Habacuque 1

Habacuque 1

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - Art not Thou from everlasting, O Lord my God? Thou diest not. Habakkuk 1:12 Note the attributes of God, which are enumerated in these words. His eternity—He is from everlasting; He is the Holy One—of purer eyes than to behold evil; the Almighty—the Rock. Is it not wonderful that mortals should be permitted to put the possessive pronoun before these wonderful words, and claim this glorious God for themselves! My God; mine Holy One. But the most remarkable is the reading suggested above by the words, “Thou diest not”; “He only hath immortality.” Time cannot lay its hand upon his nature, or death dissolve it. His hair is white, but not with the whiteness of decay, but of unutterable purity. He need not tremble at the summons of man’s great last foe. Unchangeable! The same yesterday, today, and for ever! The death of death! The destruction of the grave! He dies not. All this is true; but it is true also that in the person of his Eternal Son He died. He laid down his life, though none took it from Him. He bowed his glorious nature beneath the yoke of death. Because the children were partakers of flesh and blood, He took part in the same, that through death He might destroy death. Though He ever liveth, yet He became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. There are many mysteries like those at which the prophet hints. He holds his peace whilst the wicked swallows up the man that is more righteous than himself. It is the problem of all ages why God should permit it; but whatever be the explanation, it cannot be because He has vacated the throne of the universe, or that his arm is weakened by disease. From everlasting to everlasting He is God. (Habakkuk Commentaries) They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel (Psalm 106:13). A friend found it difficult to be patient during a long hospital stay. She was a Christian, but she feared that some sins from her past were too bad to be forgiven. I assured her that when she confessed them to God He forgave her. And her doctors reassured her that her depression would lift and she would get better. Still she found it difficult to wait for the light to break through. Habakkuk was perplexed and impatient too. First he complained to God about the evils of the Israelites (Hab 1:2, 3, 4). The Lord responded by saying that He would use the Babylonians to scourge them (Hab 1:5-11). Then the prophet raised a new problem—Babylon was more wicked than Israel (Hab 1:12-17). Though frustrated, Habakkuk didn't act rashly. Instead, he showed reverence for God by declaring that he would wait for Him to make things clear. When God spoke to Habakkuk again, He assured the prophet that He would give him the answer. He com­manded him to write it clearly so that he could proclaim it speedily. But He also told Habakkuk that he would have to wait awhile before seeing all the wrongs made right. This delay was a trying experience for Habakkuk, but the answer eventually came, and at just the right time. Patience is a virtue that carries a lot of wait. Habakkuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?: Your eyes are too pure: Job 15:15 Ps 5:4,5 Ps 11:4-7 Ps 34:15,16 1Pe 1:15,16 Why do You look with favor: Ps 10:1,2,15 Ps 73:3 Jer 12:1,2 Deal: Isa 21:2 33:1 Why are You silent: Es 4:14 Ps 35:22 Ps 50:3,21 Ps 83:1 Pr 31:8,9 Isa 64:12 The wicked: Hab 1:3,4 2Sa 4:11 1Ki 2:32 Ps 37:12-15, Ps 37:32,33 Ps 56:1,2 Acts 2:23 3:13-15 Habakkuk 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Your eyes are too pure to approve evil - In other words, He can only look on things that are pure. Whereas the previous verse expressed Habakkuk's faith and trust in his God, he now expresses his confusion over God's actions. Habakkuk says that the Lord’s character is so pure that he cannot bear to behold evil. Compare Abraham's question to God in Ge 18:23-25.