"Keep Silence Before Him" (Habakkuk 2:5-20)

Reverence God

(vs18-20) “What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, the molded image, a teacher of lies, that the maker of its mold should trust in it, to make mute idols?  Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ to silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet in it there is no breath at all.  But the Lord is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth keep silence before Him”.

Stand in awe before the God of glory, humble yourselves, and hurry to Christ’s gospel. He will punish the wicked, He will save the elect, and He's to be worshiped in fear and holiness (2 Cor 7:1).  Blessed be the gospel that saves.

First, He is going to punish wickedness, even though sinners prosper now (vs5-11, 15-19).  He says, “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—how long [how long shall he ‘get away with it]? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty.  Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the people shall plunder you, because of men’s blood and the violence of the land and the city, and of all who dwell in it.” They're adding flame to the fire, being hateful to others, and thus, heaping up wrath for themselves.  Verse 15-17, says, “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness [the exploit and deceive him]!  You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also—drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised [unclean, unbelieving, and abomination to God]! The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory.  For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, and the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, because of men’s blood and the violence of the land and the city, and of all who dwell in it.”  

You have done to others, He says, and now God will do to you, and He can do nothing else, lest He be unjust.  He doesn’t punish sin immediately, but He does punish assuredly and eternally, giving sinners what they deserve, when they reject the gospel, deceive, and misuse their fellow man. He uses their wickedness, and THEN He sends them to hell. He is keeping a record, and after sin has done its purpose, eye for an eye and tooth for tooth justice must come.

Secondly, God saves by the wickedness of others and insures that the elect will come in (vs12-14).  He says, “Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city with iniquity! Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the peoples labor to feed the fire [deceive themselves with sin], and nations weary themselves in vain?  For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”. His glory in deliverance will be seen, so that wickedness has no power over God. He raised Christ to demonstrate sin's defeat in God's salvation, for He ALWAYS turns evil into good!  Joseph, a picture of Christ, sold and hated by his brethren, said, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen 50:20).  His grace is gloriously unmoved by the evils of men, and He conquers sin by the terror that sin gives.  He brings His elect to repentance by the afflictions of Satan, controlling the tiniest things for good, and rescuing us in a way whereby His wrath and mercy are glorified. He’s seen fit to show the HIGHEST good that He can to human beings - redeeming us, and eternally teaching us of His just, electing, and sanctifying love.  

Finally, worship Him reverently, obeying, honoring, and fearing God (vs20). He says, “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him”.  He is no plaything or god to approach on your terms.  Repent continually and pray to escape the wrath to come.  Believe on Christ to have DIED the death that you merit, and believe that He's earned your holiness, by faith alone. Receive the righteousness and help of God, not only in your standing, but also your walk and behavior, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17).

Don't take God lightly, despising mercy by unbelief and refusing to be changed. Believe wrath is coming and sin is futile; it is a losers game with eternal regret and agony. Believe that God, in spite of sin and by sin, brings the elect to Christ, using all pain for our good, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28).  Fear God obediently and honor Christ, looking to Him continually for power over sin and hope for sins committed.  Be holy by faith and action.