CRITICAL NOTES.]
Habakkuk 3:16. Trembled] The prophet describes his own feelings at the coming of Jehovah: first, fear and trembling; then, exulting joy (Habakkuk 3:18-19). “The alarm pervades his whole body, belly, and bones, i.e. the softer and firmer component parts of the body, lips, and feet; i.e. the upper and lower organs of the body.”
Habakkuk 3:17.] The trouble of the day described. The fig and vine, the noblest fruits of earth, plantations and fields yield not; folds and stalls empty through the devastation.
Habakkuk 3:18. Yet] God is my inexhaustible source, and infinite sphere of joy. Strength] to gird me to overcome tribulation. Feet] Swift as hinds’ to escape the enemy, and reach high places of eminence and safety. Hence the formulæ at the end harmonises with that at the beginning. It is an ode of melody and joy (Isaiah 38:20).
HOMILETICS
A SONG OF TRIUMPH.—Habakkuk 3:16-18
These verses form the second part of the ode, describe the feelings of the prophet under threatened judgments, and his exulting joy and confidence in God. Beginning with a sorrowful note, he closes with a burst, of jubilant melody. The birds which thrill out the sweetest music, love retirement; so this psalmist—one of the most wonderful of human singers—sings out of obscurity. We learn that—
I. God usually meets the varied wants of men by lavish provision. Fig-tree, vine, and olive; fields, flocks, and herds indicate variety and plenty. We do not enter a world unprepared for us. Ample provisions were ready beforehand. Marvellous vegetation, fierce fires, volcanic agencies, and toiling waters were pioneers for human settlers. We have an attractive view of God’s goodness and character when we think of him as the Provider. We evade the idea of a Father’s bounty by speaking vaguely of providence. What is providence but the wise action, the benevolent operation, of gigantic forces? Good comes to us through laws: but who controls the laws? Providence is the chosen way of a loving Father’s dealing. The Bible takes us directly to God, who gives lavishly out of “the riches of his goodness” (cf. Psalms 104; James 1:16-17). Ample provision is made for our needs and pleasure—
1. sensational;
2. intellectual;
3. social;
4. moral;
5. spiritual.
II. God must be recognized as the Absolute Proprietor in this provision. The prophet contemplates famine, failure, and desolating death. Though God usually provides abundance and variety, he can reverse this action and suspend the course of nature (Psalms 107:31-43). Health may fail, friends be removed, plans be frustrated, and privation be felt. Dependent are we from first to last. Resumption of his gifts establishes God’s claim to ownership. (Illus. Abraham’s offering of Isaac.) The fig-tree without blossom, the vine without fruit, the olive destitute of oil; the barren fields, the smitten flocks, and the empty stalls; impressively tell us that the Lord God Almighty is the Absolute Proprietor.
III. In direct calamity it is our privilege to rejoice in God our Provider. Habakkuk 3:18.
1. A victorious faith. “Yet.” Note the yets. “Yea, they may forget, yet will I not” (Isaiah 49:15). “Yet will I look again” (Jonah 2:4). “I am poor and needy, yet” (Psalms 40:17). “Truth Lord, yet” (Matthew 15:27). “Though he slay me, yet” (Job 13:15). Change may take place in the manner of God’s treatment, but never in his character. “I am that I am.” If business prosper not, what then? How shall I find bread? “Man doth not live by bread alone.” God asks for entire trust. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” “This is the victory—even our faith.” This sublime confidence was nourished by—
2. A precious experience. “The God of my salvation,” are words that reveal manifold past deliverances. “Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.” Then, in troubles, bodily, mental, and circumstantial; in family trials, business losses, and painful bereavements; expect the fulfilment of the promise. “I will never leave thee.”
3. A noble resolve. “I will rejoice in the Lord.” “Those who have the Jehovah for their strength, should make him their song. Let the fig-tree be barked, privation be felt, and the worst come; the trustful spirit may rejoice in God, and triumph over all. In suffering we may say, ‘In the night his song shall be with me’ ” [Matthew Braithwaite].
GOD THE FOUNTAIN OF PERPETUAL JOY
I. Joy in anticipated trials. The prophet heard of a gloomy future, saw one support after another fail, yet his hope brightens, and joy increases as sorrows multiply. We cannot expect freedom from trouble. Nor is it often that we are permitted to see the future. No approach of foreign foes, no threatening of famine and failure of fruit-trees, loom before us. Yet how disquieted when business fails, and family prospects darken! We fear as we enter the cloud, faint unless we see the goodness of God, and never rejoice in anticipation of trials. Not at “the bright,” but at “the dark, side” of things do we look. “All these things are against me.” But through the darkness faith discerns the light, pictures unfailing joy, and exults in the friendship of God, when all things fail beside.
II. Joy in present afflictions. The prophet not merely anticipates distress, but stands in the midst of it. Barrenness and failure, disappointment and grief, are actually seen and felt. But the sufferings do not freeze him into a misanthrope, nor sour him into wretchedness. He is hopeful, and resolved to rejoice. It is said that Dr. Priestly was one of the happiest of men. The greater his trouble, the greater was his conviction that some special good was in store for him; the darker the sorrow, the stronger grew the sentiment that joy was to succeed. “Such a way of looking at things,” says one, “literally converted every cloud that darkened his horizon into a shadow of good things to come.” In all our clouds we may find sunshine and passing scenes coloured with future glory. “Now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.”
III. Joy in eternal duration. If the soul be immortal its happiness must be durable as its nature. The world and all in it will perish. The man of the world deeply regrets loss in trial, but the Christian rejoices in God. Those who enjoy God in all things, can enjoy all things in God. Amid the ruins of nature, they are rich in him. When all created streams are dried, God is an everlasting fountain of bliss. When the granary is empty, an assurance of joy will be better than a “harvest home” (Psalms 4:7). Christ in the heart is better than grapes in the vintage. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,” &c. (Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 41:16).
“Though vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit should bear;
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flock nor herd be there;
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice:
For while in him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice” [Cowper].
GOD ALL-SUFFICIENT IN TROUBLE.—Habakkuk 3:19
The prophet now openly declares the source of his joy and strength, and predicts the safety and moral elevation of his people. In language borrowed from Scripture he expresses the all-sufficiency of God, the hope of support in trouble, complete deliverance from the enemy, and undisturbed possession of the land.
I. God is strength in weakness. “The Lord God is my strength.” Strength to bear trial, and to triumph in conflict. Neither spiritual nor military soldiers can do exploits in weakness. The Christian is only a hero, and the secret springs of his courage only in God. If he strengthens, nothing can weaken. “The Lord is the strength of my life.”
II. God is safety in danger. In this language we have—
1. Deliverance from the enemy. He is the God of salvation, rises up to judge the nations, and deliver his people. Assailed on every side, yet delivered from the strong enemy (Psalms 18:17). When rescued we must remember our weakness, and ascribe all to God. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song.”
2. Pursuit of the enemy. “He will make my feet like hinds’ feet.” Celerity of motion was deemed a necessity in the hero of antiquity. He must suddenly attack and vigorously pursue the enemy. Achilles was swift-footed. The men who came to David had not only faces like lions, but were “swift as the roes upon the mountains,” to pursue or escape the foes (1 Chronicles 12:8; cf. 2 Samuel 1:19; 2 Samuel 2:18).
3. Security from the enemy. “He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” As David climbed rocks and steep cliffs to be safe from pursuit, so God’s people are sheltered in mountain fastnesses in spiritual war. They are swift to pursue and agile to climb. Ascending into impregnable heights we are preserved from falling, and made to stand where the wild goat can find no footing. “He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet and setteth me upon my high places.”
HOMILETIC HINTS AND OUTLINES
Habakkuk 3:16. That I may rest.
1. Rest in trouble. Peace of conscience, calmness of mind, because the mind is stayed upon God in distress. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.
2. Rest through fear. “The true and only path to rest,” says Calvin, “is through such fear. Whoever is securely torpid and hardened towards God will be tumultuously agitated in the day of affliction, and so will bring on himself a worse destruction; but he who in time meets God’s wrath, and trembles at his threats, prepares the best rest for himself in the day of tribulation.”
“Nor peace nor ease the heart can know,
Which, like the needle true,
Turns at the touch of joy or woe,
But turning, trembles too” [Mrs. Greville].
Habakkuk 3:17-18. Fortitude in affliction. “The power of habit and character,” says Sir J. Macintosh, “to struggle against outward evils, has been proved by experience to be in some instances so prodigious, that no man can presume to fix the utmost limit of possible increase.”
1. God the source of joy.
2. God the source of strength.
3. God the source of salvation. In both verses we have dangerous positions, wonderful achievements, and secure dwelling-places.
Habakkuk 3:19. “Mine high places.” The “high places” are called “mine,” to imply that Israel shall be restored to his own land, a land of hills, which are places of safety and of eminence (cf. Genesis 19:17, “escape to the mountain;” and Matthew 24:16) [Fausset]. Morally, high places of knowledge, holiness, usefulness, and progress heavenwards—“heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Chief singer. Servants of God do not despise music, but only give directions how it should be properly used in the praise of God [Lange].
We too have our high places, of honour, service, temptation, and danger, but hitherto we have been kept from falling. Bring hither the harp, and let us emulate the psalmist’s joyful thanksgiving; had we fallen, our wailings must have been terrible; since we have stood, let our gratitude be fervent [Spurgeon]. “The Lord was ready to save me; therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord” (Isaiah 38:20).
“If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it” [Shakspere].