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Please turn in your Bible to Habakkuk 3.

This morning, we conclude our journey through the book of Habakkuk. It is the first time I have preached all the way through the book; but it has been a great encouragement and challenge to my own life. My prayer, is that as we conclude this book today, that God’s Spirit would challenge you or encourage you some way in your life.

At the beginning of this book, Habakkuk the prophet was greatly discouraged. He was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom of Israel, known as Judah. Judah had greatly sinned against God, and Habakkuk was frustrated that God had not yet judged their sin.

After God revealed that He would judge their sin (that’s the good news), He revealed that He would use the more wicked Chaldeans (Babylonians) to do so (the bad news). That frustrated the prophet even more. How could God use a more wicked people to judge His people, and why wasn’t He going to do something about the seemingly invincible Chaldeans?

The Northern kingdom (Israel) had already been taken into captivity and it would not be too long before Judah would follow. Habakkuk was discouraged and questioned God about these things. But, later in the book, the questions stop and the affirmation of who God is, what He has done and what He will do comes into focus.

I would like to begin with the last phrase of the last verse of Habakkuk. Look at the very last phrase of chapter 3, verse 19:

Habakkuk 3:19b – “…To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”

The words here , taken with the beginning words in 3:1 and the uses of Selah (a musical notation), remind us that the content of chapter 3 is a song of worship. This song of praise was to be used in public worship accompanied by stringed instruments. It is good to keep this in mind as we look at the final phrases of this song today.

I like how commentators Walvoord and Zuck describe chapter 3: “The prophet’s complaints were swallowed up by confidence. His fear turned to faith. Habakkuk was transformed from a sour, jittery prophet weighed down with burdens to a secure, joyous preacher [lifted] up with blessing. The just, the upright, the happy, the contented, the victorious live by their faith.”

We were introduced to the theme of faith in 2:4; and now Habakkuk is finishing his prophecy with praise to God, regardless of the circumstances he would face.

Some of the questions for today are: How will God respond? How will He respond to those who oppose Him; and how will He respond to His own people?
The way Habakkuk answers those questions is by answering this one: HOW HAS GOD RESPONDED IN THE PAST? The answers to that question will also answer the questions Habakkuk and God’s people had about the future.

Moving into verse 12-19 today, we need to remember what we read coming into this context a couple weeks ago:

To know what God will do to those who oppose Him, this question was answered:
WHO is the One we are to worship? And part of that answer was found in verses 8-11: It is:The God who controls nature. He controls the waters, the mountains, even the sun and moon. He uses them to destroy those who oppose Him; and He uses them for the benefit of those who love Him. He uses them, regardless of the benefits or consequences to humans, to bring glory to Himself. That is what God is about.

For our passage today, it is a good thing for us to consider the field of battle:

DRAMA: Commander and his captain – scene 1 [see end of this manuscript for the script]

Can you imagine the frustration a captain would have with his commander, if he felt his commander didn’t care? If he felt his commander was too far away from the battle to understand the pain and frustration that he and the soldiers were feeling? If you can relate to that at all, then you can relate to what Habakkuk was going through. He had been a loyal soldier, a captain, if you will, in the Lord’s army. But, he was completed frustrated with what seemed to be inaction on God’s part.

First, he was frustrated that God didn’t seem to care that his own people were sinning. When God revealed He did care and He was going to use the wicked Chaldeans to bring judgment, Habakkuk wondered if God knew what He was doing? He felt defeated, sapped of strength, losing hope. Would God’s people ever be restored? Would the enemies of God ever be judged? Like the officer in this drama, Habakkuk didn’t understand.

But, the commander, in our passage, it is God, had to remind Habakkuk of what He had done in the past, how powerful He was, and what kind of devastation He would bring on His enemies, in time. And that brings us to chapter 3, verse 12:

How has God demonstrated His control over the nations?
With Judgment:

Habakkuk 3:12 – “You marched through the earth in fury; you threshed the nations in anger.”

God is pictured as an undefeatable, military commander, taking out His judgment and crushing the nations. Like someone crushing the chaff of a grainfield under his feet, He crushes those opposed to Him; and He does it in His anger.

Remember, in Habakkuk 2:18, that the Chaldeans had made idols for themselves and worshiped other gods. The people of God, also, at times, had worshiped false idols instead of the true God. God was angry any time something or someone else was worshiped; because He deserves all the worship. It goes back to the passage where we find the 10 commandments:

Exodus 20:5,6 – “You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

God’s anger toward those who oppose Him had been seen in history. It would be seen in the future against those who opposed Him; and Habakkuk was counting on it, as it related to the judgment of the wicked Chaldeans.

How has God demonstrated His control over the nations? Not only with judgment, but:
With deliverance:
This also is related to the deliverance Habakkuk was counting on for God’s people:
Habakkuk 3:13 – “You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah.”

God’s purpose in His judgment is not to destroy nature, although He has complete control over it (3:3-7). He does what He does to punish wickedness and to deliver His own.

The musical notation of Selah is probably there to remind us to take pause and consider what was just sung or spoken. Take a moment, he says, and think about the destruction God will bring on His enemies and the deliverance He will bring to you.

Salvation means deliverance. The “salvation” for his people was the deliverance he would give them out of captivity. God had delivered them with a mighty hand out of Egypt and He would graciously deliver them out of the coming Babylonian captivity. All of this was a forerunner for the deliverance that would come someday for the people of God and all those who trusted in His Son. The “salvation” for the anointed was probably not referring to Israel, since that term is never used for them in the Old Testament. But, it may be looking ahead to THE ANOINTED ONE, the coming Messiah that would bring deliverance in a much greater way. The Psalmist talks about nations that oppose God as those who are also opposed to the coming Anointed One:

Psalm 2:1,2 – “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed…”

How does God provide deliverance for the Anointed One, the Messiah? Because, through His judgment of the wicked and through His deliverance of His people, the way of the Messiah will be preserved. The lineage of the Messiah will be delivered, in a sense, along with His people.

“The anointed one” could also refer to the king that trusts in God. Perhaps, it is referring to David, the line where the Messiah comes from. Verse 13 states that God had crushed the “head of the house” or the leader of the wicked; and the picture of laying him bare from thigh to neck is to picture a complete dominance that God has on His enemies, exposing them for who they are, and how they have opposed God. He had done it before with Pharoah and the leaders of Egypt. He had done it with other leaders of Israel’s enemies. And the prophet was confident that God would also do this with Babylon. In fact, in the future, the leader of the house of the wicked would be the Babylonian King: Belshazzar; and he would be stripped of His power (Daniel 5:26-31).

Habakkuk 3:14 – “You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors, who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.”

I mentioned that “the anointed one” in verse 13 could refer to Israel’s kings; and maybe even to the one from whose line the Messiah would eventually come: King David. Verse 14 which has to do with the piercing could hint back to the story of David and Goliath – the enemies scattering when the future king, David, cuts off the head of the enemy.

Habakkuk places Himself, personally, as representing the people of God, whom the Chaldeans came to destroy “in a whirlwind”, storming into battle. God turns the enemy against themselves so that they pierce themselves. They would destroy themselves. All of this happens in the context of them taking great pleasure (rejoicing), arrogantly pursuing the weak, taking everything they desired from others for their own satisfaction. This has been described in earlier passages.

Habakkuk 3:15 – “You trampled the sea with your horses, the surging of mighty waters.”

Considering God’s control over the nations, one of the greatest historical illustrations in Israel’s history was used by Habakkuk. This story also had to do with the deliverance of God’s people and it serves as the foundational illustration for any future deliverance. What is He referring to? They all knew the story:

The people of Israel had come out of Egypt only to be trapped between the raging waters of the Red Sea and the raging army of Pharoah pursuing them. God miraculously opened the Red Sea, parting her waters, and allowing all of His people to cross on dry ground, delivering them from the Egyptians. Here, the prophet gives a figurative picture as though God did the trampling with His horses on the sea, controlling the waters. God had used the waters to bring great victory.

Yes, God had controlled the nations in the past; and yes, He would continue to do so in the future. He had brought judgment in the past and He would do so on the Chaldeans (Babylonians) in the future. He had delivered His people in the past; and they could be assured that God would do so again; even though, at present, they were facing a Babylonian captivity coming soon.

The end of Habakkuk’s song puts everything into perspective. Although the prophet had begun with complaints, he now closes with some commitments. And I would like for us to view these commitments personally, and ask ourselves if we are willing to do the same, when under difficult, confusing circumstances.

SO WHAT?
How should we respond?

Habakkuk 3:16 – “I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.”

Habakkuk had begun his prophecy by asking God to show Himself. Now, in light of God’s presence and power, Habakkuk is reacting physically to who God is and what He will do. His heart is pounding, body shaking. He cannot speak clearly and it is as though his inside was rotting away. His knees were knocking at the report of the awesome judgment of God.

The best way I can appreciate what Habakkuk was feeling is to remember an experience Teresa and I had with invaders into our home. It was while we were living in Connecticut in an apartment, before children, and it was in the middle of the night. We heard something knocked over downstairs and we woke up. A window had been left unlocked, and because we had parked in a different parking spot, the person thought we were not home. We found out later, from police, that people had been checking parking spots, then looking for open windows to go in and steal whatever they could, with waiting accomplices to drive away afterward.

We had gone to bed late, it was the middle of the night, and so we were a little dazed. I heard the noise and, I’ll speak for myself, I started to tremble. I heard someone walking up our hallway steps and my heart began to pound. My mind was trying to grasp what was happening and who this might be. Did I forget that we invited someone to come in the middle of the night and forgot to lock the door? Was this person walking up our stairs going to come around the corner with a gun and start shooting?

We saw someone look around the corner, surprised that we were home, and my lips were quivering, unable to speak. That person ran down the stairs and out the door into the night; and my legs felt a little wobbly as I got up to get my glasses and try to identify the would be thief. That was probably the most terrifying experience I have ever had.

If you ever thought you heard an intruder or can remember hearing some terrible news, then perhaps you can relate to the response Habakkuk had at the report of God’s terrible justice, the report of what He does to those who oppose Him. He also knew that the nation of Judah was about to enter a time of captivity at the hands of the cruel and wicked Chaldeans. He was shaken. He was disturbed. He was upset.

But he had a choice to make. And in the midst of his song of praise, He makes some final commitments. I want to encourage you to make these same commitments today. And I want to challenge you to make these commitments for the days of frustration or discouragement or fear, that will surely come, if you are not experiencing those types of days presently.

The first one is at the end of verse 16: “yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.”

How should we respond?
With a commitment:
· To wait for God’s justice

The incredible reports of what God had done in Egypt, at the Red Sea, at Mount Sinai, at the Jordan River, and in the conquest of Jericho allowed Him to wait, with confidence, for God to bring justice on the Chaldeans and to deliver His people once again.

Yes, the people of Judah would be taken captive. But, eventually, God would bring them out of captivity once again, and restore them unto Himself. Based on what God had done before, and in the midst of his own physical response to God’s judgment, He is able to wait patiently for what He knows will take place.

For those of you who are having a hard time waiting for the justice of God against those who have hurt you or those you love, this is your commitment: to wait for the justice of God, that he promises will come:
Romans 12:19 – “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Yes, Habakkuk was physically weak, in light of the revelation of God’s justice. But, spiritually, he demonstrated great strength as he closes His praise song.

David had written a song to remind God’s people what to do in all circumstances:

Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”

He suggests possible difficulties that could come, which the people of that day could relate to. Here was the worst case scenario – the worst circumstances that could take place:
· All the crops could fail

Habakkuk 3:17 – “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food…”

The figs, the grapes, the olives and the grain, all on which the nation depended for food – these had been symbols of blessing - what if it was all gone? And what else?

· All the sheep and cattle could be lost (end of verse 17)

Habakkuk 3:17 – “…the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,”

This was their source for wealth, their livelihood. These had been objects of God’s blessing. What if it was all gone?

Well, it wouldn’t be long before that is exactly what would happen. When the Chaldeans captured their capital city, Jerusalem, they experienced these conditions, as described in Lamentations . This was a book written by the prophet Jeremiah, who prophesied at the time of the captivity.

Lamentations 2:12 – “They cry…where is the bread and wine?”

Lamentations 4:4 – “The tongue of the nursing infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives to them.”

Lamentations 4:9 – “Happier were the victims of the sword than the victims of hunger, who wasted away, pierced by lack of the fruits of the field.”

“Max Lucado tells the story of a woman who had a parakeet named Chippie. She loved Chippie because he was such a happy little song bird. Chippie’s constant chirping just seemed to brighten her day. One day, the woman was cleaning the bottom of Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner when the telephone rang. She reached for the telephone without removing the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner form the cage, which was a mistake. The vacuum cleaner nozzle got pointed in the direction of poor little Chippie, and he was suddenly sucked up into the machine.

When the woman looked back at the cage and realized what had happened, she was horrified. She dropped the telephone, turned off the vacuum cleaner and ripped open the dust bag to get to her little bird. Chippie was a real mess, but he was still alive. She raced to the kitchen sink and turned the water on full force on Chippie. The more she tried to wash him, the worse he looked, so she took him to the bathroom and started trying to dry Chippie with her hair dryer – full force and high heat. Finally, she got the bird dry and put him back in his cage.

Several days later, a friend called and asked how Chippie was doing. He’s alive, she said, but he just sits in his cage and stares out into space. And, she added thoughtfully, Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore.”

That is what Habakkuk was struggling with. This is what the people of Judah would struggle with during the captivity. The songs in their heart would be drowned out by the terrible circumstances they found themselves in. But, Habakkuk is trying to restore that song, the song of praise, that lasts even during the most difficult trials of life.

They would experience these things described in chapter 3 of Habakkuk and in Lamentations during the Babylonian captivity. So, Habakkuk makes another commitment:

Habakkuk 3:17,18 – “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Respond with a commitment:
· To praise God

Habakkuk is able to rejoice in the LORD, the covenant keeping God that loves His people, that faithful, God that always keeps His promises. Habakkuk is able to praise Him, even though he and the nation may have nothing they normally depend on. His praise has to do, not with the circumstances, but with the person who keeps the promises. That is why he can rejoice.

It is why you can praise God even when things are not at all the way you prayed. You can make the commitment to praise no matter what has happened in your past, what is going on right now, or your fears of the future. Will you choose to praise Him? Another commitment comes with the last phrase of verse 18: “I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

Respond with a commitment:
· To have joy in God

Again, the joy is not a happiness based on external circumstances. The joy here is deep down, it is based on the confidence of who God is. He is the God of my salvation, my deliverance. Since He knows of God’s deliverance in the past and the future, he can have a joy in His soul that just won’t make sense to the average citizen of Judah.
You also, can make the commitment to joy. I know this is not an easy thing to feel or understand. But when your confidence is securely in God, you can probably relate to the joy that rests below the surface. You don’t like the present circumstances, but because you know God is the deliverer and because you believe what His Word says about trials:

James 1:2-4 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Knowing that trials of all kinds brings spiritual maturity will allow you to have this joy that rests in the future deliverance of God. One more thing Habakkuk mentions:

Habakkuk 3:19 – “GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.

How should we respond?
Respond with a commitment:
· To trust in God’s strength

He uses the term Lord, not Jehovah, but this time the term for the sovereignty of God. He says the Lord, who is in complete control of my confusing circumstances… is my strength.

Commentators Walvoord and Zuck wrote: “The strength He gives is like the power found in the feet of a deer, a gazelle, or any active, swift-footed animal. Much as a deer can quickly bound through a dark forest, so the prophet said he could move joyfully through difficult circumstances.

Yes, God’s people would go into captivity to Babylon. But, 70 years later, they would be released and begin to sing songs again. And one song they would sing would have these words:

Psalm 118:14 – “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

God enabled the prophet to walk on the heights. Not only would he bound through trials; he would also climb to the mountaintops of victory and triumph. A deer or gazelle pictures strength, surefootedness, beauty, and speed.”

Here, at the end of our study of Habakkuk, there are verses that come to mind that I have been meditating on. As I mentioned, the prophet Jeremiah watched all of these things happening that Habakkuk was speaking of; and here is what He wrote that rests in my heart:

Lamentations 3:22-23 - “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
When you face another day, full of challenges, full of trials…as you go through life that is full of uncertainty and disappointments…you can focus on the one thing…no, the one person, who can give you joy, who can give encouragement, who can give you perspective…
God can be trusted. God is faithful. Praise Him!

Habakkuk is like the captain we met at the beginning of the message. He was frustrated with God, his commander. He didn’t understand what was going on. But, in time, he was encouraged with what he knew to be true of God; and then was able to pass that on to the soldiers, the people of God. We can do the same thing. We can take what we know about our commander God, apply that truth to our circumstances; and then pass it on to others who need to know about Him.

DRAMA: Scene 2 [look below for script]

Closing song: I will praise Him
Drama: written by Chris Roth

Scene 1


Captain: (with air of urgency but respectful) Commander, may I have a word with you?

Commander: (calm, relaxed) Of course, come in. Sit down. What have you come to see me about?

Captain: Well sir, the battle of course.

Commander: Ah yes, the battle. What about it?

Captain: (shocked at the commander’s nonchalance) What about it? What about it?! Have you not seen the battle front?!? Our troops are being devastated!

Commander: (calmly) Are they?

Captain: YES, THEY ARE! (losing composure) We’ve been doing battle from sun up to sun down for months on end now…and despite all of our efforts the enemy is advancing. Surely you’ve heard, even though you’re nowhere near the battle!

Commander: (calm but more serious) I have heard.

Captain: Then why don’t you DO something about it?! The troops – your soldiers – have asked me to come speak with you – plead with you – to do something!

Commander: (echoing Captain’s words) To do something!

Captain: Yes, something. Something to give your soldiers some hope…and at least a chance to win the battle!

Commander: Give them a chance? Give them a chance to win the battle? For a young man you certainly have a short memory.

Captain: (impatiently) What do you mean?

Commander: Have I not proven myself in the past that you should doubt me now? Have I not vanquished every enemy? Has any foe ever imprisoned me?! Have I ever tasted defeat even once?

Captain: (somewhat unsure) No, of course not, but sir your soldiers…

Commander: (interrupting, speech becoming more forceful) My soldiers should know by now that I will not allow even one that opposes me to stand! My enemies will tremble at the sound of my charging fury. They will be trampled under my horses, and their bones will be crushed to mingle with the dust of the battlefield! Vengeance against the enemy will be mine, at the time that I have preordained!

Captain: (now awestruck) Yes, Commander.

Commander: You wish to give hope to your troops, Captain? Tell them I said to wait.
Wait on the Lord. My victory is at hand.

(both exit stage)


Scene 2


(Captain enters but is quiet)

Soldier 1: Did you speak with him?!?!

Captain: Yes, I spoke with him.

Soldier 2: What did he say!?!

Captain: He said…to wait.

Soldier 3: Wait?! Wait for what?

Soldier 4: For defeat? For death?!?

Captain: I suppose it may look that way. The enemy has surrounded us with darkness and separated us from the light. Our hands tremble due to hunger and our mouths are parched with an unquenchable thirst! There is no shelter to hide us from the enemy’s torrential volleys, AND YET we will not yield!

Because HE will not yield. He has never relented, he has always stood firm. Have we forgotten what he has done? He has trampled the enemy, time and time again; piercing them with their own swords and scattering their bones. He has laid waste to the unrighteous and removed them from His sight. And because He is righteous we do not fear defeat, because HE will never falter! For us there is no death…only victory. His victory.

Soldier 1: But, what about our victory?

Captain: Our victory is found in Him. Those who oppose Him will surely succumb. But as for us --- we share in His victory…when we surrender to Him…surrender to Him… I surrender to Him. (lays down his weapon)

Soldier 2: I will surrender to Him

Soldier 3: I will praise Him

Soldier 4: I will rest easy in Him.

Soldier 1: I will worship Him.