Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk waited on the LORD verse 1
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
LORD commands Habakkuk to write vision verse 2- 3
AND the LORD answered me
and said
Write the vision
and make it plain upon tables – that he may run that reads it
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
Proud trust in riches verse 4- 5
BEHOLD – his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him
BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH
Yea – also – BECAUSE he transgresses by wine – he is a proud man
neither keeps at home – who enlarges his desire as hell
and is as death – and cannot be satisfied
BUT gathers unto him all nations
and heaps unto him all people
Retribution coming to Babylon verse 6- 8
Shall not all these take up a parable against him
and a taunting proverb against him
and say
WOE to him that increase that which is not his
How long?
AND to him that lads himself with thick clay
Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee
and awake that shall vex thee
and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
Because thou hast spoiled many nations
all the remnant of the people shall spoil you
Because of men’s blood – and for the violence of the land
city and of all that dwell therein
Wealth doesn’t buy security verse 9- 11
WOE to him that covets an evil covetousness to his house
that he may set his nest on high
that he may be delivered from the power of evil
You have consulted shame to your house
by cutting off many people
and have sinned against your soul
FOR the stone shall cry out of the wall
and the beam out of the timber shall answer it
Wealth doesn’t last verse 12- 14
WOE to him that builds a town with blood
and establishes a city by iniquity
BEHOLD – is it not the LORD of hosts
that the people shall labor 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
Violence coming to Babylon verse 15- 17
WOE unto him that gives his neighbor drink
that puts your bottle to him
and makes him drunken also
that you may look on their nakedness
You are filled with shame for glory – drink you also
and let your foreskin be uncovered
the cup of the LORD’S right hand
shall be turned unto you
and shameful spewing shall be on your glory
FOR the violence of Lebanon shall cover you
and the spoil of beasts which made them afraid
BECAUSE of men’s blood
and for the violence of the land – city
all that dwell therein
Foolishness of worshipping idols verse 18- 19
What profit the graven image that the maker thereof has graven it
the molten image – and a teacher of lies
that the maker of his work trust therein
to make dumb idols?
WOE unto him that says 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
LORD still on the throne verse 20
BUT the LORD is in HIS holy temple
LET all the earth keep silence before HIM
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 I will stand on my watch, and set me on the tower, and will watch to see what he will say to me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. (8433 “reproved” [towkechah] means rebuke, correction, chastisement, impeachment, or chiding.)
DEVOTION: In chapter one Habakkuk the prophet complained that he didn’t understand what the LORD was doing. He thought HE was doing things all wrong. He didn’t think that the LORD should use the unsaved to judge the saved.
He thought that even though Israel was a nation of sinners they didn’t sin any more than other nations. He even thought they sinned less.
He really didn’t understand the holiness of God. He didn’t understand the degree of sin that was found in Israel. He was confused.
One of his good tracts was found in the fact that he was willing to listen to the LORD. He wanted to understand things from the LORD’S perspective. He knew his thinking was off but just didn’t understand to what degree they were off.
The phrase the “just shall live by faith” was given to help him understand that no matter what was happening around him he was to live his life by trust in the LORD who promised to only do good to HIS people. Everything that happens to those who trust in the LORD is for their good.
Do we understand this fact today?
Our circumstances are different from Habakkuk’s day. Our government is different from the government of Israel. There are people today in other nations that kill those who believe in Christ without caring. They will throw a bomb into a church and think nothing of it. They will strap a bomb around their waist and think they are serving their god.
Could we complain to the LORD about what is happening today? YES!! But we too must take the time to get into the presence of the LORD and wait to hear from HIM. Are you working for the LORD while you are waiting for HIS answers to your questions?
CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to continue to use our gift until we die or HE gives us other instructions.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up in not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (6662 “just” [tsaddiyd] means righteous, lawful, right, correct, upright, honest, virtuous, innocent or pious.)
DEVOTION: There are two types of people in our world. There are those who are righteous and those who don’t care to be righteous.
There is a group of people who think that they are all it and a piece of cheese as the saying goes. They think they have their act together. They think that they are better than other people. They are good in their own eyes. They walk around with their attitude of superiority over others.
The second group is made up of individuals who are humble and don’t think to highly of themselves. They realize that without the help of the LORD they are on their way to a place called hell for eternity. They give all the credit to the LORD for HIS work in their life. They manifest their faith in their everyday life. They walk by faith. They share their faith with others. In fact, those around them see a difference in their life.
The New Testament quotes this phrase three times. It is used to express the difference between those who are followers of the LORD Jesus Christ and those who are not.
As we look at our life what do we see? Do we see an individual that is trusting in the LORD for their daily provisions? Do we see someone who can face trials with a definite peace that passes all understanding?
God honors those who trust HIM.
CHALLENGE: As we face lives trials we have a confidence that the LORD is right there by our side assisting us along the way. We are not double minded.
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: 10 You have consulted shame to your house by cutting off many people, and have sinned against your soul. (3289 “consulted” [ya’ats] means counsel, advice, devise, plan, determine, or to make or work out a plan for)
DEVOTION: Habakkuk is warning the Babylonians to watch where they
get their advice from. Too often they were looking in the wrong directionand the LORD continued to warn them even when they were not listening.
We have the same habits today. Too often we look to others before we go to the LORD
Or someone who is serving the LORD faithfully to find out what we shoulddo in a given situation.
Habbakkuk is giving the Babyonians advice but they were looking for other source that would give them the advice they wanted to hear rather than what the LORD would want them to do
We fall into the same trap even today. Sometimes we will listen to family who claim to be believers before they will listen to someone who will not give them what they want to hear but not give they what they need to hear.
The Babylonians went in the wrong direction more times then they went in the right direction because they like hearing what they hear form those who are not genuine followers of the LORD.
Too many people claim to serve the LORD when they are really not listening to HIM as
often as they think. We like to hear what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear.
CHALLENGE: We need to follow the advice of Habakkuk and find those who will not give us what we want to hear but what the LORD wants us to hear!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (3519 “ glory” [kabowd] means honor, abundance, riches, splendor, dignity, reputation, reverence, or importance.)
DEVOTION: Our eyesight determines what we see and what we don’t see. If our eyesight is twenty-twenty we have good eyesight. We don’t need glasses. We can drive a car without help.
The Bible instructs us many places to look at life from a spiritual perspective. We are to have not only physical eyes but spiritual eyes. We need to see the LORD at work in our world.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” is how the Bible starts. Our worldview has to start with the creation of the world by the LORD. Once we see this fact then we can look at things differently from many in our world.
Those who don’t have spiritual eyes only see atoms and molecules. They don’t see that humans have a soul that has to answer to a Creator. They think that once they die that is it. There is no life after death.
The Bible gives us a different perspective. It states that after we die it is appointed for us to meet the LORD for judgment regarding what we have done in this life.
The eyes of those without Christ will finally be opened to the fact that there is a spiritual side to life and they missed it while they were alive. Their eyes will be opened to the fact that the heavens declare the “glory of the LORD.”
CHALLENGE: Do you see HIS glory all around you today?
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: 20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him (2013 “silence” [hacah] means hush, hold peace, hold tongue, or be still.)
DEVOTION: This is a chapter of WOES. These are warnings to the people of God to straighten out their lives before judgment come. Habakkuk is standing watch over the nation to see what the LORD is going to do. The LORD gives him these messages of WOE.
In these messages of WOE the LORD gives a statement to those who are trying to follow the LORD: the just shall live by faith [Roman 1: 17; Gal. 3: 11; Heb. 10:38]. These are the upright ones in the nation. They are the ones who will stand in silence before the LORD and wait for HIM to act.
One of the disciplines of the faith is to be still and know that the LORD is in control. The LORD is in the temple in heaven. HE is omnipresent and yet is said to be in the temple. Worship is another discipline of the faith. We are to be still so that we can listen to the LORD. Habakkuk had to learn and the children of Israel had to learn that nothing that happens is out of the LORD’S control.
Habakkuk was watching the children of Israel get farther and farther from the LORD. He gave these woes to them to get their attention. The LORD wants our attention on a daily basis.
We can’t find this spot unless we hold our peace and listen to the LORD talking to us out of the stillness. We are the upright ones of our generation. The judgment of the LORD is going to begin at the house of the LORD. We are not perfect. We are still sinners saved by grace. Too often we think we have arrived but we are a long way for arrival. Are we listening to the LORD or are we talking too much?
Be sure to have a quiet time with the LORD each day to hear what HE has to say to us. HE is still speaking through HIS word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.)
CHALLENGE: There are times when we have to get into the presence of the LORD through prayer and fasting. There needs to be a place we can go to be alone with the LORD and hear HIS still small voice.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Read the vision verse 2
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Answered prayer verse 1, 2
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Holy Temple verse 20
Silence before the LORD verse 20
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Write the vision verse 2
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 2, 13, 14, 16, 20
LORD of hosts verse 13
Knowledge of the LORD verse 14
Glory of the LORD verse 14
LORD’S right hand verse 16
LORD in holy temple verse 20
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man,Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
All nations verse 5
All peoples verse 5
Lebanon -violence of verse 17
Woe to him that says of wood – teach me verse 19
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Lie verse 3
Soul lifted up verse 4
Not upright verse 4
Transgresses by wine verse 5
Proud verse 5
Not keeping at home verse 5
Enlarges desire verse 5
Not satisfied verse 5
Parable against him verse 6
Taunting proverb against him verse 6
Stealing verse 6
Spoiling many nations verse 8
Blood verse 8, 12, 17
Violence verse 8, 17
Covet verse 9
Evil covetousness verse 9
Power of evil verse 9
Shame verse 10, 16
Sinned verse 10
Build a town by blood verse 12
Iniquity verse 12
Vanity verse 13
Cause a neighbor to be drunk verse 15
Look on nakedness verse 15, 16
Let your foreskin be uncovered verse 16
Graven image verse 18
Molten image verse 18
Teacher of lies verse 18
Trust in false gods verse 18
Speak to dumb word to teach you verse 19
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Watch verse 1
Answer verse 1, 2
Reproved verse 1
Wait verse 3
Upright verse 4
Just shall live by faith verse 4
Satisfied verse 5
Knowledge of the LORD verse 14
Silence before the LORD verse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Write the vision verse 2
Vision for appointed time verse 3
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Hell verse 5
Death verse 5
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QUOTES regarding passage
The New Testament writers quoted the verse three times (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38). Paul used this idea as the hallmark of his teaching concerning the primacy of faith in salvation. He took God’s message to Habakkuk to its final emphasis: those who are judged righteous as a result of their faith shall live. (Barker, K. L. (1999). Vol. 20: Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah. The New American Commentary (326). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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2:14. By contrast, the entire earth will one day be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. The wearisome toil of a whole generation of boasting Babylonians provided a little fire and ended up as a heap of ashes in one corner of the earth. But God’s everlasting glory will fill the entire earth! This verse is based on the declaration in Isaiah 11:9 with only minor alterations. (The earth filled with God’s glory is also spoken of in Num. 14:21; Ps. 72:19; and Isa. 6:3.) Isaiah closed his description of the messianic kingdom (Isa. 11:1–9) by stating that the earth would be full of the knowledge of the Lord. Habakkuk stated that the earth would be filled with the knowledge of His glory. Isaiah dealt with the essence of the kingdom, Habakkuk with the establishment of the kingdom. Isaiah presented the fact, Habakkuk the act. God will overthrow and judge future Babylon (Rev. 17–18) and all ungodly powers (Rev. 19:19) represented by Babylon. The Lord’s glory (Matt. 24:30) and majesty (2 Thes. 1:9) will be made evident in the Millennium and thereby acknowledged throughout the earth.
When the Messiah rules in His kingdom, knowledge of the Lord will be worldwide. Everyone will know of Him (cf. Jer. 31:34). So extensive and abundant will be that knowledge that it will be like water covering the sea. The jagged rocks of injustice and the slimy seaweed of sin will be covered with the smooth surface of God’s righteousness. (Blue, J. R. (1985). Habakkuk. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1515). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Exploitation of people (Hab. 2:12–14). Babylon was built by bloodshed, the blood of innocent victims. It was built by prisoners of war, slave labor that was exploited to the fullest extent. Babylon was proud of what she had built, but God said it wouldn’t last; it was only fuel for the fire. The city of Babylon was an architectural marvel, but their great projects were for nothing. It’s all gone, and today, if you want to see what Babylon was like, you have to visit a museum.
When I was a seminary student in Chicago, one of our classes did just that: we visited a museum to see the exhibit on Babylon. I recall how impressed I was with the model of the city, marveling that such magnificent walls and gates and buildings could be constructed in those ancient days. But my wonder turned to disgust when I recalled that the city was built with slave labor and that the soul of one of those slaves meant more to God than all the buildings put together.
In contrast to the shame and infamy of Babylon, God promised that His glory would one day cover the earth (v. 14). The “glory” of Babylon didn’t last, but the glory of the Lord will abide forever. Certainly, the Lord was glorified when Babylon fell before her enemies in 539 b.c. (see Jer. 50–51), and He will be glorified when the Babylon of the last days is destroyed, that final great world empire that opposes God (Rev. 17–18). When Jesus Christ returns and establishes His kingdom, then God’s glory will indeed cover the whole earth (Isa. 11:1–9).
The fall of “Babylon the great” is a reminder to us that what man builds without God can never last. The exploiter will eventually lose everything, and man’s “utopias” will turn out to be disasters. We can’t exploit people made in God’s image and expect to escape God’s judgment. It may take time, but eventually the judgment falls. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be amazed (pp. 122–123). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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2:14 filled. In contrast to the self-exaltation of the Chaldeans, whose efforts come to naught, God promised that the whole earth would recognize His glory at the establishment of His millennial kingdom (cf. Nu 14:21; Ps 72:19; Is 6:3; 11:9). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Hab 2:14). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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But however great the apparent triumph of sin in the present time, the outlook is all bright for the man of faith. When the present evil age is passed away, “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (ver. 14). Who that has part in the coming day of glory but would gladly surrender all present gain, were it his to live once more a life of faith during the rejection of his Lord and Redeemer! But it will then be too late to be faithful. For all self-seeking we shall “suffer loss” in the time when those who have held all here in view of the coming of the Lord shall have an entrance ministered unto them abundantly into His everlasting kingdom. (Ironside, H. A. (1909). Notes on the Minor Prophets. (pp. 291–292). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 14. For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, &c.] Of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ; of the glory of his person, as the Son of God, and truly God; which is essential to him, and underived; the same with his Father’s, and what transcends the glory of all created beings; and of the glory of his office as Mediator, which itself is glorious and honourable: and this his glory lies in his fitness for it; in his faithful performance of it, and the honour given him by his Father upon it; as well as in the fulness of grace in him, which makes him appear glorious to his people; and who are continually giving glory to him as the Lord their righteousness, by exercising faith on his righteousness, and glorying in it; and as their only Saviour and Redeemer, by looking to him, and believing in him as such; and as the only Head of the church, by owning and bolding to him; and as the only Mediator between God and man, by making use of him for that purpose, and not angels and saints; and as their Prophet, by hearkening to his voice, yielding a subjection to his Gospel, and submission to his ordinances; and as their Priest, by dealing with his blood and sacrifice for the atonement and pardon of their sins; and as their King, by obedience to his commands; and who will now take to himself his great power, and reign gloriously before his saints; the glory of his kingly office will be now seen and known, when this prophecy shall have its full accomplishment, and which seems greatly intended. The knowledge of all this glory wilt not be a mere notional and speculative one, but special and spiritual; an experimental knowledge, accompanied with affection, approbation, confidence, and appropriation: and the earth will be filled with this; that is, the inhabitants of it: this had an accomplishment in part in the times of the apostles, when they were sent into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature, and diffused the savour of the knowledge of Christ everywhere; and had a further accomplishment in the times of Constantine, when the whole Roman empire, or all the world, became Christians; and again at the time of the Reformation, when many nations, especially in Europe, were freed from Popish darkness by the pure light of the Gospel; but will have its final accomplishment in the latter day; and which will bring on the destruction of antichrist, and seems here intended; since this is given as a reason why it will be all labour in vain to attempt the prevention of it. It will be by means of the Gospel spreading the knowledge of Christ everywhere that antichrist will fall; this is the brightness of Christ’s coming, with which he will be destroyed; hence the angel, with the everlasting Gospel to preach to all nations, and with whose glory the whole earth will be lightened, is represented as preceding the fall of Babylon, and as the means of it; see 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 14:6, 7, 8 and 18:1, 2 and the great spread and large abundance of this knowledge communicated by the preaching of the Gospel is thus illustrated and exemplified, as the waters cover the sea: expressing the nature of Gospel doctrines, revealing the glory of Christ and his grace, which, like waters, refresh and make fruitful; and the force and power of them, bearing down all before them, like an inundation of water when it breaks its banks; and likewise the depths of them, these being the deep things of God; and more especially the general spread and large abundance of them, and of the knowledge conveyed by them; which will fill the earth, as the waters of the sea fill up and cover the vast chasm prepared for them; see Isa. 11:9. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, pp. 625–626). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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2:14 Does God punish the wicked, or may evildoers commit iniquity with impunity (Hab 1:2–4)? For Habakkuk this constituted a major issue. God’s answer to Habakkuk’s complaint settled it. God works in the world to accomplish his purpose, but God’s purpose goes beyond simply punishing the wicked. God desires that all the world know him. From the very beginning of Israel’s history as a people, God declared his intention for all the world to know him (Exod 19:4–6).
Shame on those who build a city with bloodshed! Their labor will come to nothing, but God is at work doing a great thing: spreading the knowledge of himself. “The Lord declares that all punishment results as part of His plan to fill the earth with the knowledge of Himself.… Because God is righteous and sovereign, no sin can go unpunished lest God’s glory be diminished and [His] name sink in esteem.”
The final verse of the third woe gives an uplifting and positive element to the woes. God will work to make himself known in all the earth. In Hebrew thought “knowledge” means more than information. “Knowledge is seen in fundamentally relational terms.… To know God is to be in a right relationship with him, with characteristics of love, trust, respect, and open communication.” Knowing involved intimacy and experience, being used in its most fundamental sense to describe the marriage relationship. For the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord involved knowing God rather than simply knowing about God. Not to know God for Israel and for the nations invited His judgment (Ps 79:6; Jer 10:25). Thus the entire story of the Exodus centered on the fact that Pharaoh did not know God (Exod 5:2), but God wanted to introduce himself to Israel (Exod 6:6) and to Pharaoh and the Egyptians (Exod 7:5). Jeremiah also pictured a knowledge of the Lord that transcended geographical borders or conventional barriers (Jer 31:31–34). Ezekiel repeatedly uses the recognition formula, “and you shall know that I am Yahweh” to show that all God is doing has divine purpose behind it. That purpose is to introduce himself to Israel and to the nations.
In the Old Testament “glory” is a “technical term for God’s manifest presence” (see Exod 16:7), often connected with the cloud (Exod 16:10) and with the Ark of the Covenant. It can also be represented as a consuming fire (Exod 24:17). “Glory” also involves “honor” or position of power. Habakkuk used the term in the sense of powerful presence.47 All the earth would be filled with the knowledge of the manifest presence of God. For Ezekiel the “glory of the Lord” meant a manifestation of God. God’s “glory” appeared to Ezekiel. He spoke of God’s glory as that which he personally experienced: “Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord” (Ezek 1:28). The glory of the Lord “reveals his person and dignity, and the proper response to such a revelation is to give God honor or glory” (cp. Exod 33:18).
Israel expected God’s glory to fill their place of worship (Exod 40:34, 35; 1 Kgs 8:11; 2 Chr 7:1–2; Ezek 10:4; 43:5; 44:4). Habakkuk joined a prophetic chorus calling for more. God’s glory should be recognized as filling the entire universe (Num 14:21; Ps 72:19; Isa 6:3), letting all the people of the world experience and respond to God’s manifest, weighty presence. The prophet wanted the knowledge of God to be as pervasive as the waters that fill the seas. For Christian believers the verse takes us in mind and heart to the work of Christ, who came into the world to make God known in the most unique way possible (cf. John 1:14; Eph 1:17). Through Christ the earth may be uniquely filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. (Barker, K. L. (1999). Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah (Vol. 20, pp. 340–341). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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12–14 The third “woe” reiterates from vv.6–11 the indictment of ruthless self-aggrandizement achieved by “bloodshed” (v.12; cf. v.8), applying it to the construction of the Babylonian capital, as it had been applied previously to Jerusalem (Mic 3:10). The judgment pronounced on such an enterprise is inevitable: a civilization built up by the destruction of other civilizations and by the conscription of their labor for its own ends will itself be destroyed (v.13; cf. Jer 22:13–14; 51:58). The divine origin of the judgments on the Babylonians becomes explicit in v.13. The mainspring of human history is to be found, not in its events themselves, but in the revealed purposes of the Lord who directs it. The title “Lord Almighty” may be translated more literally Lord of armies (YHWH ṣeḇāʿôṯ; cf. ASV; RSV; NIV Preface; TWOT, 2:750–51). It expresses the Lord’s sovereign rule as king and commander over every created force, but primarily over Israel. It is associated repeatedly, as here, with his militant judgment of all that opposes his rule.
This new emphasis on the Lord is developed further in v.14, revealing the underlying purpose on which the preceding indictments are based. God’s abiding intent is that his “glory” should fill the whole earth as it has filled his house (cf. Num 14:21; Pss 57:5, 11; 72:19; Exod 40:34–35; 1 Kings 8:11), and that man should know it fully—a “knowledge” (daʿaṯ; cf. TWOT, 1:336–37) that will be as the “sea” in its length, breadth, and depth. This entails the removal of all that rejects such “knowledge,” of which the Babylonian character and aspirations are the very epitome. The phrase “glory of the Lord” (keḇôḏ YHWH; cf. IDB, 2:401ff.; TWOT, 1:426ff.; ZPEB, 2:730–35) is used of the visible presence of God, by which the preeminent value of his character and actions are revealed to men. It is associated most prominently with the tabernacle and temple, and especially with the cherubim above which the Lord is enthroned, ruling over Israel (e.g., Exod 29:43 Ezek 9:3; 10:4, 18–19), his sovereign majesty being of the essence of his “glory.” To know the Lord in such “glory” is therefore to abandon the Babylonians’ proud autonomy and to honor him as Lord, in submission and obedience, worship and praise (e.g., Lev 9:23–24; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Pss 72:19; 102:15; Isa 42:8; 59:19). (Armerding, C. E. (1986). Habakkuk. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, pp. 517–518). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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FROM MY READING:
TOZERSPEAKS (volume two) by A. W. Tozer
In more recent years, I have heard a quotation from a denominational bishop who estimated that only about ten per cent of the men and women in the membership of his church body are prepared and spiritually ready to die when their time comes. (p. 314)
We often sing the words of a hymn by Charles Wesley in which the death of our Lord Jesus is described as “the double cure” for sin. I think many people sing the hymn without realizing what Wesley meant by the double cure.
“Be of sin the double cure, Save me from its wrath and power.” The wrath of God against sin and then the power of sin in the human life – these both must be cured. Therefore, when He gave Himself for us, He redeemed us with the double cure, delivering us from the consequences of sin and delivering us from the power which sin exercises in human lives. (p. 316)
Sexual misconduct is a symptom of the disease of impurity – but so is hatred. Pride and egotism, resentfulness and churlishness come to the surface out of sinful and impure minds and hearts, just as gluttony and slothfulness and self-indulgence do. All of these and countless others come to the surface as outward symptoms of the deep, inward disease of selfishness and sin. (p. 317)
I cannot believe that there is any Christian who is so humble that he would insist that he knows nothing about theology. Theology is the study of God and we have a very wonderful textbook – actually 66 textbooks rolled into one. We call it the Bible. (p. 319)
Both the United States and Russia have made statements about the overkill power of nuclear stockpiles sufficient to kill every man, woman, and child in the world – not once, but 20 times over. That is overkill.
Isn’t it just like that old enemy, Satan, to persuade the saints in the Body of Christ to engage in bitter arguments about post- tribulation rapture and pretribulation rapture; post-millennialism, a-millennialism and pre-millennialism – right at the very hour when overkill hangs over us like a black, threatening cloud. (p. 324)
I will mention another contradiction that is all too apparent. Our educators and sociologists told us that all we had to do was allow the teaching of sexual education in the schools and all of our vexing sexual problems in society would disappear.
Is it not a strange anomaly that the generation that has been teaching and outlining more about sexual practices than any twenty-five generations combined did in the past is the generation that is the most rotten and perverted in sexual conduct? (325)
God has said that He would place a great premium on the holy, spiritual consistency of the Christian saints, but how inconsistent we are when we allow the devil and our own carnality to confuse and mix us up so that we will be diverted from patient waiting for His appearing. (p. 326)
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TAKING GOD SERIOUSLY by D. Stuart Briscoe
God is going to deal with everyone in righteousness, holiness, and justice. This is the way HE must work. (p. 125)
If you have genuine faith it will be exhibited by faithfulness. (p. 125)
One of the tragedies of the church of Jesus Christ in the western world today is that we have made it so easy to “believe” that we have put a great chasm between coming to faith and living faithful lives. Accordingly, it is not uncommon to find people who make loud protests of faith in Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, they live in direct disobedience to Christ. Listen to what Habakkuk (and the New Testament) says about this: “Those who are not living by faith and showing it in their faithful lives come under the judgment of God. On the other hand, those who in the midst of the judgment are living by faith in HIM and showing it by their faithful lives, will be preserved.” (p 126)
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Daniel 3
God supernaturally protects Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.
INSIGHT
What courage it took to defy the king! Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden image and orders everyone to bow down to it. When the Jews are brought to him in violation of the order, they say, “God may protect us from the fire, but even if He doesn’t, let it be known that we are not going to serve your gods!” Surely God gives His grace in times such as these. For those of us who are living in easier times, our total dedication to the Lord must be seen in our selfless commitment to serving Him. (Quiet Walk)
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GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36
Another moral attribute of God that the Bible emphasizes is the righteousness or the justice of God. Now this follows, of course, inescapably, from the holiness of God. What is righteousness? Well, it is holiness manifested in God’s dealings with us. I think that is as good a definition as you can get. Or you can look at it like this: It is that quality in God that always reveals God as doing that which is right. It is that in God which makes Him incapable of doing anything that is wrong.
Righteousness and justice are the carrying out of God’s holiness and the expression of it in the government of the world. A further definition still is that the righteousness of God is God’s love of holiness, and the justice of God is God’s abomination of sin. And I think that is the definition that most commends itself. Now the righteousness and the justice of God, of course, are revealed almost everywhere in the Scriptures. The wrath of God is taught in both the Old and New Testaments. Our Lord Himself taught it; one of the cardinal doctrines of the whole Bible is that God has a hatred of sin, which He expresses in His wrath. If anyone does not believe, says John, then “the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). We are all by nature, says Paul, “the children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3).
But God’s righteousness and justice are not only manifested in His wrath. He reveals the same qualities in forgiving our sins. Having prepared the way of forgiveness, if we conform to it, the justice of God comes in, and by His justice God forgives us. And God prepared the way of forgiveness by providing propitiation for our sins–and this is the most remarkable thing of all.
A Thought to Ponder: Righteousness is holiness manifested in God’s dealings with us.
(From God the Father, God the Son, pp. 72-73, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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What Christ’s Death Meant to Him
“[Christ] gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:14)
If one were to ask why Jesus died, the average evangelical would usually say that He died to save us from our sins. It is true that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3), but this is not the whole answer, by any means. Too many Christians think of the death of Christ only in terms of what it means for them—not what it meant to Him.
Our text says that He died for us and redeemed us from iniquity, not just to keep us from going to hell, but to “purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Paul says: “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living” (Romans 14:9). He wants a people who will have Him as Lord of their lives. “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; . . . That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
“He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). “How much more shall the blood of Christ . . . purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14). Finally, the apostle Peter reminds us that the Lord Jesus Christ “bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24) “that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).
We who have been saved by the redeeming death of Christ for our sins often thank Him for what He has done for us—and we should. But we also should praise Him for what He has thereby done for Himself and then seek always to live in such a way that His holy purpose is accomplished in our lives. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Who’s the Ringleader of this Circus? – I Do Every Day – August 16
Who’s the ringleader of this circus?
I tend to think I’m a one-woman show. Which is ironic, since my life often feels like a circus.
Without thinking, I’ll micromanage everything around me: work, kids, house, schedules, dog … even my husband.
Although I may act like an independent ring leader, most days I feel like a magician. Everything is just an illusion. And at some point, everyone will see me for what I am: a fake.
I mean, which of us thinks, “I’ve actually got this whole thing under control”?!
Oddly enough, I know a lot of women who feel this way. We’re juggling so many balls that we don’t know when or how to stop. Yep, we’re typically the ones putting this pressure on ourselves.
But guys, it’s exhausting.
I know It can be hard to know how to really help your wife if she has an I got this attitude. It can be hard for us to delegate our responsibilities. But one way your wife will always need your help is in the prayer department.
James 5:16 tells us “The prayer of a righteous person has great power.” Guys, your wife needs you praying for her daily.
Pray for her roles as a wife and mother. Pray for her work. Pray for her peace of mind, stemming from a peace of heart that doesn’t have to prove anything—because her worth is in Jesus.
And please, pray that she would think of herself with “sober judgment,” humbly acknowledging her limitations and need for others: “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’ … that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:21, 1 Corinthians 12:25).
As you have opportunity, speak and show her the truth that it’s okay for her to let go of control, from the fear lashing at her heels.
I promise you: Praying for your wife (and the 3-ring circus she leads) is one of the best ways to love her well.
Click here for more on praying for your wife.
The good stuff: Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)
Action point: When your wife is tempted to overcommit or micromanage (i.e., overcontrol), gently ask her questions to help her unearth her motivations. Is she serving out of God’s acceptance of her … or serving in order to gain acceptance and worth (self-salvation)?
Wives, prayerfully get honest about the why’s behind your commitments and decisions.
(Family Life website)
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