Tag Archives: Habakuk

September 27, 2019 Bible Study — Those Who Dismiss God and Goodness As Irrelevant Will Face Destruction

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Nahum and Habakkuk

Assyria was a powerful nation with powerful allies.  The people of Assyria had come to believe that the wealth and power they had acquired was forever theirs and that no one could stand against them.  We know from records elsewhere, and from what Nahum writes here, that they held God in contempt.  Nahum’s prophecy reminds us that despite the apparent power of those standing against God’s people they will fall quickly when God chooses to act.  Remain faithful to God in the face of a world hostile to His will because He will protect those who love Him.

In some ways the Book of Habakkuk is a logical partner to the Book of Nahum.  Nahum speaks of the fall of Assyria, and Habakkuk writes of the rise of Babylon.  Since the latter brought about the fall of Assyria the two prophets fit together well.  However, I want to look at the lessons we can learn from this passage.  And once again I find myself trying to figure out how to summarize what this passage says to me in a post which is shorter than the passage itself.  Habakkuk tells us to be patient when evil seems to be overwhelming what is good and right.  God will bring judgement upon those who do evil and overthrow the oppressor.  Do not be fooled by the appearances of the world.  Just as God raised up Babylon to overthrow Assyria and punish the people of Judah for their sinfulness.  From Jerusalem, Assyria seemed unassailable until the moment they fell to Babylon.  Yet God’s prophets foretold the fall of Assyria.  Once Babylon became powerful, they seemed, at best, no better than Assyria.  They considered themselves to be the measure of what was right, or wrong.  Even there, God told His people to wait patiently.  He would bring about the fall of Babylon as well.  The wicked and arrogant will come to destruction while God will protect and raise up those who are righteous and humble.

 

September 27, 2016 Bible Study — God Is Slow To Anger, But His Justice Is Sure

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

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Today, I am reading and commenting on Nahum and Habakkuk.

    There are several verses in the Book of Nahum which provide comfort for those who put their trust in God (“The Lord is slow to get angry,…”, “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.”, etc.). However, the main thrust of Nahum’s prophecy is that Assyria will be destroyed. For all of its power and wealth Assyria would face God’s judgment. The Assyrians had used their power and wealth to form alliances with other nations. Despite these alliances they had treated other nations in such a manner that no one mourned their destruction. This is a warning to any nation, or person which relies on its wealth and might to dominate those around them. The time will come when God will bring judgment for our sins.

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    The message of the Book of Habakkuk is that God’s judgment may seem slow to arrive, but it is sure and inevitable (see Nahum 1:3-6). The proud trust in themselves and believe that they will be able to rescue themselves from any trouble. The righteous, on the other hand, will live by their faith in, and faithfulness to, God. There are different ways that people use their wealth in their attempts to gain security. Some build big houses and create large estates for themselves using wealth they have acquired dishonestly. Some build institutions and cities (or take control of such things) using wealth acquired through corruption and evil. This last bit I may be reading more into than intended but it appears to me to refer to those who manipulate others into circumstances that can be used to coerce those others into doing the will of the manipulator. In each of these cases, God’s judgment will come down on these people. The security they thought they had gained will prove fleeting.
    Habakkuk concludes his prophesy with a prayer. In his prayer he acknowledges the fear which we all should feel when God starts to mete out justice on evildoers. However, in the face of that fear, we can and should rejoice in the Lord. We can and should be joyful to see God bring judgment on evildoers, even if we also suffer because of our sins, because God will be our salvation if we truly trust in Him.