THE PROPHECY OF HABAKKUK
Installment 3
 

Habakkuk 2:1-3

When the Lord opened Habakkuk's eyes to see the deplorable, spiritual, and moral condition which existed in Israel in his day, the Prophet complained to the Lord concerning the great depths to which the Chosen People had fallen. Thinking that the Lord ought to rectify the condition at once, he therefore, prayed to the Lord concerning the situation.

The Lord showed the Prophet that He was not oblivious to the conditions which existed; He moreover showed the Prophet that He was working in the world at that time in order to deal with the situation at the proper time. Thus, He called the Prophet's attention to the fact that He was raising up the Neo-Babylonian Empire to deal with that situation.

Habakkuk could not see how a holy God could use such reprobates as Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in punishing His people, who, though sinful, were not living on the low level on which the Babylonians lived. He, therefore, complained the second time before the Lord.
 

Habakkuk Waiting for a Reply from the Lord

"I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint" (Hab. 2:1). Habakkuk spoke of himself as if he were a sentry on guard duty. Isaiah likewise used the same figure. As a sentry reports what he sees and learns while on duty, thus Habakkuk wanted to learn from the Lord what was coming to pass so that he could report to the people.

He wanted to know what God would speak to him—a very definite desire. Each minister and Christian worker should have this same holy longing. God is endeavoring to speak to His people today through the Bible—all sixty-six books of it. The Lord gave us the Scriptures for a definite, specific purpose—that we might grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour:

"Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (II Tim. 3:16,17).

Whenever a person has a longing to know what is the will of God and asks the Lord for light and understanding, God gives it to him. A very beautiful example of this principle is found in Psalm 85. In the first verses, the Psalmist was given the vision of Israel when he is restored to fellowship with God. The vision of this future blessed state caused the Psalmist to pray the petition found in verses 4 to 7:

  1. 4 "Turn us, O God of our salvation,
        And cause thine indignation toward us to cease.
  2. 5  Wilt thou be angry with us for ever?
        Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
  3. 6  Wilt thou not quicken us again,
        That thy people may rejoice in thee?
  4. 7  Show us thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah,
        And grant us thy salvation,"

Like Habakkuk, the Psalmist waited to learn what God would reply. He, therefore, said,

  1. 1 "I will hear what God Jehovah will speak;
       For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints:
       But let them not turn again to folly" (Psa. 85:8).

God wants to speak peace and encouragement to His people all the time; and, when He does, He warns them not to return again to folly.

The Psalmist said he would hear what Jehovah said in answer to his prayer. The Lord's reply was a wonderful one, opening up the vistas of the future:

  1. 9 "Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him,
        That glory may dwell in our land.
  2. 10 Mercy and truth are met together;
         Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
  3. 11 Truth springeth out of the earth:
         And righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
  4. 12 Yea, Jehovah will give that which is good;
         And our land shall yield its increase.
  5. 13 Righteousness shall go before him,
         And shall make his footsteps a way     to walk in" (Psa. 85:9-13).

Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple, which was destroyed in A.D. 70. Some of the Apostles asked Him several questions regarding the future. Jesus, therefore, met, the desiring, seeking hearts of the apostles, in that He gave the marvelous Olivet Discourse found in Matthew, chapters 24 and 25.

When the disciples realized that prayer is a great power in the life of the believer, they asked Him to teach them to pray. Then He taught them in a simple, straightforward manner how to pray, (Luke 11:1-4).
 

Jehovah's Reply

The Lord met the Prophet's expectation and gave a very definite answer to the request. "And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay" (Hab. 2:2,3).

In this reply the Lord insisted on the Prophet's writing the message on tablets. These instructions remind one of what Jehovah said to Isaiah. The Lord had given definite instructions that Israel should not enter into an alliance with Egypt for military aid against Assyria. The pro-Egyptian party in Jerusalem ignored what the Lord had said to Isaiah the Prophet and entered into an alliance with Egypt. In order to effect this alliance, the authorities in Jerusalem had robbed the temple and the government treasuries of all funds.

The entire affair was kept from Isaiah, who insisted on trusting God alone in the present emergency. God revealed to Isaiah their willful disobedience. He, therefore, said to the Prophet: "Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever" (Isa. 30:8).

The Prophet was to write his message on clay tablets and to put them in some public place so that all the people could know about what was being done, and the situation that was confronting the nation. Isaiah, moreover, was to write it in a book—the book of Isaiah—and preserve this knowledge forever and ever.

Habakkuk was to write the vision which was shown him, and which is found in Habakkuk 1:5-11. He, likewise, was to write the vision on clay tablets and put them in a public place, in order that "he may run that readeth it."

God has given us His Holy revelation, the sixty-six books of the Bible, that we may know His will and do it. Everyone who studies the Bible should pray the petition found in Psalm 119:18: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law."

Anyone who wills to do the will of God can come to God in prayer, asking that his spiritual eyes be opened to behold the wonderful things in the Word. God will never disappoint the seeking, earnest heart. We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.

The Prophet Habakkuk was to put the message in writing in order to preserve it, "for the vision is yet for the appointed time." As stated above, the vision here mentioned is that which is recorded in chapter 1, verses 5-11. An examination of this vision shows that it is the description of the rapid movements and the irresistible force of the Chaldean army and Nebuchadnezzar whom God would use in punishing Israel. At the same time, the description of the army and its swift movements shows that the prediction goes far beyond a vision of the ancient Chaldean army. The Babylonian horses were not swifter than leopards and more fierce than the evening wolves. Their horsemen could not fly as an eagle. Moreover, there is no evidence that Nebuchadnezzar worshipped his might as his god—he was an idolater. Since the description goes far beyond the realities of the ancient Babylonian army, it is certain that this vision blends the description of the Babylonian army with a prediction of another army of the future, which will be a mechanized force of modern warfare, and which will answer to the description of the passage.

This vision which Habakkuk was to write is for "the appointed time.'' What is meant by the "appointed time?" Light on this question is probably found in Daniel 8:17,19, which speaks about the time of the end. While this interpretation is probably correct, one cannot, afford to be dogmatic in regard to it.

The vision "hasteth toward the end." The nearer one comes to the concluding days of this dispensation, the more rapid do events take place. The vision is therefore, said to hasten toward the end, the end of the age.

The vision is certain of fulfillment because it "shall not lie." God watches over His Word to perform it—to fulfill every promise and to carry out every threat (Jer. 1:10,11). No word from God is without power (Luke 1:37).

"Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay." Though things may appear to slow down developments and events, the vision is going to be fulfilled as given. A temporary slowing down of events will not prevent the fulfillment of the vision.