The triumph of faith.
I. HABAKKUK'S GOD. (Habakkuk 1:12, Habakkuk 1:13.)
1. Eternal. From everlasting (Psalms 93:2), and therefore to everlasting (Psalms 90:1); hence immutable (Malachi 3:6), without variableness or shadow cast by turning (James 1:17), in respect of his being (1 Timothy 1:17), character (Isaiah 63:16; Psalms 111:3), purpose (Job 23:13), and promise (Hebrews 6:17).
2. Holy. In himself the absolutely and the only stainless One (Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 6:3), and in all his self-manifestations (Job 34:10), in his ways and works (Psalms 145:17) as well as words (Psalms 33:4), equally immaculate, and necessarily so, since an unholy Divinity could not be supreme, he is "of purer eyes than to behold evil," and "cannot look upon iniquity" with indifference, and far less with favour (Psalms 5:4; Jeremiah 44:4).
3. Omniscient. Inferred from the fact that he beheld all the evil that was done beneath the sun, both in Judah by his own people (Habakkuk 1:3) and among the nations by the Chaldeans (Habakkuk 1:13). Omniscience a necessary attribute of the Supreme, and one much emphasized in Scripture (Proverbs 15:3; Job 28:24; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Jeremiah 32:19; Hebrews 4:13).
4. Omnipotent. This implied in his supremacy over the nations, raising up one power (the Chaldeans) and putting down another (Judah), giving the peoples into Nebuchadnezzar's net, and again hurling down Nebuchadnezzar's grandson from his seat of power. Also suggested by the designation "Rock," given him by Habakkuk, who meant thereby to teach the strength and steadfastness of Jehovah in comparison with the idols of the heathen, and his ability to shelter and defend those who trusted in him (Deuteronomy 32:4, Deuteronomy 32:15, Deuteronomy 32:18, Deuteronomy 32:30, Deuteronomy 32:31, Deuteronomy 32:37; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 28:1; Psalms 31:3, etc.).
5. Gracious. He was such a God as had entered into covenant with the prophet, who accordingly styled him "my God," "mine Holy One." "My" is faith's response to God's grace in offering himself to man as a God (Exodus 20:2).
II. HABAKKUK'S PERPLEXITY. (Verses 13-17.)
1. A great mystery.
2. An old problem. Habakkuk's perplexity was the same which from time immemorial has troubled thoughtful men, the dark enigma of providence—why good men should so frequently be crushed by misfortune, and wicked men so often crowned with prosperity. This mystery was a source of anxiety to Job (Job 12:6; Job 21:7-13), David (Psalms 16:1-11 :14, 15), Asaph (Psalms 73:1-13), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 12:1), the Preacher (Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 8:14), in the olden times; has caused much stumbling to good men since, and probably will do so while the world lasts.
3. A valuable discipline. Distressing as this mystery is, it is nevertheless not without its uses to such as are exercised thereby. It assists them to understand the sovereignty of God, that he giveth not account of any of his matters (Job 33:13); to realize their own limited and imperfect vision, which can only see in part, not in whole (Job 37:21; 1 Corinthians 13:9), only the middle and neither the beginning nor the end of God's work in providence; to cultivate those virtues of patience, humility, trustfulness, which are essential elements in all true goodness (Psalms 37:3-5); and to seek their portion in God himself (Psalms 16:5) rather than in earthly things (Psalms 17:14), in the future world rather than in the present life (Colossians 3:2).
III. HABAKKUK'S CONSOLATION. (Verses 12-17.)
1. Concerning the righteous.
2. Concerning the wicked. Jehovah being what he is, the wicked cannot be allowed to go on always as they are. "Shall he," the Chaldean, "therefore empty his net" to fill it again? Is this process of angling and dragging for men and nations to go on forever? Shall he "not spare to slay the nations continually "? the prophet asks; meaning by the question, "No, verily, this must come to an end." And those who have reflected deepest on the problem have perceived that, at the longest, the triumph of the wicked is but short (Job 20:5; Psalms 37:35, Psalms 37:36; Psalms 73:18-20), and that their experience of prosperity, however long it may be, will only in the end aggravate their misery, unless before the end they repent of their wickedness, and turn to God in faith, humility, love, and righteousness. "The immortal gods," wrote Julius Caesar, in his 'Gallic War' (Habakkuk 1:14), "are accustomed, the more heavily to pain by reverse of fortune those of whom for their wickedness they wish to be avenged, to grant to them in the mean while a larger sham of prosperity and a longer period of impunity."
Learn:
1. That the good man's best comfort in affliction and stay in adversity is the character of God (Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 52:1-15 :21; 2 Corinthians 1:3).
2. That with God silence is not to be understood as equivalent to consent (Psalms 1:1-6 :21).
3. That it is God's custom to make men reap as they have sown, to reward perverseness with perverseness, and iniquity with iniquity (Psalms 18:26; Matthew 7:2; Galatians 6:7).
4. That governments tend to the good order of society, and are to be respected and obeyed even when not perfect (Romans 13:1, Romans 13:2).
5. That the reign of wickedness will one day terminate (Psalms 145:20; Matthew 21:11; 1 Corinthians 15:25).
HOMILIES BY S.D. HILLMAN