Sunday, October 14, 2012

Brightness, Horns, and Power Habakkuk 3:4 - Equipped for Battle

When we consider the power and glory of God, we have no human way of measuring it to its full capacity. The Bible gives us certain pictures of the fulfilling of the power, glory and praise that is to be God's not only our personal lives, but also throughout the entire world. We learned from Habakkuk's prayer in chapter three and verse three that God's presence would prevail throughout the earth, and the glory of God would illicit praise from those dwelling within it. Today we discover more of the glory of God as Habakkuk shares with us in chapter three verse four:

And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

In the book of First John in chapter one and verse five, John the apostle said,

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Habakkuk says of God, “his brightness was as the light.” When Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the law from God, God's glory was so bright that Moses actually glowed from it. The same presence of God is demonstrated here. God was to be present in the situations about which Habakkuk was initially concerned. He was to be involved, and when He came on the seen, He would be known.

Habakkuk adds, “he had horns coming out of his hand:” Horns are usually a symbol of power, and when God gave the law to the people of Israel there was a strong demonstration of His power. The idea of horns here relates to two horns, and quite possibly is a reference to the two tables of the law. Not only did God show up in His brightness, but He also came in His authority. God commands, and when He appears on the scene of any situation, circumstances are dictated to by Him.

Finally Habakkuk wrote, “and there was the hiding of his power.” Those who have power do not always broadcast it openly, and so it is with God. We rarely hear God stating that He is all-powerful even though He really is. Though opponents may deem themselves powerful, their power is weakness in God's site. Though the rebellious people of Israel and the conquering people of the Chaldeans may think themselves strong, when God emerged all their strength failed.

God's brightness, laws, and power are present in our lives even when we do not recognize it. We may be in circumstances right now that we do not understand, and we wonder if God has anything for us at all at this time. We can learn from Habakkuk that He is indeed involved, and His time of silence may only be preparation for the demonstration of His power that is just around the corner.

Next time we will continue this prayer and song of Habakkuk in reference to God working with Israel, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

 

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