fact, Daniel 5 records that the ultimate defeat of Babylon was preceded on the very night of their destruction by a huge and riotous banquet. Proverbs 23:31-32 says, “Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.” The insatiable arrogance and haughtiness of the Babylonians was compared to a wine besotted drunkard.

“His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough.” The greedy man, or in this context nation, is never satisfied with what it has. He, or it, always wants more. This greed, like death, is never satisfied and ultimately proved to be Babylon’s undoing. See Proverbs 1:12; 27:20; 30:15-16.

He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples.” Babylon was likened to a thief. It took what was rightfully not its own. However, there would be a day of reckoning. Dr. John Walvoord comments that, “Like some hideous monster, the grave devours the nations. Likewise, Babylon opened wide her insatiable jaws to devour all peoples. But this evil nation would not continue unpunished. God’s judgment would fall!”

Habakkuk 2:5 would serve as the basis for a series of five woes (2:6-20) which God would pronounce upon the proud and arrogant nation.

God’s word forbids greed or covetousness of any kind (Exodus 20:17). Colossians 3:5 says, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Take a moment to examine your inner self and see if there is anything you covet and for which you desire. Repent of it daily and saturate your mind and soul with Scripture.

May the LORD’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!  

  

 

 

And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

When the LORD responded to Habakkuk a second time, the revelation contained a prelude and a promise before the actual oracle of woe upon the Babylonians.

The LORD commanded Habakkuk to write and record the vision. It is that vision which Habakkuk recorded, and which God gave him, that we have in the biblical book which bears the prophet’s name. The word vision is from the Hebrew word ha’zon meaning word of revelation, which is a communication from God which is to be communicated to others.

The LORD then gave the prophet a second command, which was to make the vision plain on tablets. The meaning of this directive is two-fold. The command could have been for Habakkuk to write down God’s vision in plain, distinct letters. Secondly, it could also mean that the LORD wanted the prophet to explain the oracle and to make it plain or understood to the people of Judah.

The tablets could have either been made of stone, metal or wood. They would have been more like a plank. On commentator explains that, “the boxwood tables were covered with wax, on which national affairs were engraved with an iron pen, and then hung up in public, at the prophets own houses, or at the temple, that those who passed might read them.” In principle, this would have been similar to what Martin Luther did on October 31, 1517 when he nailed his 95 Thesis’ on the church door of Wittenberg.

The purpose for such an action is found in the purpose clause which follows. “So he may run who reads it.” On the surface, the meaning may refer to the impending doom of Judah. However, the oracle God was about to deliver was no longer about Judah’s impending destruction but rather about Babylon’s. Therefore, the phrase likely meant that people will run and tell anyone that God will defeat the Chaldeans. What will be an oracle of woe for Babylon will be an oracle of blessing for the Jews.

God then gave a promise about His sovereign timing of fulfillment. “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Even though the oracle concerns the future, it will surely come to pass because God has spoken.

This promise of God fulfilling His promises in Habakkuk parallels 2 Peter 3:1-9. “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

God’s promises will come to pass even though we may think they never will. What promises that God has given in His Word do you personally claim? Remember, His Word is true and what He has said He will do.

May the LORD’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

“Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever? I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.” (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1)

Be careful what you pray for. You may not receive the answer you wanted or you thought God would give you. Habakkuk didn’t and became embroiled in a wrestling match with God. The prophet was not at all happy or blessed by what God had revealed to him about the LORD’s future providential plans for Judah. However, it would be this wrestling with God that would show Habakkuk, and us, what is the core element of our relationship with God: faith.

Author Jon Bloom, in writing about the patriarch Jacob’s similar wrestling match with God says, “In Genesis 32, Jacob is on his way back home to Canaan with his small tribe of wives and children after a twenty year sojourn in Paddan-aram. And he is scared to death, because his estranged brother, Esau, is coming to meet him — with four hundred men (Genesis 32:6). This is no welcome party; it’s an army.”

“But a strange man who shows up and wrestles Jacob till daybreak rudely interrupts his plans. At some point during this weird contest Jacob realizes that he is wrestling God. And when God decides it’s time to end the match, he dislocates Jacob’s hip and demands to be released. And Jacob, in significant pain, replies, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Genesis 32:26). This response clearly pleases God, who pronounces this blessing on Jacob: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob [deceiver], but Israel [strives with God], for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28).Jacob then limps toward his tense reunion with Esau with a weakened body and a strengthened faith. Having wrestled with God, he knows his prayers regarding Esau will be answered.”

 Bloom continues by saying, “Take note of what God did when he wrestled Jacob. Jacob began the night dreading Esau’s arrival. He was full of fear and desperation. But he ended the night of struggle with God’s blessing and a renewed faith. All of our struggling with God in faith leads to peace. God even afflicted Jacob with a debilitating injury. This had the effect of making Jacob even more vulnerable to Esau, forcing Jacob’s faith to more fully rest on God and not himself. If necessary, God will cause us to limp to increase our faith.”

God will cause us to limp to increase our faith. I like that statement. I may not like the limp but I like that it increase my trust, my commitment, my dependence and worship of the LORD. Habakkuk’s wrestling match with God, and his resulting limp, took the form of several questions the prophet posed to God.

Habakkuk’s first question was, “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? Habakkuk’s first objection to God’s plan for His people was that Babylon was more wicked than Judah and yet God was going to use the Babylonian army to punish the Jews.

Habakkuk’s second question was, “You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever? Habakkuk’s second objection was when would Babylon be judged for their evil?

Habakkuk resolved that he would remain in a posture of prayer until the LORD responded to his questioning complaints. “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.”

Jon Bloom concludes, “God will meet you in your anguish, fear, and uncertainty. But he may not meet you in the way you expect or desire. Your greatest ally may show up looking at first like your adversary, inciting you to wrestle with him. So when God calls you to wrestle with him in prayer, it is an invitation to receive his blessing. Stay with him and don’t give up. Do not let him go until he blesses you! He loves to bless that kind of tenacious faith and you will come out transformed.”

Have you wrestled with God? Are you wrestling with God? Do not give up until He blesses you.

May the LORD’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!  

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand.  At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!” (Habakkuk 1:5-11)

God was neither indifferent nor deaf regarding Judah’s sin in the 7^th century B.C. He was fully aware of His people’s sin and planned on doing something about the immorality and injustice which prevailed among the Jews, of which the Prophet Habakkuk was particularly grieved.

However, the answer from God which Habakkuk had prayed for was not the answer the prophet expected. God revealed to Habakkuk that He was going to do a work which was inconceivable to the man of God. Yahweh was going to judge Judah by an invasion from the Chaldeans or the Babylonians. God was going to use an evil nation in order to judge the evil committed by the Judeans.

What were the ancient Babylonians like? The LORD provides Habakkuk a clear description of the type of people He chose to use in order to be His instrument of wrath. He said He was raising up the Chaldeans:

• That bitter and hasty nation. They were impetuous and fearful and left a bitter taste in people’s mouths.
• To seize dwellings not their own. The Chaldeans would seize property and possessions, which did not belong to them, by military force. They were thieves.
• They are dreaded and fearsome. They struck terror and distress in the hearts of their enemies.
• Their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. They are a law unto themselves. They decide what is right or wrong.
• Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. They are predators who come from a great distance to consume and destroy.
• They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They are completely focused on destruction and plunder.
• They gather captives like sand. Their ability to conquer is easy.
• At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. They laugh at foes and fortresses.
• Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!” They worship power.

Clearly, by God’s own description, the Chaldeans were an evil people. However, they would become a tool by which God would accomplish His will without impugning His holiness.

What was Habakkuk’s response to God’s revelation? We’ll see tomorrow. What is your own response to God’s revelation to Habakkuk? You obviously know that today. Remember, our responsibility is to believe and teach what God’s Word says is true and not believe and teach what we want God’s Word to say is true.

May God’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand.  At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!” (Habakkuk 1:5-11)

God was neither indifferent nor deaf regarding Judah’s sin in the 7^th century B.C. He was fully aware of His people’s sin and planned on doing something about the immorality and injustice which prevailed among the Jews, of which the Prophet Habakkuk was particularly grieved.

However, the answer from God which Habakkuk had prayed for was not the answer the prophet expected. God revealed to Habakkuk that He was going to do a work which was inconceivable to the man of God. Yahweh was going to judge Judah by an invasion from the Chaldeans or the Babylonians.

It should be noted that God took full responsibility for the Babylonian invasion of Judah, which would take place at three distinct historical periods: 605 B.C., 597 B.C. and 586 B. C. He told Habakkuk, “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own.” The Babylonian invasion of Judah was a sovereign and personal work by God. The Chaldeans would invade the City of Jerusalem but only because the Lord God Almighty permitted and orchestrated the invasion to occur.

God gave not only Habakkuk, but also entire nation of Judah, three commands: see, wonder and be astounded. To look and see means to understand, to examine and to make a judgment based upon one’s perceptions and understanding. To wonder and be astounded means to be personally stunned and dumb-founded.

The reason for these commands was because God was going to do a work that Habakkuk would never have believed God would do. It was beyond the prophet’s comprehension of the character of God that He would use the powerful, aggressive and evil empire of Babylon to accomplish His will.

Do we sometimes place God in our own little box of expectations and assumptions as to who He is and what He will do? Do we seemingly seek to replace His sovereign will and prerogative with our own? Having created us in His image, do we endeavor to create a god in our own image and imagination with which we are comfortable and not astounded, stunned and in awe? This is nothing more, nothing less and nothing else than idolatry.

Let us all repent of our sin of unbiblical idolatry and worship the God of the Bible not only in spirit but also in truth (John 4:24).

May God’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

                                                                                   

 

“O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.” (Habakkuk 1:2-4)”

Have you ever gone to God in prayer with a concern or conviction about something you wanted the Lord to fix or take care of? Perhaps it was a situation which overwhelmed you. Or maybe it was about another person who was troubling you.

For the prophet, the issue which prompted him to go to the Lord with such a desperate burden was the spiritual state of the nation of Judah. Judah was in dire straits. In other words, God’s people were in trouble and the prophet was going to God about it. However, the trouble Judah was in was self-inflicted. It was not that the Jewish nation in the 7^th century B.C. was being attacked from without by some foreign enemy. Rather, they were self-destructing from within by their own sin and ungodliness.

The nation of Judah at that time was ironically reminiscent of the present spiritual state of America during our own time. The foes the United States currently faces outside its borders is far less a problem than its spiritual condition within itself. Much like Judah, America is self-destructing.

Consider today’s text and Habakkuk’s complaint to God. He complained that Judah was filled with violence. Internal destructive forces were dominating the culture resulting in acts that maimed, destroyed, and killed Jewish citizens. It was a time of lawlessness, terror, and lack of moral restraint.

Additionally, the prophet also expressed concern because of iniquity. Destruction stemming from violence, havoc and devastation, along with strife (disputes, brawls, quarrels, lawsuits and legal cases) and contentions were prevalent. The days seemed to parallel the Apostle Paul’s description of ungodliness found in Romans 1:18-32. Chaos ruled the promise land.

But what about the legal system which God designed to address sin and unrighteousness? Habakkuk further complained that the legal system was compromised. He described the law as paralyzed (numb; weary; cold; tired and feeble) and justice never prevailed. The wicked surrounded the righteous so that justice was perverted, crooked, twisted and confused.

However, Habakkuk had one more complaint to God. It wasn’t just that the Nation of Judah was spiritually spiraling out of control that had the prophet so vexed, it was also that, in Habakkuk’s opinion, God wasn’t doing anything to stop it.

Observe what Habakkuk said about God in today’s text. Habakkuk was crying for help, but God did not hear. In other words, God, you’re deaf. Additionally, the prophet indicated he thought God was indifferent by not delivering His people from their current spiritual condition. In other words, God you’re lazy and indifferent. Those were strong words from a prophet of God to the One, True God of the prophet.

Dr. John MacArthur comments that, “In Habakkuk’s first complaint, he perceived that God appeared indifferent to Judah’s sin. Jealous for his righteousness and knowing that a breach of the covenant required judgment (cf. Deut. 28), Habakkuk questioned God’s wisdom, expressing bewilderment at his seeming inactivity in the face of blatant violation of his law. The Jews had sinned by violence and injustice and should have been punished by the same.”

Well, be careful what you pray for because God may just answer your prayer. But not in the way you expected. More to follow when we meet again.

Until then, may God’s truth and grace be found here.

Soli Deo Gloria!