Habakkuk 2:14-15-20
SIN’S SENTENCE CONTINUED
We have discovered in verse 14 that God’s abiding intent, His overarching aim, is that His glory should fill the whole earth as it has filled His house, (Num. 14:21; Ps. 57:5,11; 72:19; Ex. 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:11) and that man should know His glory fully. This knowledge will be as the sea in its length, breadth and depth. For this to occur all the false knowledge the Babylonian character and aspirations epitomize and typify, must be removed. God’s glory, revealed in His actions & character will be made known 1 day. In that day of judgment the Babylonians will submit & become obedient & honor Him as Lord. For His glorious presence will manifest His sovereignty to one & all.
IV. PERVERSE DISGRACERS, 15-17.
The taunt song of God which was initiated in verse 6b begins its fourth stanza of in verse 15. This portion condemns the taking advantage of others. "Woe to you who make your neighbors drink, who mix in your venom even to make them drunk so as to look on their nakedness!”
The fourth woe introduces a new accusation, expressed by the image of inducing drunkenness in order to incapacitate and humiliate. They wanted to make others vulnerable and take advantage of them. The Babylonian is pictured as a drunkard intoxicating his neighbor so that he might indulge in some wanton pleasure. They amused themselves and took unfair opportunity of those they conquered.
Induced drunkenness and lewd behavior often go together. While the Bible does not demand total abstinence it does seriously warn of the consequences of alcoholic drink (Prov. 20:1; 21:17; 23:20, 21, 29-35; Rom 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Thess. 5:7).
YOUTH, be warned! Others want to intoxicate you with alcohol, drugs or pleasure to take advantage of you. You can overcome by being filled with the knowledge of the Lord.
Note the progression in this song or verses. Seduction is moving far down the slippery slope of moral decline. First, there is greed. Then there is mild injustice, followed by more serious injustice. Next comes violence to obtain. Now there is seduction and perversion. When security can’t be found in physical possession, man turns to relationships hoping to find security in love. But without God, man does not know how to correctly love or form selfless intimate relationships. If he is able to, his relationship become seductive or for his own desires and benefits. Debasing seduction is a shameful substituted for real love which is self-sacrificing.
Such action is severely condemned by God who fashions its outcome as is seen in verse 16. "You will be filled with disgrace rather than honor. Now you yourself drink and expose your own nakedness. The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will come upon your glory.”
Once again the Babylonians’ motives are self-interest, they seek their own honor or glory (kâbod) through malicious humiliation of their neighbors. The Babylonians were seeking to glorify themselves through the demeaning of others. Since they have chosen to attempt to honor self instead of God, to whom belongs all honor and glory, they instead will be humiliated.
Again God turns tables and they reap what they sow. He causes them to be drunk on their own self importance, on their pridefulness in power. The result; they who had caused others to become shameful (or disgraced) will be shamefully exposed or filled with shame.
Many see seduction as power. God sees it as sin; sin which will come back to haunt the sinner. The one who seduces becomes seduced. The one who corrupts becomes corrupted as his just punishment. The cup of judgment they have delivered to others will come around and be delivered to them.
Not only did they rape the people they stripped the land. Verse 17, "For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the devastation of its beasts by which you terrified them, because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, to the town and all its inhabitants.
Judgment is determined against Babylon because of the desolation done in Palestine and Lebanon. Lebanon, a nation to the north of Israel, is often associated with the territory of Israel (1 Kings 9:19; 6:8; 7:4; Isa. 33:9; 35:2) for it was originally given to them by the Lord (Deut. 1:7-8; Josh. 1:4).
Babylon declared war on the environment also. Lebanon was known for its abundance of cedar trees and wild animals. It suffered the ruthless removal of timber for the construction of Babylonian buildings and the destructive slaughter of beasts that lived in the forest.
There would be repercussions because of their rape of the land. As erosion would make sure the land would never fully recover, God would make sure the Babylonians wouldn’t either.
The worst charge against them though is leveled once more. They shed human blood (2:8,12). Not only had they wrecked the ego- system but they had done violence to the land and its cities and all its inhabitants. This destruction of God’s creation and creatures for simple greed would bring God’s overwhelming judgment upon them.
V. SENSELESS IDOL WORSHIPERS, 18-20.
Verse 18 addresses the puffed up futility experienced by those who trust in life-less things. "What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it, or an image, a teacher of falsehood? For its maker trusts in his own handiwork when he fashions speechless idols."
The pattern has changed with the woe being transposed to the following verse. This woe is uttered upon the greatest sin of all, idolatry. In order to seek revelation, favor, and guidance from the divine the Babylonians devised idols. To bring out forcefully the utter worthlessness of idols, the prophet asks of what profit it is? The answer is obvious--none. Artifacts fashioned by man no matter how beautiful or costly are idols and are unable to teach (yârâh) truth to man, and they are therefore utterly unworthy of his trust. Oracles attributed to them are obvious lies for idols cannot speak.
Idolatry is not just bowing down to idols. It is trusting in what one has made and therefore in one’s power to create and sustain. If we put our trust in bank accounts, homes, businesses and organizations, then we are idolaters. Do you trust God more than you trust what you have made with your hands?
Verse 19 continues the obvious logic against trusting in what man makes. "Woe to him who says to a piece of wood, ’Awake!’ To a dumb stone, ’Arise!’ And that is your teacher? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all inside it.
How absurd it is to stand before a piece of wood or some cold stone and cry out - “Awake!” They may be overlaid with gold and silver and have all kind of earthy beauty but there is no life within them. These artifacts of wood and stone are unable to give guidance (yoreh) because they are without breath. It is reprehensible folly for man to call on them (1 Kings 18:22-29). They are insidious because they are able to usurp the place of God in men’s lives, claiming a trust and guidance that belongs to God alone.
An abrupt shift and marked contrast is found in verse 20. "But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him."
By comparison God is present in His house or holy temple. He and His word are alive, alert, giving guidance and not only has breath but gives breath or His Spirit to man. So from dumb, man-made idols the attention shifts to the eternal living Lord, the self-existent one. The true source of revelation is present where He has always been, in His house.
Idols have no personhood, they are empty man made objects. Temples built to idols are equally empty, but the Lord is in His holy temple. He is real, alive, and powerful. He is the holy Sovereign who rules the universe from His holy temple in the heavens.
Instead of shouting Arise! Awake! the whole earth must stand in silent awe and worship before Him. Not only was Habakkuk to stand in humble silence, the nations, as well as the individuals who make them up, would do well to stand in humble, respectful silence, a hushed expectancy of God’s intervention and judgment.
Times of silence can become times of HOLY AWE when used as opportunities to think about God and our relationship to Him. It’s understandable that people living in rebellion against God would be uncomfortable with such thoughts. They don’t have the peace and hope that come from knowing the Living God. They have no desire to bow before Him.
After pronouncing God’s judgment on the cruel, immoral, and drunken people of his day, Habakkuk pointed out the foolishness of worshiping idols. Then he said, "The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him" (2:20). It’s as if he was saying, be quiet so that God can get through to you.
Christians can benefit from times of silence. Unfortunately we tend to shy away from being alone with our thoughts. For example, in my car I sometimes listen absentmindedly to music when I could be reflecting on the greatness of God. Some of my most enriching spiritual experiences have come in times of silence. I recall sensing God’s presence and power when I stepped outside on a cold, still morning. I stood in silence. During the night God had with unseen fingers captivating covered the landscape with silvery frost. I couldn’t help but marvel at His handiwork.
Yes, the Lord is in His holy temple. He controls the universe. Be silent before Him in holy awe. [Man’s true response, when He recognizes who God is, is worship.]
This silence before God is a silence of reverence as you experience His presence, of meditation as you shut out the world and ponder the goodness and grace of the Lord; of heart searching as you confess your sins to God and pray for His forgiveness; and of earnest expectation as you anticipate heaven coming down with glory to fill your soul.
One of the shortest books in the Old Testament is the book of Habakkuk. In its three brief chapters we see an amazing transformation in the prophet’s outlook on life. His opening words express depths of despair, but at the close of the book he has risen to heights of joy.
What caused this remarkable change? Why did Habakkuk begin with a complaint and end with a song of praise? The answer lies in three verses in Chapter 2. In addition to God’s message of judgment on the wicked, the Almighty told the troubled prophet, “The just shall live by his faith” (v.4). He also promised that someday the earth would “be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the seas” (v. 14). Finally, He assured him that “the Lord is in His holy temple” (v.20). These wonderful truths were just what Habakkuk needed to lift him out of his deep depression. By fixing his eyes on God, he rose above his discouraging circumstances and found a source of lasting joy in the Lord.
Like the prophet, we too must walk by faith and look forward to that glorious time when Jesus will return to earth to set up His kingdom of peace and righteousness. Maintaining our confidence in Him is the secret of true joy! - RWD To improve your outlook, keep looking up. [Our Daily Bread]
CONCLUSION
What do you turn to for strength and security in life? Is it money? Do you think that if you only have enough money (things) you will be all right? Is it other people? Do you think that somehow your friends or family will help you get by? Is it success? Fame? Your own strength and ability, whatever they may be? Do you think that if you get all these in order, somehow you will manage?
They will not be enough! You and I are made in the image of God, destined for fellowship with God. If we will not have God, then there will always be a vacuum--a terrible, hellish vacuum--in our lives.
Seeing God and hearing His word made all the difference in Habakkuk’s life. We are given the same opportunity. The challenge presented to us in chapter two is a choice. Will it be the world’s way? The way of greed, injustice, violence, seduction and idolatry? Or will we hear and heed God’s words of priceless counsel. God’s way is the way of faith in Him, for He alone is worthy of awe and worship.
