" 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. His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And the hiding of His might is there.
Before Him goes plague, And plague comes forth after Him.
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." - Habbakuk 3:3-6
Habbakuk VI
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We are privileged to finally catch just a glimpse of what the prophet Habbakuk might have seen in his vision, recorded here after the specific words of the LORD in chapter 2.
It is interesting to note, that these opening words (of our text today) are almost an echo of Moses' blessing to the children of Israel long ago...
"And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. And he said, ---The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from ---mount Paran---, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his --right hand went a --fiery law for them.--" Deut 33:1,2
Habbakuk and Moses are seeing the same Person!
Teman is typically used to denote the south, but it is also a reference to the kingdom of Esau and the kings of Edom.
"These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke ---Teman----, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz," - Genesis 36:15
"Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished? " - Jeremiah 49:7
What could Habbakuk have seen that predicted destruction in that area ... ?? (Plague and earthquakes). Here are snippets from other prophets, talking about judgment to come.
Eze_25:13 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from --Teman--; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword."
Amo_1:12 "Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: But I will send a fire upon ---Teman---, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah."
Oba_1:9 "And thy mighty men, O ---Teman--, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter."
When will the everlasting mountains be shattered? or the ancient hills collapse?
Rev 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a --great earthquake, such as was not -----since men were upon the earth----, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and -----the mountains were not found."
We are seeing the LORD come forth at the end of the 7th vial/bowl, hiding His power no longer, coming to finish what He started. Habbakuk tells us quite plainly..
" 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(/thigh/foundation) to neck. " - Habbakuk 3:13
And it must have been terrifying to watch..
"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? Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even ---thy ---word. Selah.
Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. 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. 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.
Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. 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.
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. Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters."
--- Habbakuk 3:8-15
And dear Habbakuk had the same reaction that you or I would have at a sight like this....
"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." - H 3:16
What started out as doubt and questioning in Habbakuk 1, has been transformed into terror and joy at the LORD's gracious answer, revealed in the verses immediately following!
"Though 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: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 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."
Once you come to know the LORD, there is a safety, security and peace, even in the worst of circumstances, knowing that these temporary tribulations are not worthy to be compared to the glory which is in store for us! The first modern church praise and worship concert was conducted in PRISON!! [[ Act_16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.]]
So be of good cheer, even though earthly systems, cultures and mores are crashing around us, the LORD is faithful to deliver us from all our troubles!
Hallelujah & Happy FATHER’s day!!