03/20/2021 – Day 307 – Zephaniah 1:3 // Power packed into two themes: “The Great Day of God at Hand” + “The Coming of a ‘Pure Language’ ” Whoa! – Soli Deo Gloria!
I have a full Saturday at work again, so with prayer, I believe it is ok , another time to borrow from a beloved Christian brother that dedicated his life to the study of His Word. So , I am going to Halley’s Bible Handbook. And, it goes without saying, I am blessed to have it on my book shelf. I will say this short book on Habakkak is just one more example of why I have a book that covers in depth all the prophets, “minor” as well as the five “major” prophets. Again, the distinction of “minor” and “major” just refers to the length of the Book, which does not of course in of itself address “value”.
Y’all might rightly point out that I am not addressing the first of my two major themes of this book: “The Great Day of God at Hand”, or “The Day of the Lord” that we have already seen frequently in the prophets. I am thinking of Joel as one example just a few weeks ago. This is a marked area for further study for me. But suffice to say, it connects with the 2nd coming of Our Lord and the Book of Revelation. In Jewish tradition, there is an idea of a restoration of the nation of Israel within this as well, and of secondary importance for all of us, including Messianic Jews of course, now and in the future.
Ok , I give y’all Haley’s Bible Handbook’s commentary to shed more light, maybe to help us “laser” it:
“This prophecy belongs to period 625 and 606 B.C., probably about 607 B.C. early in Jehoiakim’s reign. The Chaldeans (Babyolonians) were sweeping westward (1:6) but had not reached Judah (3:16)…… (Chronology to “Jerusalem burned” – 586 b.c. not presented here)…
Chapter 1: 1-11. Habakkuk’s Complaint
The prophecy is a complaint to God that his own nation should be destroyed, for its wickedness by a nation that was more wicked. Habakkuk could not see the justice of such a thing. God’s Answer. God replied that He Himself had a purpose in the terrorizing conquests of the Chaldean armies.
(Jimmy note: If and when the Chinese take over as that process is speeding up at a considerable pace under the Biden administration, I can’t see myself making a similar complaint to God. Why? Because , unlike Habakkuk, I don’t think that China is more wicked than us anymore, as wicked as they are. And what is more, I actually think in many ways, China could be considered more Christian than the U.S. Not in terms of numbers, for that , only God knows, but in the sense of the strength of the remnant church. There are a number of Chinese Christian warriors that put their neck on the line daily to worship our Lord. My sense is , not so much here in the U.S. In terms of government elites, I don’t believe the CHines elites would sell out to foreign interests. Biden has already proven that he will sell America out to any foreign elites for the right price, for the material benefit of him and his family. There you have it. Did Benedict Arnold sell out to the British for cash? And what’s more, the Chinese people didn’t vote Xi Jiping in office. I realize that is more than highly questionable that Biden won the election legitimately. But even if he got just 30%, a mark that I’m sure he hit, that would still speak “despicable” for this country. What an unbelievable combination of evil and utter stupidity as we have turned our back completely from God!”)
Ok, enough of Jimmy’s rant…
“Chapter 1:12 – 2:20. Habakkuk’s Second Complaint
Acknowledging that Judah deserved punishment for her Sins, and correction, Habakkuk seeks further enlightenment. God’s Answer. The Chaldean power drunk with the blood of nations shall, in her turn, be destroyed; and God’s People shall yet fill the earth.
“Chapter 3. Habakkuk’s Prayer
A cry to God to do again his wonders, as of old; yet with sublime resignation, and confidence in the eternal security of God’s people (16-19). The lesson of the book is, Man shall live by Faith (2:2-4). Faith is the ability to feel so sure of God, that, no matter how dark the day, there is no doubt as to the outcome. For God’s people there is a GLORIOUS FUTURE. It may be a long way off . But it absolutely Sure. Thus, in the midst of his gloom and despair, Habakkuk was an optimist of the first magnitude. “
And as I noted yesterday, for perspective, it is a basic math problem: Say one can live 120 years. 120 years / infinity = The limit approaching -0-, effectively a -0-! Therefore, as Saint Teresa de Avila pointed out in her writings nearly six centuries below: “From the perspective of heaven, the most miserable life every lived is like a single night in a bad hotel.”
Always Connected by His grace and through prayer…..!