Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 206
194
IMMERSE
•
PROPHETS
wait patiently, for it will surely take place.” The Lord then announces a
series of woes against the Babylonians. Five times God promises that
“sorrow awaits” them for their violence, extortion, and idolatry.
In response, Habakkuk quietly and confidently accepts what God
has said and then composes a song. In the song, he first reviews God’s
past deeds of deliverance. He portrays these in terms of a theophany
(a description of God coming down to earth in great power), a literary
device also found in many of the psalms. Even though all seems lost
at the moment, the history of God’s previous demonstrations of mercy
brings hope. Habakkuk sings of what the Lord has already done, resting in the knowledge of the redemption that is surely coming again:
I have heard all about you, Lord .
I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
help us again as you did in years gone by.
