Habakkuk 3:3-15
3 ¶God comes from Teman,
And the Holy One from Mount Paran.
Selah
His splendor covers the heavens,
And the earth is full of His praise.
4 His radiance is like the sunlight;
He has rays flashing from His hand,
And the hiding of His might is there.
5 Before Him goes plague,
And plague comes forth after Him.
6 He stood and caused the earth to shudder;
He looked and caused the nations to jump.
Yes, the everlasting mountains were shattered,
The ancient hills collapsed.
His paths are everlasting.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan under distress,
The tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling.
8 ¶Did the Lord rage against the rivers,
Or was Your anger against the rivers,
Or was Your rage against the sea,
That You rode on Your horses,
On Your chariots of salvation?
9 You removed Your bow from its holder,
The arrows of Your word were sworn.
Selah
You divided the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw You and quaked;
The downpour of waters swept by.
The deep raised its voice,
It lifted high its hands.
11 Sun and moon stood in their lofty places;
They went away at the light of Your arrows,
At the radiance of Your flashing spear.
12 In indignation You marched through the earth;
In anger You trampled the nations.
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For the salvation of Your anointed.
You smashed the head of the house of evil
To uncover him from foot to neck.
Selah
14 You pierced with his own arrows
The head of his leaders.
They stormed in to scatter us;
Their arrogance was like those
Who devour the oppressed in secret.
15 You trampled on the sea with Your horses,
On the foam of many waters.
Habakkuk’s Prayer (2)
The Second Coming of the Messiah (v 3-7)
In his prayer, Habakkuk desires that God’s promises be fulfilled quickly. At the same time, he confesses his faith that even if there are things he cannot understand now, everything will be resolved at the time of the Second Coming of the Lord. Verse 3 says, “God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor covers the heavens, And the earth is full of His praise.” (1) According to Micah 2:12, the place where the Messiah will return to the earth is Bozrah, the capital of Edom (modern-day Petra). It says, “I will certainly assemble all of you, Jacob, I will certainly gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in the fold; like a flock in the midst of its pasture they will be noisy with people.” (2) Verse 3 prophesies, “God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran.” When traveling from Bozrah (Petra) toward Jerusalem, the first town encountered is Teman. The route is Bozrah, Teman, the wilderness of Paran, the Valley of Jehoshaphat (the Kidron Valley) near Jerusalem, and then Jerusalem. (3) The Second Coming of the Messiah is described as the manifestation of the Shekinah Glory (the same is prophesied in Zechariah 14). (4) The Second Coming of the Messiah is a terrifying event for sinners. Verse 6 says, “He stood and caused the earth to shudder; He looked and caused the nations to jump. Yes, the everlasting mountains were shattered, the ancient hills collapsed. His paths are everlasting.” The nations that tremble are those that invaded to destroy Israel. The people who dwell in the land of Midian (the tents of Cushan) tremble because the Second Coming of the Messiah has taken place.
Calamity (v 8-15)
Along with the Second Coming of the Messiah, various extraordinary events will occur. (1) Verses 8-10 describe the disturbances that occur on the earth. (2) Verse 11 describes the disturbances that occur in the heavens. (3) Verses 12-15 describe the final war that we call the Battle of Armageddon. “You” refers to the Messiah. The purpose of the Messiah’s return is to save Israel (a more detailed prophecy is found in Isaiah 63:1-7). “The head of the house of the evil” refers to the Antichrist. In 2 Thessalonians 2:8 it says, “Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will eliminate with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.” At the time of the Messiah’s return, the Antichrist will be the first to be destroyed. (4) The enemies of Israel rage as they try to scatter the people of Israel (when Habakkuk says “I,” he is referring to the people of Israel). However, the Messiah will defeat the enemies of Israel with supernatural power. Habakkuk found the answer to the many questions and contradictions of life in the Second Coming of the Messiah. When the Messiah returns to the earth, all evil will be destroyed, and the contradictions will be resolved. Let us believe this. Even if we do not understand now, the time will come when the Lord’s will is fully accomplished.
Today's prayer
Almighty God, thank You for giving us the hope of the Messiah’s return. Please protect me so that my faith will not be shaken. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.