Yet I will Rejoice in the LORD In the God of my Salvation ExposeThe Watchman Magazine

Yet I will Rejoice in the Lord

Posted on November 27, 2011 by The Watchman

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Yet I will Rejoice in the Lord,

In the God of my Salvation!

by the Watchman

Dana G Smith

Words: 7826

Keywords: Habakkuk, LORD, God, Salvation, Nations, Judgment, Isaiah, Revelation

Habakkuk whose name means ‘embrace’, faced a national crisis in Judah. The words describe the scene around him and these words are: violence, iniquity, grievance, spoiling, strife, contention, law is slacked, judgment never goes forth, wicked compasses the righteous, wrong judgment is the result. During the time of such crisis, Habakkuk was embraced by God, who answered his questions and found faith and sustenance in God who would see him through the coming trial upon the nation. This prophet would also ‘embrace’ others, and help them to find the God of their salvation as well.

In the beginning of the book, we find this prophet crying to God and asking how long it would be before he would hear. All this wickedness and violence were all around him, it looked as though the wicked and evil had taken over the place. The man of God had faith, but right now, he needed answers to the calamity that surrounded him. Where was God? Why was this happening? How long would the LORD allow it to go on? All this was on the prophets heart and mind, as well on the thoughts of the other righteous in Judah at the time.

Habakkuk 1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.

Habakkuk 1:4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth

It was at this point Habakkuk heard from God. It was an answer though that many would not of wanted to hear. The LORD said to the prophet saying “look at the heathen, regard, and wonder marvellously Habakkuk ; I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you”. It is here that if the prophet thought he had troubles surrounding him now, just wait, for the troubles are just beginning. In essence the LORD said to Habakkuk, whose name means ‘embrace’, “look Habakkuk I see the heathen around you, I know of the situation, I am going to do something about it and when I do, you will not believe it.” Probably no truer words could of been spoken to the Prophet. For wickedness, violence, and much more was all around him, but if that were not bad enough, the LORD was sending judgment upon the land and people.

Habakkuk 1:5 ¶Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

I am reminded of America today and even the world. The same words that described the situation around the Prophet above also fit today’s situation. What was the solution God was going to provide? Was it a new King? Was it a new priesthood? Was there going to be a thorough housecleaning so Habakkuk and the others could enjoy life in Judah before the LORD again? No, No, No, and finally Yes! There would be a housecleaning but when they hear about it, no one would believe this God, the God of Israel would do such a thing to his own people! The LORD would raise up a very nasty, hateful, warring people who made it a way of life to subdue kingdoms. They were known at the time as a very terrible people, with dreadful and blood thirsty ways about them. No one was able to stop them. When they marched, they murdered women, children, and men. They killed the babies in the mothers womb, they burned cities, looted, and gave all the glory to their own Gods. They paid no attention to kings, nations, armies, and peoples, they simply were one of the worst of the worst. They were fighters, murderers, plunderers, and would literally, take any stronghold, burn it, loot it, and then turn it to dust. They will keep the best of the souls of men and women for price, then kill the rest. Yes, these are a bad people!

As I read of the description of the Chaldeans, I think of one group today. That is the Islamic Jihadists. For they too are good at doing such things. They give no mind to kings, nations, princes, and even kill their own people. They take captives and behead them. They blow up their own cities, and willingly send innocent people to eternity without a wince or shrug. Leave things to these people and the chaos in the world would only get worse till they have conquered all they can, take all they can, and then give the glory to their God. Another note here, these Chaldeans were a semi-nomadic tribe that was in the desert in Arabia and around the Persian Gulf. They later became known as Babylonia. These originated from the ‘Ur of the Chaldees’, the same place Abram came from. Even today, the origination of the Jihadist groups is from this same area! Babylon later encompassed the Chaldees.

Habakkuk1:6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.

10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.

11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god

It is here that the prophet addresses the LORD [this word is the personal name for God. It is ‘Yahweh’, YHWH, the covenant name for and personal name of God]. The prophet knows this God, it is his God, the one whom he has a covenant relationship with. Habakkuk brings forth some truths in the statement now as he begins to recover from his shock and horror of what he has heard! It is like God said to Habakkuk, “Yes my son I know it is bad, but I am going to help you. You won’t believe this but I am going to work a miracle here that no one will believe.” At this I can see the Prophet feeling pretty good, that is until he hears the rest. “So my son I am going to raise up a nation far more wicked than Judah and send them into your nation. They will kill everyone, rape the woman, burn the towns, and bring everything to dust.” Wow, what a solution here, that’s what many would think, won’t be any trouble in Judah if it doesn’t exist anymore! But there are purposes behind everything God does, and here the Prophet acknowledges the LORD who gives the covenant and brings forth these truths! The Prophet acknowledges the LORD is from everlasting. No one, no single power, nothing came before him and nothing will be after him. He is all in all, everlasting says the Prophet. He also acknowledges that “we shall not die”. This is the covenant relationship with this God. All those who know him, keeps his covenant, will live and not die. Habakkuk also says of the wicked, “thou has ordained them for judgment, ordained them for correction”. He also says of the LORD, “you have pure eyes, cannot look on evil, nor on iniquity.”

Habakkuk 1:12 ¶Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

It is here that Habakkuk asks the LORD why the wicked are allowed to devour a man more righteous than he? By doing this the Prophet says, these are like fishes of the sea or creeping things that have no ruler. They simply devour whom they want too! Even so is the use of a wicked people the Prophet says to the LORD who are more wicked than Judah. They will catch us in their net, and thus rejoice and be glad at their conquest. They will sacrifice to their God for the plenty and abundance they have gotten. These nations of wicked will not stop slaying the nations! The bigger question than before is this, Why oh LORD do you destroy us in such a way by a people who are more wicked than us, people who deserve more punishment than us? Why do it this Way? Thus, even today in America, we will find judgment, at the hands of wicked people more wicked than us. People who rejoice to slay and murder! People who see joy in our defeat! People who are gladdened by our death! People who see their God triumphing over all nations. Thus we see both Habakkuk and the situation today mirroring each other.

Habakkuk 1:14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

It is here that we see the Prophet saying to himself, “stand your watch, mind your post, and watch for the LORD.” “Wait for the answer from the LORD God and see what he will say. I know I will be reproved for speaking to him like this, but what will I say when he does reprove me?”

Habakkuk 2:1

¶I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

In the sense of time here, we get the word that the LORD did answer him and it did not take long, for the LORD did not reprove him at all! Here we see Questions are accepted at the LORD’S throne! Instead of rebuke and reproof, Habakkuk got a vision and the LORD said to “write the vision and make it plain upon tables [tablets] that he may run that readeth it.” This vision said the LORD needed to be written down so those you give it too can read it while running away from the calamity coming. The vision said the LORD would come to pass, but was for an appointed time, the end will come, though, and will not lie. It would be some time, but wait said the LORD, because it will surely come, it won’t tarry long! Here we see that vision, judgment, and the LORD’S word comes to pass in his timing not man’s. We get impatient and in a hurry. But here the Prophet is warned that it may seem like it is not happening right away, but wait anyway, for it will come. Go ahead the LORD is saying to Habakkuk, tell the people, give them the tablet with the vision so they can read. At first they may mock and you will look like your lying or a false prophet, but the vision will come to pass and will not lie. It will prove what you say, but speak it, don’t hold it back.

Habakkuk 2:2

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

Habakkuk 2:3

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, it will not tarry.

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The first truth in the vison the Prophet is given is that the Proud [those whose soul is lifted up] are not upright. There are those who are just the LORD says, but the just shall live by his faith. Faith in me says the LORD is what is required to please me. Faith will get you through all this. In the midst of turmoil, judgment, chaos, nations falling, the wicked rising and falling, and all manner of evil, I AM saith the LORD, is He who rewards faith. I AM the LORD who saves and keeps alive, who delivers in sheol and brings the just into my presence. There are no magical cures, no fancy visions of deliverance, no carriages to whisk you away, have faith Habakkuk and all those who are just with you, have faith, in me, the one LORD, who keeps covenant with his people! Have faith in me, for that alone will save you! In me you can have peace amidst chaos, peace amidst the storm, peace amidst the wickedness!

The Lesson of the Devouring Nation!

The Proud, and all who do wickedly

The section that follows is one where the Prophet understands now and writes of the end of the wicked and bitter nations of proud people. The wicked and rebellious of Judah had been judged by God’s hand using the Chaldeans, now God revealed to Habakkuk that the instrument of his hand would now be judged for their own wickedness. In the end, the righteous and just LORD God and those who kept covenant with him would stand on that day. Even today, judgment approaches the church, America, and the nations. God is no respecter of persons. All the proud and those who do wickedly, in the church and out of it will be judged, God is no respecter of persons. God will use the instruments of his choosing for this judgment. Judgment will begin at the house of God, then Gods wrath will fall upon the wicked. In the end, just as in Habakkuk’s case, the righteous LORD God and those who kept covenant with him were saved. Today we keep the faith of Jesus, that is, through the ‘blood of the covenant’ Y’Shua, Jesus Christ our LORD. We also keep his commandments, not out of obligation, but out of love, for he saith, ‘if you love me, you will keep my commandments!’ .

There were then as there are now, people driven by desire, selfish pride, false gods, who gather unto themselves the souls of men and heap unto themselves the treasures of people. Their desires are driven by hell and with death they have made an agreement. The same nation that was fueled in Habakkuk’s day, the Chaldeans, has inroads today. There are men and nations driven by the same pride and foolishness, amidst greed.

Habakkuk 2:5

¶Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:

It shall come to pass that the greedy and proud one who increases his stature and nation by taking that which is not his shall find recompense to his head. Those that the people spoiled shall spoil them. Those nations in whom they have shed innocent blood, their own blood shall be shed! Those whom thou has vexed and punish, even they shall punish and vex thee! Because you spoiled many nations, the remnant whom you did not kill shall spoil thee. They shall bite thee, vex thee, and in the end you will become booty for them. Because you shed men’s blood, created violence in the land, the city, and spread it among all people, you shall be recompense likewise.

Habakkuk 2:6

Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!

Habakkuk 2:7

Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?

Habakkuk 2:8

Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

You think because you have power, wealth, and have a large army this will not happen? You set your place of refuge on high, surrounded by your own power, and you think this will not happen to you? Because of your greed and lust to cut off people and shed blood, you have sinned against your own soul. Thus your own soul and your own blood shall be the debt that will be paid! You have built your town with the blood of men and established your cities through iniquity. As such every beam, stone, and timber of the work of your hand shall cry out on that day for iniquity you have committed.

Habakkuk 2:9

Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!

Habakkuk 2:10

Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

Habakkuk 2:11

For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

Habakkuk 2:12

Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!

The Lesson of the Vanity of Men!~

Their Efforts to Overthrow the LORD!~

One major lesson Habakkuk has revealed is that men and nations reap what they sow! God judges the wicked and will not tolerate wickedness and rebellion. It will only go on for so long, then we find what we call is ‘God’s Grace’. ‘God’s Grace’ is that moment of time which the LORD allows for men to repent of their deeds and find forgiveness. When a nation and people have gone beyond that grace, judgment occurs, just like it did on Sodom, Gomorrah, Israel the northern tribes, and on Judah itself. This has occurred all throughout history, God is the sovereign LORD over the nations. In the end all nations and rulers, men and tribes according to Psalm 2 want to throw off the ‘bonds’ of the LORD God. They do not want his rulership nor judgment! Away they say, far from us, don’t torment us before our time, let us do as we please! But again, the LORD has the final say in all things, including America.

It is that vanity, or ‘useless’ that men do, which will get them nowhere. To men laboring to build cities, get rich, erect homes, and start families this is the way of knowledge. Many times this knowledge is without God. It has no Godly wisdom, it is foolishness! They live to themselves and reject any notion of the LORD God having any sovereignty over them or their nations. So men and women spend their time idly laboring away at things that don’t matter in the whole scheme of the LORD God. They serve the lusts of the flesh, desires of the mind, and follow their own noses into the depths of sheol all the while rejecting any notion of a God who commands men to repent! Thus men create and build and do their own thing. They put together for themselves lives that have left God out, thus they follow their own proud way before God. The key to this lesson Habakkuk gives is this, in the end, after all the wickedness and struggles of men. After all the short lived lives of rulers and kingdoms, the Eternal LORD God, who is from Eternity will still be here! Man without God is lost, God without man is still God! In the end, the prophet says, after the judgment on Judah, after the judgment on the Chaldeans, God is still in Charge! After it all, in the end, the whole earth shall be filled with the the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.. All their labors, all the proud ways of men, were as vanity and useless before God! Why? Because it did not change anything! God is still God, he is still in charge and all the strivings of men and nations will not change it! Many nations have come and gone, along with the foolish proud people who inhabited them. The LORD, however, is still on the throne, in charge, bringing to pass his will in the earth. Amidst all the change, God is unchangeable. As we who know him, who is unchangeable, so too, we can find solice and help in time of need.

This is a major lesson that people in America need to understand. There is a work that the LORD is going to work in these days, that though it be told to you, you won’t believe it! Judgment is coming to America, the church, and the nations! We in this country tend to think everything revolves around our money, our dollar, our economy, our churches, our ideals, our lives, our business, our freedoms, our ways! Habakkuk gives us a picture that it doesn’t! America especially needs to learn this lesson! God is going to judge the wickedness before him in this land, it’s people, and it’s churches! The main point for Christians today is not what some prophet in America says, the main point here is ‘the just shall live by faith’. Yes God has sent some prophets to the nations, but the word of this Prophet Habakkuk says, ‘the just shall live by faith’. Not by your credit card, your doctor, your store, your job, your church, your own ways, your own thoughts, or anything other than, ‘live by faith in the true LORD God’ who saved you, forgave you, and has brought you this far! In the end, again, let me say as does Habakkuk; “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” It is until that process is complete that the LORD will and does expect his people to ‘walk by faith’, not striving nor giving in to the vanities of the flesh and mind. All the strivings of men will get them nowhere, same with the church! Let us put off carnality and vanity, walking by faith, trusting in this God to keep us and bring us through. After all, that is what faith says! It is this God who is trustworthy and is not a man that he should or even could lie. It is this God who will do as he says and will finish what he starts. The redeemed of the LORD will be brought forth for all the world to see, you can bank on it, count on it, and will see it done! How do I know this? The LORD says so, “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Bringing forth his redeemed is part of that glory, for his glory, his purpose, and to complete his word, he will bring us forth, as gold shining crystal clear and pure in him! All vanity gone, worldliness erased, carnal ways vanished, lusts of the flesh and mind destroyed by the blood of the Lamb and the power of the LORD.

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1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Habakkuk 2:13

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

The Lesson of the Gods of the Nations!~

The Idols of Men!~

Habakkuk now discusses the Chaldeans in more detail and the fact that these people served their idols. It was this bitter and hasty nation the LORD used to judge Judah, yet this nation would be next for their own wickedness. In the day of destruction on Judah the Chaldeans rejoiced, but this glorying would be to their shame! It was not glory at all but the sinful state of men fomented by their own pride that would end up as their downfall. These people as with other nations trust their own gods, their own prideful ways, and ignore the true and living God. It was this nation Habakkuk says who trusted in their own dumb idols. They made their own Gods, graven images inlaid with gold and silver upon the wood they carved. They bow to it, speak to it, listen for it to speak, but these dumb idols have no breath that they could speak, nor ears to hear, nor eyes to see, yet these made obeisance to them. Even today we have nations that do bow to idols, and serve gods of their choosing.

For America, hers is a nation of many idols and false Gods. One major God here is pleasure, another is technology, another is money, and the list goes on! The point here the Prophet says is that there is only one God. It is he who speaks, hears, observes, and is alive. It is he who is the God of the covenant and redeems men! It is he, the LORD, who is in his holy temple, therefore says Habakkuk, “let all the earth keep silence before him.” Again here is the reminder to all believers today. We who are alive today will experience the time of the end and the LORD who keeps covenant with his people, honors his word, and he it is who will bring his will to pass! Wickedness will end, rebellion will be put down, and the LORD of Glory will shine and his knowledge will fill the earth. In that time, place, and forever after, we will know truly the “love of God” and what he had in store “for those who loved him and kept his word”. Those who ‘lived by faith’ and thus trusted the LORD God of all things who redeems!

Psalms 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

Habakkuk 2:15

¶Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

Habakkuk 2:16

Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

Habakkuk 2:17

For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

Habakkuk 2:18

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

Habakkuk 2:19

Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

Habakkuk 2:20

But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

The Lesson of the Awesomeness of God!~

His Judgments in the EARTH!~

The Prophet in chapter three discusses the work of the LORD and asks Him to remember mercy amidst his wrath. It is here that we must understand that the God of all creation could have at any time ended all things, he did not! He is Omnipotent, all powerful, he can do anything, yet in his power, he has mercy. Even in judgment, he has mercy! Habakkuk speaks of the truly magnificent God which he knows. The One who came from Teman [Edom], the Holy One from Mount Paran [the mountainous region west of Edom], which reflects Moses words of God coming to Israel in the wilderness in Deuteronomy 33:2.

Habakkuk 3:2

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 3:3

¶God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

Habakkuk 3:4

And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

Habakkuk 3:5

Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

Habakkuk 3:6

He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.

The one who was Light thus had power come out of his hand. When he came to judge the earth and the peoples, such as he did upon the Chaldeans, pestilence and burning coals were heaped upon them. He drove the nations, and in his anger even the mountains and hills seemed to give way. Isaiah uses similar language to describe endtime scenarios that occur upon the earth.

Isaiah 24:19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

It is at the display of the LORD’S might and power which visibly alters the frame of men. For even the most ardent brave man would fear and hide from this LORD. When the LORD brings judgment upon a land, a people, and by his mighty hand, in simple terms, “the people tremble”. The LORD’S wrath seemed heaped upon the whole world at the time as the darkness of the Day of the LORD is brought to pass upon a people. His arrows come from the bow of the LORD of Hosts. When the display of the LORD’S might is brought to bear in righteous anger and judgment all the world, earth, moon, and sun seem to stand still. All is silent before him as his wrath devours everything, the whole of eternity is silent as God moves in justice and the power of his might!

Habakkuk 3:7

I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

Habakkuk 3:8

Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?

Habakkuk 3:9

Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.

Habakkuk 3:10

The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.

Habakkuk 3:11

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.

Habakkuk relates the words of the scene upon the Chaldeans and upon all the wicked on that day. The terms which he uses are: indignation, heathen, anger, woundest the head of the wicked, and thou didst strike the head of villages. All this relates well to Isaiah, when this prophet says of the destruction that comes upon men from Gods righteous judgment that “fear, pit, and the snare are upon thee O inhabitant of the earth”. If you flee from the noise of the fear, you will fall in the pit, and if you recover out of the pit, you will be taken in the snare. There is no escape saith my God to those who ignore the Lord!

Isaiah 24:17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

Habakkuk 3:12

Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.

Habakkuk 3:13

Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.

Habakkuk 3:14

Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.

Habakkuk 3:15

Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

Habakkuk now reveals that in the sight of this, the wrath of the LORD he trembles. It is that wrath, Habakkuk says, which is for the ‘salvation of thy people’ that the LORD wounded the head of the house of the wicked. Here let it be noted that the LORD gives tribulation to them that come against the righteous of God, vengeance is the LORD’s, he will repay! In the midst of this wrath, the mere flesh of human beings are left without strength, quivering, trembling, and unable to stand! It is also here that the righteous need to look to the LORD that they “might rest in the day of trouble.” These are very important lessons, especially for America or any nation God judges. His hand of judgment is awesome power, displayed in might, there is no escape. It is complete, full, and in justice. Because of this, the mere mortal really see’s the power and might of eternity displayed in the hand of the LORD!

Habakkuk and HIS Testimony!~

Bottom LINE FAITH!~

Here we find Habakkuk describe his physical reactions to what he knew was coming and what he saw as judgment which came both to Judah and to the Chaldeans. In the awesome display of the LORD God, we are his creation and as such have to at sometime get perspective in Gods world. The truth is when God moves, his display’s of power and might bring us to our senses and we finally understand that this God is in charge and his power is one of magnificience. His power and might cannot be match. Many times we talk about how small man is in the presence of the displays of nature such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and more. Behind those displays is not a figure known as ‘mother nature’ as many today like to refer to it nor is it ‘mother earth’! In all things he is God, and it is by his might, power, and hand that the earth and nature itself were created and are maintained. In the presence of the LORD God it is not uncommon to tremble, quiver, and the knee’s go limp. For we are flesh, mere flesh and bone and cannot stand before God without the cause and effect of our LORD Jesus Christ who brought us into the presence of this God. But when such displays, even the believer who see’s these displays, they will definately bring our physical ability and reactions to God’s mighty hand as one of humility. For no flesh will stand before the LORD during these times. All the pride, flesh, power of men, and arrogance will fail before the God who is awesome in his might!

Habakkuk 3:16

¶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.

Judgment was coming, Habakkuk knew it was coming. He knew God would judge the wicked and rebellious of Judah and then he would judge the Chaldeans. However, he also knew one fact, which was, he had to go through it! In this the prophet declared his bottom line faith. He was a prophet and God had told him what he was going to do! Yet the Prophet was a man, mere flesh whom knew this God! He did not know the exact time, date, or for that matter all the exact details! Because of this, he only knew one thing for sure, judgment was coming and it would be terrible! He would see death, destruction, famine, and more! This should speak volumes to the Christians today who hunger for exact details of prophetic judgment! They seek after soothsayers, comforters, false prophets, wanna bee’s, should of been’s, and in all this they fail many times to do one thing! That is what God said all who are following the LORD God need to do and are commanded to do! That is, “LIVE By FAITH”. Habakkuk found this secret and at the end of the book he wrote he declared his bottom LINE FAITH. He had found the source of strenght, comfort, joy, peace, and knew in all things, no matter what, this God would be faithful. Therefore, Habakkuk would not worry. No matter what came, no matter what he went through, no matter how bad it was, he would, “REJOICE in the LORD [here Yahweh, the covenant, personal name of God], and JOY in the God of his SALVATION”!

Again let me state that when this judgment comes, as Habakkuk says now, referring to the judgment upon Judah, he will rejoice in the LORD [the God of the covenant, the one who saves, and honors his word with his people], and he will joy in the God of his salvation! It is here we see that Habakkuk who saw violence, wickedness all around, and asked the LORD to do something, now would see the judgment of God upon Judah and the wicked there who violated his covenant! It would be in that judgment when the fig tree would not blossom, nor any fruit be on the vines, nor any olive for oil, nor herds and flocks, nor fields with grains and other food, that this Prophet would then find out that the LORD would be his sustenance and support.

Habakkuk 3:17

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:

Habakkuk 3:18

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:19

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

In the midst of nothing to cling on, no stores to buy food from, no gas for cars, no doctors to fix your hurts, nor government to deliver you, no arm of the flesh of man to save you, that the God of YOUR SALVATION would come and be at your side. He would give you strength to endure, make your feet not be weary, bring you into the high places in God. There in the cleft of the rock, amidst the throne of God, under the shelter of his wings, you will be protected and gathered for his names sake. For this is the LORD, the God of the covenant, he will not break his word, he is faithful, he cannot deny himself.

Yes, Habakkuk and his compatriots saw destruction. They saw famine, trouble, death, murder, and even some of the righteous died, but not one of the righteous lost one hair of their head! Why? Because the God who creates would bring them into his kingdom in new bodies. He is the God of Creation and re-creation!

Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Today, in America, in the churches, and in the world, trouble is coming! Judgment is at the door! Major shaking is coming. Along with it comes persecution and martyrdom for the saints of God. Judgment begins at the house of God, then the Wrath of God falls upon the wicked and those who do not obey the Gospel of God. These are the times warned about in Scripture. These are the days when ‘those who endure to the end will be saved.’ The day when we overcome by the ‘blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and we love not our lives unto the death’. These are the days as a snare which will come upon the whole earth! These are perilous times! Wickedness is everywhere! Perversion and rebellion before God are rampant, yet God will keep you and your family if you will turn to him with all your heart, mind, and soul!

REAL MEAT for the Soul in Hard Times!~

2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

A WORD!~

Write thie WORD plainly upon a tablet!~

That he that reads it can do so, even while he runneth!~

The Watchman Dana G Smith,

Let the Watchman declare what he see’s Is 21:6

Judgment and Anguish shall come on thee in a moment, but I will sustain and deliver those who look unto me, the LORD, the God of thy Salvation!

For those who do so, in repentance and with a true heart do seek me, I even I will lift them up.

For I AM saith my God, the Savior! There is no other God besides me. I will save and deliver to the uttermost!

Gather around my children, come close, till the indignation be passed over, for the terrible wrath of thy God upon the nations cometh!

To those who look for me, I shall be found, to those who seek me, I will come near!

But to the Proud, to the wicked, to the ungodly, the wrath will be full measure, for all flesh shall be humbled before me.

The trial cometh, for those who love me, these shall walk in faith before me, knowing the way prepared for them.

He that walketh before me as my child, by faith, looking to me, Him shall I deliver to myself!

But know this, the season of persecution and trouble begins soon, it is at the door! He that is mine, must endure to the end, by faith, looking to me, The God of your salvation, the LORD who keeps his Word!

Shalom and Blessings,

The Watchman Dana G Smith Is 21:6