Habakkuk Pt. 10 The Vision Leaves a Lasting Impact
Good morning to all
We have one more lesson after today in Habakkuk and I pray that this brief study will be a blessing and encouragement to each one of us.
The sure end of the enemies of God.
Jehovah struck a mighty blow against the head of their forces and as a result their armies became directionless like chaff driven by a whirlwind. This is a picture of an army that turns its weapons on each other and we have some examples of this in the Bible.
God defeated King Jehoshaphat's enemies.
2 Chronicles 20:15-24 16) Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17) Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 18) And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 19) And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. 20) And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21) And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22) And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23) For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 24) And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
Jehovah's answer was that Jehoshaphat was to lead his army to a certain place near the enemies encampment and to watch and wait. The king encouraged his people in the LORD and they went out as commanded, singing praise to Jehovah. The moment they began to sing praises is when Jehovah set ambushes against the enemy.
The Ammonites and Moabites fought against the inhabitants of Seir and they killed them all. At that point the Ammonites and Moabites turned on each other and the text says they were all dead bodies. No one escaped.
Gideon's enemies turned their swords on each other.
Judges 7:19-22 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20) And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21) And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and
This account is much older than the time of King Jehoshaphat. Gideon was a judge of Israel during the period after Joshua led them into Canaan and before they had a king. The Midianites severelyoppressed the Israelite's by stealing their crops and taking their animals, leaving the lands greatly impoverished.
God told Gideon to take 300 men and go up on the hills surrounding the Midianite camp. On Gideon's command they showed burning lanterns and all cried out "The Sword of the LORD and of Gideon."
Panic erupted within the ranks of the Midianites and Jehovah turned each man's sword against his fellow soldier. After killing off themselves the Midianites fled in terror and Gideon pursued. Thus, Jehovah delivered His people and used the enemies weapons against them.
The enemies bragging would turn to bloodshed and their pride into panic. Their evil intentions would come back upon their heads.
Jehovah defeated many enemies of His people using miraculous methods. Habakkuk would have been familiar with both of these historical accounts as the vision he saw showed God's intent to turn the enemies weapons against themselves.
Remembering the Red Sea Crossing.
Habakkuk 3:15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
In this text Habakkuk was given another vision of God that was connected to the time of Moses: the crossing of the Red Sea. This is considered one of the most singularly powerful acts of God for His people. In fact, this specific miracle is cited in more than 20 places in the Old and New Testaments.
Habakkuk 3:14-16 Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 15) Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters. 16) When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
The final two verses of Habakkuk's vision sees Jehovah turn the focus onto the enemies of God. This section had a near term focus on the Babylonians final demise and it has a future fulfillment at the return of Jesus Christ to establish His kingdom on earth.
The Babylonians came out with great force and were filled with pride, gloating because victory seemed certain. They were going to take spoils of helpless victims who were unable to withstand their evil minded onslaught.
God defeated King Jehoshaphat's enemies.
2 Chronicles 20:15-24 16) Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17) Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 18) And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 19) And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. 20) And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21) And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22) And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 23) For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 24) And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
Jehovah's answer was that Jehoshaphat was to lead his army to a certain place near the enemies encampment and to watch and wait. The king encouraged his people in the LORD and they went out as commanded, singing praise to Jehovah. The moment they began to sing praises is when Jehovah set ambushes against the enemy.
The Ammonites and Moabites fought against the inhabitants of Seir and they killed them all. At that point the Ammonites and Moabites turned on each other and the text says they were all dead bodies. No one escaped.
Gideon's enemies turned their swords on each other.
Judges 7:19-22 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20) And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21) And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and
This account is much older than the time of King Jehoshaphat. Gideon was a judge of Israel during the period after Joshua led them into Canaan and before they had a king. The Midianites severelyoppressed the Israelite's by stealing their crops and taking their animals, leaving the lands greatly impoverished.
God told Gideon to take 300 men and go up on the hills surrounding the Midianite camp. On Gideon's command they showed burning lanterns and all cried out "The Sword of the LORD and of Gideon."
Panic erupted within the ranks of the Midianites and Jehovah turned each man's sword against his fellow soldier. After killing off themselves the Midianites fled in terror and Gideon pursued. Thus, Jehovah delivered His people and used the enemies weapons against them.
The enemies bragging would turn to bloodshed and their pride into panic. Their evil intentions would come back upon their heads.
Jehovah defeated many enemies of His people using miraculous methods. Habakkuk would have been familiar with both of these historical accounts as the vision he saw showed God's intent to turn the enemies weapons against themselves.
Remembering the Red Sea Crossing.
Habakkuk 3:15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
In this text Habakkuk was given another vision of God that was connected to the time of Moses: the crossing of the Red Sea. This is considered one of the most singularly powerful acts of God for His people. In fact, this specific miracle is cited in more than 20 places in the Old and New Testaments.
You are familiar with this account where the waters of the Red Sea parted so that Israel could cross on dry land and then Pharaoh's pursuing army was drowned by Jehovah in those same waters (Exodus 14:15-28).
The vision had physical and spiritual impacts.
Habakkuk 3:16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
When Isaiah saw the LORD in a vision he cried out because of his own uncleanness.
Daniel 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Daniel was given many visions about the end times. In one vision (10:4-6) he saw the LORD of glory and said whatever good things were in him were turned to corruption in God's presence.
Thoughts to Ponder...
Jehovah was finished sharing His vision with Habakkuk. He used language and scenes that would cause His prophet to remember historical events where God directly intervened to save His people.
The vision had physical and spiritual impacts.
Habakkuk 3:16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
The vision had a profound
physical and spiritual impact upon Habakkuk. His belly began to heave, his lips
quivered at the sound of Jehovah's voice and he became aware of his own
"rottenness" in contrast to Jehovah's holiness and purity.
Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
When Isaiah saw the LORD in a vision he cried out because of his own uncleanness.
Daniel 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Daniel was given many visions about the end times. In one vision (10:4-6) he saw the LORD of glory and said whatever good things were in him were turned to corruption in God's presence.
Thoughts to Ponder...
Jehovah was finished sharing His vision with Habakkuk. He used language and scenes that would cause His prophet to remember historical events where God directly intervened to save His people.
This reinforces our own need to continually read and meditate upon what God says in scripture. Historical events are repeated many times because each generation of believers needs to remember that God is faithful and that He is at work even when we can't see anything going on.
His purpose was to remind Habakkuk that He is always faithful, keeping His covenant even when His people strayed. As Habakkuk remembered these things his doubts would disappear and he rested on the trustworthiness of God.
Trusting God, resting upon the promises in His Word and running to Him daily like Habakkuk is a good model for us to follow.
May the Lord calm our fears, remove our doubts and strengthen our faith as we consider the lessons of Habakkuk.
Bob
His purpose was to remind Habakkuk that He is always faithful, keeping His covenant even when His people strayed. As Habakkuk remembered these things his doubts would disappear and he rested on the trustworthiness of God.
Trusting God, resting upon the promises in His Word and running to Him daily like Habakkuk is a good model for us to follow.
May the Lord calm our fears, remove our doubts and strengthen our faith as we consider the lessons of Habakkuk.
Bob
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