9. Habakkuk 1:4-11 The Embrace Of Faith part 9

God Describes In Detailed Analysis So We Can Pray In Discernment    

The Defense Of God’s Response v.5-11

   The Coming Catastrophe v.5

   The Caustic Chaldeans v.6-11

They Are Bitter v.6  For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter   

 They Are Brash          and hasty nation, which shall march through

They Are Broad       The breadth of the land,

They Are Bombastic to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs 

The word bombastic may look like a non-fitting association as we appraise this group of scathing, mob-like invaders, who are ambitiously chomping at the bit to overtake the Israelis’ homes.

But to take something that’s not yours, and to achieve and secure it by force, is a pretentious and pompous arrangement.  It’s overbearing, arrogant and imperious.

God reveals what is going to happen to Habakkuk, in all this descriptive array of definitive phrases.  Could all this detail of anguishing prospects be an answer to prayer?  This forecast was outlandish and bazaar.  What a frustration of unimaginable grief, that God would allow such disruption to take place on His people.

They Are Brutal v.7    They are terrible and dreadful:  

These invaders were terrifying; they were awe inspiring in their demonstration of power.  The impactful aspect of all this was, that yes, God is mighty too save, able and willing to deliver, but His people had snubbed Him as their Lord.  They had blatantly turned away from God, to false idols, and lurid phony experiences, and now God was backing away from them, to allow them to taste the end result of their stupidity and sin.

They Are Boastful   their judgment and their dignity

                                           shall proceed of themselves. 

This is a strange statement, possibly alluding to the idea that these invading armies didn’t have to answer to anyone, in their mind.  They felt their judgments and decisions were unchallengeable.

Hard to imagine someone being so arrogant, but they were. They felt that their mind was superior.  They concluded they had such dignity and renown, so much so that it preceded them.  This aspect of preceding means it shot ahead of them as a glorious aura and daunting reputation.

They Are Baffling v.8  Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, 

In combat strategy there is great prowess in being faster then a speeding bullet and more powerful then a locomotive.

Having this kind of baffling speed and mystifying swiftness makes for a slick advantage in overwhelming their prey.  It is an amazing combination to be powerful as a horse and as swift and stealthy as a leopard.

They Are Bloodthirsty and are fiercer than the evening wolves:

Wolves have a reputation as savage and ravenous, with incredible jaw strength.  The word fierce is defined sharp, keen and clever in the Hebrew.  The wolves stalk prey in the cover of evening and are intensely sneaky, covert and crafty.

 They are Brisk    and their horsemen shall spread themselves,

                               and their horsemen shall come from far; 

“Shall spread themselves,” means to frisk about, be very spirited and cover the territory rapidly coming from every direction.

They are a Blur   they shall fly as the eagle that hast to eat. 

The significance of the eagle is blazing swiftness and suddenness, in swooping in and surprising his victim.

They are Blinding v.9   They shall come all for violence: 

The intent of these images of predators and warhorses is to demonstrate the raw nature of these invaders that were gobbling up the surrounding civilizations.

They come with the intent of ferocious violence and destructive goals.  We see this on various levels in our world.  The obvious would be terrorist attacks; although, this is carried on by small numbers and under a variety of secret cloaks.  We see an explosion of gang war in our inner cities, but the worst of all violence is sin in our natures and in the lives of our communities.

They are Blustery   their faces shall sup up as the east wind, 

The Bible Knowledge Commentary interprets this phrase as saying that their faces, or the countenance of this invading power will be like a hot enveloping desert wind.

The phrase “their faces”, speaks of their identity, uniqueness and individuality.

“Shall sup up” is a combination of Hebrew terms or combined thoughts.  It almost seems like the thought is that there faces all band into one expression, a countenance that is the longing of intensity, and a panting urgency on something.  And that goal of earnestness is that they are going to be hotter then a desert blast furnace in scorching wind like torrents.

They are Beyond Measure  and they shall gather the captivity

                                              as the sand. 

The desert wind scorches all vegetation and flora and after its blowtorch breath, it leaves only sand.  The Israeli people who survive this singe, after the hordes explode their violence on this exposed, fragile, defenseless people, will be nothing but captured grains of sand, gathered in large dump trucks.

They Are Belligerent  v.10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and

                                             the princes shall be a scorn unto them: 

Whatever royalty was reigning at this time, all of the political elite and leadership class in Israel would be nothing but a disdainful pile of ridicule.  Their former positions of honor will be rejected in derision and contempt.

They Are Belittling   they shall deride every strong hold; 

                                       for they shall heap dust, and take it.

The structures of security and the places of safe refuge will fall like a house of shaky cards and end up like collapsed toothpicks in a jangled mess, like a heap of rubble.

They Are Blasphemous Then shall his mind change, and he shall 

             pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god

A blasphemer is someone who profanes something that is seen as valuable, or of worth to group, or an item that is treasure and appreciated by an individual.

When it refers to changing the mind it could allude to the fact that initially these invading armies had a respect to the power and protective walls and towers of the Israelis.  Or maybe they said that from one side of their mouth, that their life was impressive, inspiring or notable.

People who have a duality of motives can praise us on one hand, and then change their mind in midstream and fire out an ultimate put down of our beliefs and convictions.  They are passing over us and offending in a double intent.

What are we too think of all this rage and destructive force that defies our earthly defenses?

The prophet Isaiah tells us to wait on the Lord.

Isaiah 59:19 When the enemy shall come in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

We fight with all kinds of insecurity, self-doubt and uncertainty.

We can feel ugly, stupid, rejected and even hated.  When we feel that way we’re listening to the whispers of the evil one. This is the enemy coming in like a flood.

The Spirit of the Lord has raised up a standard placing us in Christ.  We are decked in His beauty, we have the mind of Christ, and the Spirit has given us a sound mind.

We are accepted in Christ and loved with an everlasting love by God and the love of Christ is our controlling strength.

The Psalmist has said in Psalms 11:3-5 If the foundations were destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.  The LORD tries the righteous: