Habakkuk 3:1

Habakkuk 3:1 says, A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.  Habakkuk stops his prophecy and offers a prayer to God.  Even if we realize the truth of the coming judgment of God, we need to continue to pray for the lost.  Verse two adds, 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.  Habakkuk had spoken to God, and God to Habakkuk in chapter one, then God spoke to and through Habakkuk in chapter two, now Habakkuk was speaking to God.  Habakkuk had said he would watch for God's answer, and God had given it.  Habakkuk said he had heard God, but still asked God to remember His mercy on the people of Israel, His chosen people. Even as we acknowledge to coming judgment of God, we need to be in prayer for the lost, that they may come to know God's merciful gift of salvation.  Verse three continues, 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.  Habakkuk recalls when God first displayed His power and majesty to the people of Israel at the giving of the law to Moses.  God displayed His glory in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and Habakkuk asked that He remember His people. We need to remember the works that God did in the past, especially our redemption through Christ, when we find ourselves in trouble today.  Verse four concludes, And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.  Habakkuk is still reflecting on the majesty of God shown to His people in the past.  When we are feeling that the world is overwhelming us today, we need to first turn to God in prayer.  As we do, we need to remember His work in our lives.  God never fails those who are truly His, and as followers of Christ we should be able to recall how He has been at work in our lives.

Habakkuk 2:15

Habakkuk 2:15 says, Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!  Habakkuk continues to speak of the woe that is coming to those who take advantage of their neighbors.  Here he speaks of getting the neighbor drunk in order to take advantage of them.  We cannot prevent people from getting drunk, but we can make certain that we are not the ones to cause them to be that way and also make certain that we don't take advantage of them when they are.  Verse sixteen adds, Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.  Habakkuk said that those who caused others to be drunk, to profit from or enjoy their drunkenness, would someday suffer the same fate when confronted with God's judgment.  All pretence of power will be laid bare and become a shameful spewing instead of the glory that it was thought to bring.  Verse seventeen continues, For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.  Though Babylon, which had imprisoned Israel, may have been proud of their military might, it was going to fail them.  There was a great violence coming and they would be very afraid..  No matter what we put our faith in today, in the coming judgment of God, those who are not His will be very afraid.  Verse eighteen asks, What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?  Just as military might would fail, so would manmade gods, or idols.  Not only was their military to fail them, but their idols, their manmade gods, were to especially fail them.  God asked, through Habakkuk, what was the profit in these idols for those who made them.  We today need to ask what the profit is in worshipping anything in the world and placing it above our relationship to God.  Verse nineteen adds, Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach!Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.  No matter how beautiful an idols may be, Habakkuk warned that there was no real power in them.  No matter how enticing an idol may be today, and it does not have to be a graven image, it is without saving power.  Anything that comes between God and us becomes an idol to us.  Verse twenty continues, But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.  No matter how good or bad things may be in our lives, we need to acknowledge that God is in charge.  We can keep silent in our complaints, but we should be bold in our witnessing for God.

Habakkuk 2:9

Habakkuk 2:9 says, Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!  Habakkuk begins to pronounce the woe of God on them.  Though Habakkuk was speaking to a particular group of people at that time, the message is for all people who have come since.  Habakkuk warned against the evil of covetousness.  We often think of coveting as wanting something that someone has that is better than what we have.  I believe that this applies to wanting anything that belongs someone else, even those that have less than we do.  Habakkuk warned those who were rich against taking from those who were poor in order to increase their own wealth.  Verse ten adds, Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.  Habakkuk said that instead of bringing honor to themselves, that those who became rich by mistreating others brought shame on their house, or family name.  What we have to realize is that this has not changed.  God's expectations of His people is always the same.  Verse eleven continues, For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.  Habakkuk said that the injustice was so great that even the stones in the walls would cry out.  Those who built their houses from the labor and sufferings of others might feel safe, but Habakkuk said creation itself would witness against them.  Verse twelve states, Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!  I believe that Habakkuk was saying that might does not make right.  When houses or cities or even countries are built on iniquity, or outside of God's will, they will never last.  When God's judgment does come, all that is built outside His will shall be destroyed.  Verse thirteen adds, 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? This is a warning that those things gained through injustice will prove to be worth nothing.  They will even tire those out who gain them.  We know that those who live for the riches of the world will never be satisfied.  Verse fourteen continues, For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.  Habakkuk stated that judgment was coming and that afterwards the world would be filled with the knowledge of God, like the waters that cover the sea.  Though this happened in a limited extent to Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom, we are still awaiting the full implementation of this prophecy, which will occur at Christ's return to claim His people.

Habakkuk 2:1

Habakkuk 2:1 says, I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Habakkuk said that he would stand upon his watch and set upon his tower to see what God would do.  We today need to be just as vigilant and alert to see the work of God in the world.  We cannot become impatient, because God will act in His own time.  We cannot become indifferent, or we may fail to see God working at all.  Verse two adds, And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  God answered Habakkuk and gave him a task.  In verse sixteen of chapter one, Habakkuk had asked if sinful people would always rule cruelly over just people.  As Habakkuk said he would wait and watch alertly, God begin to give him the answer.  When God answers us today, we need to be ready to do what He asks us to do.  Verse three continues, For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  God told Habakkuk to be patient, that the vision he was to see was not going to happen immediately.  Still, Habakkuk could put his faith in it happening.  We today need to simply live secure in the knowledge that God will bring the final judgment on sin at His appointed time.  Verse four declares, Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.  God said that those who lived by self pride, not acknowledging God, were not upright.  No matter how exalted a person may feel themself to be in the world if they do not acknowledge and follow God, the will never be upright in God's judgment.  The second part of the verse states that the just shall live by his faith.  This is not faith in ourselves, but faith in God.  Verse five adds, 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:  This verse speaks of the overpowering greed of many people who only look to themselves for purpose in life.  All they are concerned with is their own happiness.  Verse six continues, 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!  When people begin to increase their wealth from the misuse of others, God's people should cry out against them, yet too often we hold them up in honor.  Matthew Henry says that gold and silver are but colored earth.  In God's eyes, silver and gold are as valuable as clay.  Habakkuk said we should question how long the things gained by dishonest or greed driven means would last.  Verse seven says, Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?  When people put their faith in their wealth, especially that obtained at the cost of others, and deny God's will for and power over their lives, then their riches are temporary.  Someone bigger and more powerful will eventually take away what they have, and if not in this life, then God will strip away all things that are not gained from following His will.  Verse eight adds, Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.  Habakkuk warned of God's pronouncement of judgment because of their actions.  People may live long lives built on greed, but one day God's judgment is coming, and those things gained by mistreating others will be gone.

Habakkuk 1:12

Habakkuk 1:12 says, Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.  Habakkuk delivered God's message to His people, then He addressed God with his own questions.  First, Habakkuk asked if God was not the eternal God.  Even if God allows evil to triumph for a time, especially when His people have ceased to be obedient to His will, He is no less the only true, eternal God.  Then, Habakkuk pronounced God as his God.  If we are to understand God at all, we must know Him personally as our God.  Until we come to God through faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord, we can never understand the ways of God.  Then Habakkuk asked if God had ordained the Chaldeans for judgment and correction.  God's desire is never to punish, but to correct everyone, especially those who are His people.  Verse thirteen adds, 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 seems to be praising God while at the same time questioning Him.  He proclaims God to be too holy to look on evil and iniquity.  Then, Habakkuk asks how God can hold His tongue when the wicked devour those who are more righteous than them.  We need to acknowledge that righteousness comes from God and that the standard is not whether we are more righteous than someone else, but whether we are true to our relationship to God.  We hear a lot today about God's people suffering at the hands of those who deny God, but we must remember that this suffering is but temporary.  Verse fourteen continues, And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?  God said that people were looked on as of no more value than the fish of the sea and as the creeping things that have no ruler.  Verse fifteen states, They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.  People are caught in the snare of sin, and those in power rejoice.  People today often rejoice at the failings of others, especially those who are God's people, or at least profess to be.  It is possible for those who follow Christ to fall into sin, but they must repent and ask for forgiveness when they do, otherwise the lost of the world will have reason to rejoice. Verse sixteen adds, Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.  After snaring people in the nets of sin, those who snare them then worship the net.  When people today are caught up in sin and are still living the good life, they worship many different idols claiming that they brought them success.  Verse seventeen continues, Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?  Habakkuk asked if those who were evil would be allowed to continue in power.  We know the answer is no.  There was coming a day of judgment then, and there is coming a day of judgment one day when all evil acts will be judged.  Our only hope for forgiveness comes through our relationship to Christ.

Habakkuk 1:1

Habakkuk 1:1 says, The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.  Matthew Henry places the time of Habakkuk's prophesies during the reign of Manasseh, one of the most evil of Israel's kings.  Though they were God's people by His calling them into a covenant relationship, they were not His in action, especially in their leadership.  This was a common situation in the Old Testament world, and we as followers of Christ must insure that it doesn't happen in our lives.  Habakkuk said that what he saw was a burden to him.  When we see evil and injustice occurring in the world today, it should be a burden to us if we are following God's will.  Verse two adds, O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!  Habakkuk felt that God was not listening when he cried out to Him.  This too is a common feeling of God's prophets.  When nothing happens immediately, they question whether God is listening or not.  We today may have prayed about something and feel that God is not listening, but we can be certain that when we as His followers speak to Him, He always hears and answers.  The answer may not come immediately, and if it is not what we want it to be we may not acknowledge it, but God's answer will come.  Verse three continues, Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.  Habakkuk wanted to know why all he saw was iniquity.   This sounds a lot like what goes on in much of the world today.  We don't even have to look to the rest of the world, because it is happening even here, where we call ourselves a Christian nation.  Verse four states, Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.  Habakkuk said that there was no fair judgment and that the wicked had power over the righteous.  Even though this may have been true, God still had power over everyone and everything.  Just because we may see mostly evil when we look at the world today, we need to remember that God has promised His people everlasting security.  Verse five adds, Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.  In this verse, God begins His answer to Habakkuk.  God tells the heathen, those who are not a part of His kingdom, to behold the work that He was about to do against Judah, or His people.  When we who call ourselves God's people allow evil and injustice to become the norm of our lives, then we should not be surprised when God allows us to suffer defeat.  Verse six continues, For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.  God told Judah who was going to defeat them.  Again, we can debate whether God empowered the Chaldeans or simply removed His protective hand from His people.  I believe He removed His protection knowing what would happen without it.  When God removes His protection from someone due to their disobedience, then they are powerless against the forces of the world.  Verse seven says, They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.  Then verse eight adds, Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.  Habakkuk speaking God's word told the people how powerful and terrible the Chaldeans were.  When we are outside God's will and protection, then we face some powerful and terrible enemies with only our own strength to rely on.  Verse nine continues, They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.  Verse ten states, And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.  Verse eleven adds, Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.  Without God's protection, the people of Israel were helpless, and so are we as followers of Christ today.  In their pride and victory, the Chaldeans would even give credit to their god.

Nahum Review

As we look at the lessons learned from Nahum, the first is that just because one generation repents and turns to God doesn't mean that the coming generations are secure in their relationship to God.  The city of Nineveh had escaped destruction earlier because the people had honestly repented and turned to God, but the coming generations did not continue to follow God.  We may call ourselves a Christian nation today, but being a Christian nation cannot be based on how preceding generations believed and lived in relationship to God.  Unless the majority of the current generation are followers of Christ, then we cannot be a true Christian nation.  Next, though Nineveh was still a thriving city, their days of wealth and power were soon to end. We today may still be a rich and powerful nation, but unless we are living by God's standards, we can be certain that this will not last.  Even if we are still a rich and powerful nation when Christ returns, those things attained outside of God's will can never last.  Next, we see that those who are called God's people cannot find security outside of following His will, and those who do not claim to be God's people certainly cannot.  Nineveh felt secure in their alliances, but they found out that it was a false security.  We today may feel secure in our national strength and alliances, but if we are not following God's will, then we also have a false security.  We also see that allowing the worship of idols led to God destroying not only those who worshipped them, but also the idols themselves.  The things that people worship instead of God today will ultimately be totally destroyed.