His questions answered, now Habakkuk stood before God. God’s majesty, sovereignty, justice and righteousness shown forth in radiant Glory. There could be no more questions of why? No asking God for His reasoning. Now there was the reverent surrender to God’s plan as it was laid out before Him, knowing of God’s Grace throughout the ages that kept this planet suspended within the Universe. The very creator of all, reigned with power and majesty. The magnitude of seeing God’s Glory left Habakkuk with trembling fear. However, it filled his heart with overflowing hope, joy, and peace; because he also knew of God’s Grace. True faith requires one to see God in magnificent glory with trembling fear at His Majestic Righteousness and Might. Then having seen His Glory, (as through a glass dimly 2 Cor. 3:18), our hearts are overwhelmed with His Grace; turning our trembling fear to faith.
Grace could never be so sweet if we did not first stand before God with trembling fear because of our utter inability to look upon His Righteous Glorious Face without it.
When we consider the depth of depravity that lurks within man’s soul. When we see the darkness of evil that surrounds our cities, our nation, and our world; should we not pause in trembling fear at its power? However, consider the truth: God has won the victory over sin, death, and evil’s grip when Jesus Christ rose from the grave; having paid the penalty for sin and having lead “captivity captives and gave gifts to men” (Ephesians 4:8). After considering this truth, our hearts must tremble at the Grace extended toward each of us; because, “God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
HABAKKUK’S TREMBLING FEAR THAT TURNED TO FAITH
In chapter three, Habakkuk’s prayer is one of reverence, trembling fear before an Almighty, Righteous God who reigns with Justice, Holiness and Power. Habakkuk is fully aware now of God’s plan of judgement upon His people for their continued sins. However, he is also aware that God has promised, “the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). It is in this knowledge, that Habakkuk begins his prayer, “O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).
He recalls God’s Power and Might, as He reigns over all things. Judgement would come upon the people of Judah. That was certain at this point. However, Habakkuk knew that Grace would reign for all who believe, whose faith would give them life. That was when Habakkuk could say,
HABAKKUK 3: 16-19
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
TODAY’S EVIL AND GOD’S RESPONSE
When we consider all the evil that surrounds us, from the shooter in Las Vegas, the North Korean Dictator, and the Isis terrorists. Yes, we have seen the face of pure evil. Also, we have seen natural disasters. Habakkuk knew, the righteous faith-filled people of God were about to face captivity along with all those who had sought after self-pleasures, denying the righteous, power of Almighty God. However, his hope and joy held tight to the promises of God.
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come… For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord” (Habakkuk 2:3,14)
God will return one day. On these the people of God can stand with hope, joy and faith. For those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, this is a wakeup call. Pure evil forces one to awaken to the false narratives of relativism. There cannot be pure evil, if there are no moral standards by which to judge. Pure evil contrasts against a Righteous, Holy God.
HABAKKUK’S TREMBLING FEAR POINTED TOWARD FAITH IN CHRIST
John Piper points out in his sermon, The Just Shall Live by Faith:
Habakkuk couldn’t see ahead to how God would preserve both his holy hatred for sin and his merciful forgiveness of sinners who trust him. But God had revealed it, and so he proclaimed it: the just shall gain their lives in the judgment by faith. He knew that when he called them “just,” they weren’t sinless. He meant that those who are right with God in spite of their sin are those who trust God for his mercy. But how can a holy God, who hates sin, show eternal mercy on sinners who simply trust him for mercy? God did not reveal that much to Habakkuk.
The New Testament Revelation of the Gospel
But he did to the apostle Paul, and the answer is the death of Christ. Paul said it like this:
They are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:24–26) Let me try to translate that into your situation. When you put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, when you give up trying to lead your own life and establish your own worth, and instead surrender your heart to him and bank on him for your future, three things happen. 1) Your sin receives its deserved condemnation. 2) God’s righteousness receives its deserved glorification. 3) And you receive your undeserved justification.(1)
CONCLUSION
All God’s people can stand with hope, joy, and peace; no matter how dark the road may seem. For those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior; today is the day of salvation, if only you will ask Him in. Let your trembling fear be turned to faith, hope and joy.
Jesus said, “ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” Revelation 3:20
If you desire more information concerning the Dichotomous truth of God’s Glory being both His Righteous Justice and His Mercy; please go to God’s Glory Revealed in Justice and Mercy.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
1John Piper, “The Just Shall Live by Faith”, October 31, 1982, DesiringGod.org., accessed October 4, 2017, http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-just-shall-live-by-faith
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