LESSON 16
Act V - Final Scene
We are continuing our journey through chapter 3, which is part V of our Outline: Habakkuk's Psalm/Song/Prayer of Praise.
In the first two verses of chapter 3 we saw how Habakkuk's approach to God was different from his approach in the first chapter. We noticed his humility and his awe when he encountered his mighty, glorious and holy God.
We saw how Habakkuk was no longer obsessed with the sins of Judah or Babylon, but had begun to focus on God and His work in history. God's deeds were "His deeds," not man's. And then he asks God to remember mercy as His displays His wrath. Habakkuk moved from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, a move we all need to take at various times in our lives.
In verses 3-15 of chapter 3, Habakkuk is recalling the history of the Jewish people from their location in Egypt, through their release and freedom, their journey in the wilderness and then their coming "home" to the Promised Land.
In verses 3-10 Habakkuk recounted many of God's acts in the history of His chosen people.
Now we come to the final verses (11-19) of Habakkuk's great hymn. He is continuing his journey through the history of Israel and recalling God's great acts.
(11) Sun and moon stood still in the heavens
at the glint of your flying arrows
at the lightning of your shining spear.
(12) In wrath you strode through the earth
and in anger you threshed the nations.
(13) You came out to deliver your people,
to save your anointed one.
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness
You stripped him from head to foot.
Selah
(14) With his own spear you pierced his head
when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though about to devour
the wretched who were in hiding.
(15) You trampled the sea with your horses,
churning the great waters.
Verse 11 likely refers to the events described in Joshua 10. In this account, Joshua had made a pact with the powerful city of Gibeon. This frightened the neighboring Amorite cities, who united under the 5 most powerful kings and attacked Gibeon, luring the Israelite army to come to the aid of Gibeon and be trapped by the Amorite armies.
Gibeon appealed to Joshua, their ally, for his help, and after an all-night march, Joshua and his Israelite army arrived and was able to take the Amorites by surprise just outside the walls of Gibeon. The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in the great victory of Gibeon (Judges 10:10).
On the day the LORD gave the Amorites
over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD:
O sun, stand still over Gibeon
O moon, over the valley of Aijalon.
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on its enemies
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since. -- Joshua10
The passage also records that God sent great hailstones down on the fleeing Amorites, and that more died from those than from the Israelite swords. Lightning usually accompanies hail....lightning of your flashing spear....
{Wonder if Indiana Jones could discover that lost Book of Jashar? And isn't it interesting that some scientists today searching their powerful computers tell us that there is a day missing from the world's historic record?}
I was thinking about all these dramatic acts of God that Habakkuk is recalling. We find a lot of great ideas in the Old and New Testaments. But think of the acts of God -- acts He performed, and is now performing, on behalf of His people -- Christianity is concerned with what we believe about God, but more than that, it concerned with God's acts toward us. Not just what He thinks about us, but what He actually did and does for us -- that is the basis of our Christian faith.
God tells us of His love. He demonstrates it through His acts. We tell God about our love for Him. We demonstrate it through our acts in obedience to Him. This is how the just live by faith.
Verse 13: You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot.
This verse might be a puzzle. It seems to refer to acts in history, but there is another thought -- the why of it all -- the rest of the psalm/hymn talks about what God has done -- now Habakkuk says why God did it (and is doing it).
And why is God so active in man's history? It's so profoundly simple - the common thread that connects the entire Bible story from Genesis to Revelation -- to deliver His people!
Perhaps Habakkuk is remembering David and his victory over Goliath. That could be the thought, then, behind verse 14: With his own spear You pierced his head....
But maybe it is not that specific incident Habakkuk is thinking of. The ancient Jewish rabbis talked about God's word, especially prophecy, as being patterns of history. Maybe Habakkuk was thinking of God overall practice of coming to the aid of His people. Of delivering them from times of trouble. Maybe the anointed one was one of their kings; maybe it was David. Referencing the incident of David and Goliath would make sense here.
Then there is another possibility, that, as Habakkuk was moved by the Holy Spirit to write these words, they were, in fact, singularly prophetic. Someday God's Anointed One will indeed crush the head of the leader of wickedness, Satan himself, and fulfill the prophecy in Genesis 3:15.
So there are several possibilities to choose from in looking at these words in verses 13 and14. Maybe they are all correct. Maybe they refer to repeated patterns as the ancient Jewish scholars would say.
But in any event, re-read those chilling phrases in verse 14: when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding. Those frightening word images paint the perfect picture of the fear and terror inspired by those "gloating warriors."
(Not a bedtime story Mr. Rogers would recommend!)
Another reminder of what a great poet Habakkuk was!
FUN PROJECTS FOR LESSON 16
1. Read Deuteronomy 8. Moses is speaking to the Israelites. See verses 17 and 18. Who really deserves the credit for producing our wealth? Do these verses remind you of a parable Christ told? (Luke 12:13-21). What was the sin of the man in the parable?
2. Read Deuteronomy 11:10-12. How did the Promised Land differ from Egypt? Notice how the text says God "cares" for the land and His eyes are on it continually. How should we treat the land on this planet?
3. Read Deuteronomy 9:4-6. Note the way God's plan weaves together. He gave the Promised Land to His people, not because they were numerous or righteous (not because they deserved) but because of what?
Why did he tell them to annihilate (verse 3) the inhabitants of the land?
4. Read Deuteronomy 12:29-32. What detestable pagan religious practice abhors God?
