Study Desk

O man, He has told you what is good. What does the Lord ask of you but to do what is fair and to love kindness, and to walk without pride with your God?

There is not a God-like person left in the land. There is no good person among men. All of them lie in wait to kill. Each one hunts the other with a net.

But as for me, I will watch for the Lord. I will wait for the God Who saves me. My God will hear me.

Then the one who hated me will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, "Where is the Lord your God?" My eyes will look on her, and she will be crushed under foot like mud in the streets.

They will eat the dust like a snake, like animals that move along the ground. They will come out of their strong-places shaking with fear. They will come in much fear to the Lord our God, and they will be afraid of You.

Who is a God like You, Who forgives sin and the wrong-doing of Your chosen people who are left? He does not stay angry forever because He is happy to show loving-kindness.

The Lord is a jealous God and One Who punishes. The Lord punishes and is angry. The Lord punishes those who fight against Him. He is angry with those who hate Him.

This is the special word which Habakkuk the man of God saw.

Then they move through like the wind and keep going. They are guilty men, whose strength is their god."

Have You not lived forever, O Lord, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. O Lord, You have chosen them to judge. You, O Rock, have chosen them to punish us.

"Of what worth is a false god when a workman has made it? Of what worth is an object of worship, a teacher of lies? For the workman trusts in his own work when he makes these false gods that cannot speak.

Shigionoth tells of this prayer of Habakkuk, the man of God.

God comes from Teman. The Holy One comes from Mount Paran. His shining-greatness covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise.

yet I will have joy in the Lord. I will be glad in the God Who saves me.

The Lord God is my strength. He has made my feet like the feet of a deer, and He makes me walk on high places. This is for the song leader, on my different kinds of harps.

Be quiet before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has made a gift ready for the altar. He has made holy those whom He has asked to come.

The land by the sea will be for those left of the people of Judah. They will let their flocks eat there. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. For the Lord their God will care for them and return their riches.

So as I live," says the Lord of All, the God of Israel, "Moab will be like Sodom, and the sons of Ammon will be like Gomorrah, a land taken over by thistles and salt, a waste land forever. Those left of My people will rob them. Those left of My nation will take their land."

She does not listen to anyone and will not be taught. She did not trust in the Lord. She does not come near to her God.

The Lord your God is with you, a Powerful One Who wins the battle. He will have much joy over you. With His love He will give you new life. He will have joy over you with loud singing.