Habakkuk 3:13 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

This blessed verse serves as a key to open to us the whole passage, and according to my apprehension, defines at once the glorious visible Jehovah, spoken of through the whole, to mean Christ. The words may be rendered, thou goest forth; Micah therefore had authority to say, whose goings forth were from everlasting; and expressly declared it to be Him, who in after ages should come forth from Bethlehem. Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6. And indeed of Him, and Him only, could the expression be warrantable, and that in his mediatorial character as the God-man, the Glory-man, Christ Jesus. For considered only as God, in the immensity and ubiquity of his essence and nature, there can be neither goings forth, nor retirings. I beg yet further to remark on this blessed passage, that some read this passage, thou wentest forth, or thou goest forth to save thy people, thine anointed ones. I apprehend that the Alexandrian copy of the Septuagint version so translates it. Hence, if so, the point is still yet clearer; for then it will be, Jehovah Jesus goings forth was for the salvation of his anointed ones. So called from being one with Christ, and anointed with Him, and in Him. Ephesians 4:7. I beg the Reader to observe, that I do not presume to determine the matter. But I beg to say, that according to my view, it seems to correspond on this grand point to the tenor of the whole Bible. I cannot think it necessary to detain the Reader with any further observations of what salvation the Prophet is speaking. Surely he must see that it can be no other than the eternal salvation of the Church from death and hell: which the deliverance from Egypt, and afterwards Joshua's carrying the Church into Canaan, were but types and shadows.