THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE (HABAKKUK 2)
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A 50-second commercial from India features a young man standing by the road and an elderly woman sitting on a bench. The young man was enjoying a chocolate bar nearby when the woman dropped her walking stick by mistake. She asked him, “Young man, can you pick up my walking stick?” The young man said, “Yes,” but he did nothing, not moving an inch from the pillar he was leaning on.
The elderly woman then resignedly got up, stepped down the curb to pick up the stick herself. At that very moment, a giant piano fell from the sky to land on the bench where she was sitting moments ago. They both looked at each other and the sky in astonishment, and she said to the young man, “Thank you for doing nothing,” to which he replied, “It’s my pleasure.”
The ad ends with the product’s new taglines — “Sometimes, try doing nothing.”
In first chapter 1 the person who did all the talking was Habakkuk, but in chapter 2 the Lord did most of the taking except verse 1. The last time we were in chapter 1 the Israelites had a startling message. To their cry of injustice, God said He will use the Babylonians to punish the Assyrians who invaded and exiled the Israelites. To Habakkuk, the second or the latter was worse than the first or former. Wasn’t it better for God to leave things unattended as it was? It was unexpected, unusual and upsetting at the best. In chapter 1 was the conquest of the Babylonians, but in chapter spelled their condemnation.
Where is God when the world needs Him? What is God doing to correct the wrongs around us? Why is God not more visible or vocal?
You Might Be Disturbed, But Do Not Be Disgruntled
1 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
The preacher bought a lawn mower at a yard sale. “It runs great,” the seller said.
The next day the preacher brought it back. “Runs great? I couldn’t even start it!”
“Oh, it runs just fine,” the seller said with a smile, “but in order to start it you first have to cuss up a storm.”
“I’m not sure I can do that,” the pastor protested indignantly. “I haven’t used that language in years.” “Not to worry,” the seller said. “Just keep pulling on the start cord and it will all come back to you in no time.”
Habakkuk no longer courteously addressed the Lord as Lord” as in chapter 1 (1:2). The verbs “stand,” “station” and “look” are cohortatives – an imperative to oneself, translated as “Let me stand. let me station… let me look.” A Hebrew cohortative is an indirect imperative and not a direct imperative because, unlike the imperative which is directed to the second person (“you”), the writer commanded himself in the first person and not others. It was spoken with spunk, swagger and stubbornness. The three verbs corresponds to “stand, sit and see,” of which the last is to lean forward, look far and to wait for. There is a defiant, disputing and dare attitude. A see for yourself, look and see, and don’t you see attitude?
The noun “watch/station” (v 1) is translated as charge (Gen 26:5), keep (Ex 12:6), ordinance (Lev 18:30), safeguard (1 Sam 22:23), ward (2 Sam 20:3), watch (2 Kings 11:5) and office (2 Chron 7:6); it is derived from the verb “keep.” Habakkuk considered himself the champion, the crusader and the custodian of Israel. Weren’t they God’s people, the chosen people and the apple of God’s eye? This is unacceptable, inappropriate and unjust. Unlike the other two disturbed prophets who fled – Elijah lodging in a cave (1 Kings 19:9) and Jonah sleeping on a ship (Jonah 1:5), Habakkuk did not abandon his “watch” or station.
The noun “complaint” occurs 28 times in the Bible - reproof (14x), rebuke (7x), reproved (2x). The prophet risked being rebuffed, rebutted and reproached. He was prepared to intercede for Israel, instruct the Lord and inject his opinion, even at the risk of irritating Him, infuriating and insulting Him. Habakkuk was a prophet who kept watch with an attitude, an agenda and an appraisal.
The verb answer (v 1) is a minority translation (18x), whereas the majority translations are return (391x), again (248x) and turn (123x). No matter Habakkuk must have and will have his say even if he stood chastened, corrected and condemned. God uses us even when we frustrated, fiery and feisty.
You Might Be Disappointed, But Do Not Be Daunted
2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. 4 “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness— 5 indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples. 6 “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, “‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?’ 7 Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey. 8 Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. 9 “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin! 10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. 11 The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it. 12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice! 13 Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing? 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies! 16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed! The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. 17 The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. 18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. 19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”
Here are some quotes on “faith”:
Faith is like a small lamp in a dark forest. It does not show everything at once but gives enough light for the next step to be safe!
Like a rubber band, your faith is useless unless it's stretched.
Faith is like a flower, it needs a place to grow.
Faith is like a glass of water. When you’re young, the glass is small, and it’s easy to fill up. But the older you get, the bigger the glass gets, and the same amount of liquid doesn’t fill it anymore. Periodically, the glass has to be refilled.”
Faith is like a muscle, Use it and it will grow.
Faith is like radar that sees through the fog
Verse 2 is the only recorded “answer” from the Lord in the book. The word revelation/vision (v 2) occurs for the last time in the Old Testament. Write (v 2) and make it plain (v 2) are imperatives: write is to record and make it plain is to reveal – for all, for us today. Run (v 2) means speed, up to speed – to hurry, hasten and hustle.
There are two reasons (“ki”) in verse 3 – “for” and one missing before “it will certainly come.” The second reason plus the third imperative in it is “wait” (v 3, For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.). The second reason “certainly come” is come, come in Hebrew. It will not be slowed, stuck or scrubbed.
What should our attitude be in the meantime? The word “upright” (v 4, See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness ) is translated as pleased (1 Sam 18:26), right (1 Chron 13:4), straight (Ps 5:8). What does “righteous will live by (in) faith” (v 4, KJV) mean? It is contrasted with the two previous verbs - “lifted up” and “upright.” Puffed up (v 4) is translated elsewhere as presumed (Num 14:44), proud (Hab 2:4, NASU), lifted up (KJV) and inflated (Hab 2:4). Upright is straight (1 Sam 6:12), please (a person) well (1 Sam 18:26), fitted (1 Kings 6:35) and right (1 Chron 13:4). One (puffed up) is proud, presumptuous and Pharisaical and the other is straight-faced, straight forward and simple-minded.
A taunt (v 6) is a song, as in NBA. There are five woes in Hebrew (vv 6, 9, 12, 15, 19), just one short of the record in Isaiah 5 (vv 8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22). Woe means distress, disaster and destruction. There are five woes:
6 “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, “‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?’
Insatiability
Satisfy (v 5) is translated as full (Ex 16:8), filled (Ex 16:12) and had enough (2 Chron 31:10).
The Babylonians are as insatiable as hell and as death (v 5)! Takes captive is heaping (KJV) or hoarding.
Wealthy is “heavy” in Hebrew. More, many, plenty, prosperous, plump
Theft,
Plunder
9 “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!
Injustice
Immunity
Escape – taken away (Gen 31:9), deliver (Gen 32:11), preserve (Gen 32:30). He has immune, invulnerable and impervious.
12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!
Iniquity
Invasion
Injustice occurs most in Job and Psalms.
Perversity
V 9 onwards five “people” – all people (v 5), remnant of the people (v 8), many people (v 10), the people (v 13), the people/community (v 13)
15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!
Indecency
Obscenity
Offensiveness
Objectionable
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”
Idolatry
Faithlessness
Foolishness
Futility
A taunt is a song, as in NBA. There are five woes in Hebrew (vv 6, 9, 12, 15, 19), just one short of the record in Isaiah 5 (vv 8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22). Woe means distress, disaster and destruction.
You Might Be Doubtful, But Do Not Be Distrustful
20 The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
A tired bird landed on a branch. The bird rested, enjoying the view from the branch and the protection it offered from dangerous animals. Just as the bird became used to the branch and the support and safety it offered, a strong wind started blowing, and the tree swayed with such intensity that it seemed the branch would snap in half.
But the bird was not worried for it knew two important truths. The first truth – even without the branch it was able to fly, and thus remain safe through the power of its own two wings. The second truth – it also knew that there are many other branches upon which it can temporarily rest.
http://inspiringshortstories.org/believe-in-yourself/
The Lord is in his holy temple is taken verbatim from Ps 11:4-5: “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He OBSERVES everyone on earth; his eyes EXAMINE them. 5 The Lord EXAMINES the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he HATES with a passion.”
Observe
Examine
Hate
Discern
Diagnose
Despise
Out
In
Throughout
Far
Near
Under
Be silent (v 20) is translated as still (Num 13:30), keep silence (Judg 3:19), hold your peace (Neh 8:11) and hold thy tongue (Amos 6:10). It is to pause, ponder and even praise. By implication it means to stand in awe, acclamation, admiration, amazement and astonishment. Hold your opinion, judgment
Why is the earth silent before Him? Because he is the Judge of all the earth (Gen 18:25), the Lord of all the earth (Josh 3:11, 13), the great King over all the earth (Ps 47:2, 7, Zec 14:9).
J. Ronald Blue says, “For Habakkuk, the message was clear. Stop complaining! Stop doubting! God is not indifferent to sin. He is not insensitive to suffering. The Lord is neither inactive nor impervious. He is in control. In His perfect time Yahweh will accomplish His divine purpose. Habakkuk was to stand in humble silence, a hushed expectancy of God's intervention.” (from Bible Knowledge Commentary, Habakkuk 2:20)
Seeing the vision of God and hearing the voice of God made a tremendous difference in Habakkuk's life. As he grasped the significance of the three great assurances God gave him, he was transformed from being a worrier and a watcher to being a worshiper. In the closing chapter of this book, he will share with us the vision he had of God and the difference it made in his life.
(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament ?2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. Habakkuk 2:18-20)
Conclusion: What does today’s message mean for us today? I don’t long for his judgment as much as most do. First, we must be separated to God. Separating to God means to be consecrated, committed and conformed to Him. Second, to be submitted to Him – to look, listen and learn. Third, to be steadfast no matters the circumstances – to be unchanging, unshaken and unceasing, no matter the seasons, storms and struggles.
