Habacuque 2
John Trapp · Citado em PreceptAustin
Habacuque 2
Trapp writes that Habakkuk stands… To see what becomes of my prayer, and what will be the issue of my doubts and temptations about God’s providence, ruling the affairs of the world. See Habakkuk 1:17. There are spaces between our prayers and God’s answers. God hear what Habakkuk speaks; and Habakkuk must hear in a while what God speaks. This he had learned from David, Ps 85:8. Prayer is a Christian’s angel, seed, dove, messenger; and must be looked after. Who shoots an arrow, or casts a bowl, and takes not notice where it lights? They that observe not the answer of their prayers do as scoffing Pilate, who asked in scorn of Christ what is truth (Jn 18:38) but stayed not for an answer. (Ed: Big mistake!) Stand… station - Notice two similar words emphasize the prophet's resoluteness to remain until he hears God's voice! Remember that Habakkuk is a very unusual book because it is based entirely on a dialogue between a man and God! Beloved, may God grant that this same description would be true in our lives - that our "Book of Life" so to speak would be based entirely on an unceasing dialogue between us and our Father Who art in heaven! (cp 1Th 5:17-note) Achtemeier observes that Habakkuk's actions manifest his "firm confidence that God has yet more to speak and do, and the persistent, patient waiting and watching for that divine speech and action." (Ed: See passages re "waiting on God" = Ps 33:20; 106:13; Isa. 40:31; Zeph. 3:8; cf. Lk 11:5-12). Station (03320)(yatsab) literally means to stand, and figuratively to stand firm as in a state of inner strength, reflecting the fact that one is not moving or running away from something or someone (Ex 14:13). Yatsab often functions in a military context (1Sa 17:16, Jer 46:4), Yatsab functions also in a cultic context with the sense of presenting oneself formally before God, frequently in anticipation of something major: e.g., the commissioning of a new leader (Dt 31:14; cf. 1Sa10:19), covenant renewal (Jos 24:1), the performance of a miracle (1Sa 12:16) or as in the present passage, a revelation from God (Hab 2:1). On the rampart (KJV = tower) is used figuratively, for in ancient times when one wanted to look into the distance, they would ascend to a high place. Thus Habakkuk did not mean he was going to literally ascend a tower to wait but that he is expressing "his innermost attitude by the symbol of a watchman. He remained silent and eagerly looked for the reply." (Gaebelein). In a sense, the waiting, expectantly looking prophet in these opening verses of Chapter 2 is a wonderful illustration of Jesus' instruction to "seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you." (Lk 11:9) Indeed, in Hab 2:2ff God begins to speak to Habakkuk's seeking heart. J
Habacuque 2
Trapp - Set me firm and fast (as a champion that will keep his ground) upon the tower or fortress of Divine meditation, upon God’s Word, which alone has a settling property to compose the soul when distempered (unsettled), and to lodge a blessed calm, a Sabbath of rest in it, far above all philosophical consolations. (I will) keep watch to see what He will speak to me - OT prophets are repeatedly referred to as watchmen for God (Jer 6:17; Ezek 3:17; Ezek 33:7; Hos. 9:8), watching His people and watching to receive communication from Him to speak to the people they were watching over. Their messages as watchman often had the sense of giving a warning to the people… Ezek 3:17-note “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. Ezek 33:7 “Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth, and give them warning from Me. Keep watch (06822)(tsaphah-word study) conveys idea of being fully aware of a situation in order to gain some advantage or keep from being surprised by an enemy. It speaks literally of keeping watch for some event (a Watchman).
Habacuque 2
Trapp applies Habakkuk's attitude and action to God's modern day prophets (in the sense of those who speak forth the Word - preachers of the Word) Preachers must still hearken to what the Lord God says to them and in them (Ed: Spirit "speaking" through urges, burdens, etc - see example below); speaking as the oracles (utterances) of God (1Pe 4:11-note) and able to say with Paul, "I have received of the Lord that which also I deliver unto you" (1Cor 11:23). Pastor Chuck Swindoll discusses several examples of God speaking to and in him during his 50 years in ministry writing: I can think of several surprising moments when I have been the recipient of the Spirit’s disclosures. • Biblical insights I would otherwise have missed. • A sudden awareness of God’s will or the presence of danger or a sense of peace in the midst of chaos. • A surge of bold confidence in a setting where there would otherwise have been fear and hesitation. • A quiet, calm awareness that I was not alone, even though no other person was actually with me. • The undeniable, surrounding awareness of evil … including the dark sinister presence of demonic forces. In each case I was made aware of the truth, which the Spirit disclosed to me. (I highly recommend Embraced by the Spirit: the Untold Blessings of Intimacy with God) Watch (06822) (tsaphah) means to keep an eye on something or someone and so to guard or watch over. God watches over men (Ge 31:49) and nations (Ps 66:7). Click here for more discussion on watchman. Would it be that all God's people had a "Habakkuk Habit" of keeping our eyes open and on guard for the approaching messenger (as well as approaching danger), especially the one bringing a message from God! ARE YOU LIVING LIFE AS A "GOSPEL WATCHMAN"?