Tuesday 1st August
Read Habakkuk 3:3-7
“God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His glory covered the heavens
and his praise filled the earth.
4 His splendour was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden.
5 Plague went before him;
pestilence followed his steps.
6 He stood, and shook the earth;
he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
and the age-old hills collapsed –
but he marches on for ever.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
the dwellings of Midian in anguish.” (NIVUK)
Vanishingly rare are descriptions of God as ‘eloah’ outside of Job. Perhaps the reason we find it here is to emphasise that the true ‘eloah’ is the Holy One, not the meagre Babylonian deity Marduk from the earlier vision in the first chapter (also called ‘eloah’). For this poem and prayer is all about the incomparable nature of God. Habakkuk has been answered and now acknowledges that even though he cannot see clearly, finite as he is, God is on the move (v3).
Those who have eyes to see can’t but be awed at His greatness. It is like the sunrise itself, dispelling darkness with brilliant rays (v4). Yet it remains hidden (v4c). Habakkuk could not easily discern it. He had to spend time in prayer to even glimpse this splendour. Many saints through history have realised this truth too, that it is only through prayer that glimpses of God’s greatness and majesty are attained. But those glimpses are precious indeed.
“…I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time – God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might for ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:13c-16) (NIVUK)
