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by Sandy Shaw
As we come to these closing verses in Habakkuk, remember these words in John Chapter 20 - "these are written that you might go on believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." It is the present continuous tense.
And in Hebrews 10 verse 38 - my righteous one will survive by holding on by faith.
In Habakkuk Chapter 3 - the verbs are in the present tense - not the past tense. It is a vision. Habakkuk's eyes are seeing God answer prayer – and answer his prayer. This is what a seer is - he is seeing into the future - as if it were happening.
He describes it all happening. I see his glory. Did not Moses see it all happening - and was this not how he was given these early Chapters of Genesis? And in the Book of Revelation John sees what is going to happen. There is no past nor future.
If you have a real vision for the future you will see it as already happening. This Chapter is all about GOD. When an earthquake comes there is nothing to hang onto. When Israel came through Sinai the mountains trembled. Habakkuk sees everything trembling - I see - I see - I see.
He sees God in total control - verse 8 - He rides the world like a conqueror.
Were You angry with the waters when You parted the Red Sea? There are references in these verses to the plagues in Egypt - the Red Sea - Joshua's battle verse 11 - David and Goliath – verses 13,14 - when God moved powerfully. Habakkuk knew his ‘Bible’.
Were You angry with the rivers - and You came with bows and arrows?
Habakkuk knows how God feels - and this is part of prophecy. He shares this and passes it on.
In verse 12 , God is treading the nations underfoot.
In verse 13 , God comes to rescue and deliver. Think of all this as applied to Jesus. He is as strong and able to save as He is swift to judge and destroy.
In verses 11to 15 , we have a picture of the greatness and activity of God - as people are being harried and hunted by the enemy - and the Lord intervenes.
Verses 16 to 19 - Three times God says, "I will". Wait on Him and let Him do it His way.
After you have a vision from God you can never be the same again - never. The prophet's reaction is faith and trust - although he knew what it was to tremble.
Verse 17 - Even if economic disaster comes - and it is spelled out in some detail - the people of God need no longer be baffled and confused. He mentions the entire range of agricultural produce upon which the nation was dependent. He paints a pretty bleak picture. In this total devastation - when all these trials come - and everything appears to be disintegrating - be patient and prayerful - and even rejoice.
We rest in God - we do not lapse into complacency or carelessness. What He has given you - hold on to.
Find your joy in God - not just in working for Him and serving Him.
Verse 18 is so positive - this is referring to the God whom Habakkuk thought was doing nothing.
Verse 19 - speaks about that security which the man of faith can have and enjoy - leaping with unfettered movement over the most difficult terrain - problems - hurdles - obstacles. God was the only salvation Habakkuk had - and it is the same with us.
It is He who does it - who does it all. A deer or hind can climb the steepest cliffs - and leap over the deepest chasms and run speedily over the most jagged rocks.
Habakkuk had been through a challenging experience.
Who wants to be a prophet when this is what a prophet of God might experience? When God is putting you through the furnace His hand is upon the thermostat and the clock.
A bar of steel worth £50 when cut into horseshoes is worth £100 - when cut into needles is worth £3500 - and when cut into delicate springs for watches that same £50 bar of steel becomes worth over £2,000,000.
He who through faith is righteous shall live!
“Our generous and gracious and merciful God – thank You for pouring Your truth and light into Habakkuk – thank You that he dared to ask You questions – thank You that he waited and was ready to embrace and hear Your answers – thank you that he could sing Your praises – and that he saw spiritual reality in all kinds of ways. Lord God, it is before You we bow with gratitude and worship and praise in Jesus Name.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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