The Great Time of Trouble
Habakkuk Chapter 1 continued
VERSE 9 “They all come for violence (destruction, anarchy); their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand.”
The New Living Translation states it thusly:
“On they come, all bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind, sweeping captives ahead of them like sand.”
“Their faces will be set in opposition to the east.” (The east is the direction of the suns rising, and here represents the dawn of the Millennial Day. Hence, the language here indicates that though these shall cause a measure of judgment to come upon evil institutions, yet they will not be in harmony with the true light, but in opposition to it; their mission is violence.)
“And they gather the bounden ones as the sand”, Prisoners; those who are bound by or to them, new converts.
VERSE 10 “They scoff at kings, and princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, for they heap up earthen mounds and seize it.”
“The Lord’s Great Army will pull down the governments, and this verse shows a real arrogance and disdain for law and authority.
“They shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them.”
“It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones and the kings of the earth.” (Isa 24:21)
The Lord’s Great Army will not be part of the establishment either religiously or politically. Rather, they will be an outside, rebellious, disenchanted group. Moreover, they are described in Scripture as God’s battle ax or hammer, for His providence’s will favor circumstances for the development of this element for the purpose of pulling down (destroying) the established order (Isa. 10:15; Jer. 50:23). Understand God will not sanction nor approve of this class in either morals or character, but He will approve of the destructive work which they will accomplish.
“Surely the wrath of man (the destructive work of this class) shall praise you (Unintentionally, by working out his plans): the remainder of wrath (That which would work no good, serve no purpose, or teach no lesson, but which would be subversive to the divine arrangements) shall you restrain (Not permit to interfere with his plan).” Psa 76:10
“They shall heap dust (earthen mounds), and take it” as they “deride every strong hold [or fortress].” This portion of Verse 10 refers to tactics used in olden times. No matter how strong the fortress wall, the enemy (in this case the Lord’s Great Army) will devise a way to override it. NOTHING WILL STOP THEM.
The “dust” here alludes to making a ramp to get over the wall. Sometimes battering rams were used in the past—or a siege using siege towers or fire. The Lord’s Great Army will be like locusts, climbing over everything in their way. Nothing will deter their onward march. The word “take”, “seize” means “capture.” The Lord’s Great Army will capture every stronghold (the fenced cities, the high towers, the strongholds of governments).”
What did the word of the Lord say again, that they would deride (laugh at, mock, scoff) at some of these strongholds or was it, EVERY stronghold?
This not only includes every government stronghold whether military, police or what have you, but likewise every civilian stronghold, militia group or organization, which foolishly believes it can hold out, the Lords great army (consisting of the billions of the unrestrained masses) will overwhelm them ALL by sheer numbers alone.
“They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; every one marches in formation, and they do not break ranks (Describing, not an undisciplined mob, easily dealt with by war experts, but a mighty, highly-disciplined host.) They do not push one another; every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down (not halted by losses, not changed in their purpose). They run to and fro in the city (Hasten forward into lawlessness), they run on the wall; they climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief.” (Joel 2: 7-9)
VERSE 11 “Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, ascribing this power to his god.”
“Then they sweep past like the wind and go on--guilty people, whose own strength is their god.” NIV
“Then [by reason of their success] doth their spirit become arrogant and they are surpassingly proud, and offend, imputing this, their power unto their God (the God of War of Might, of Numbers).” Not realizing that they have been used as the Lord’s great army to overthrow oppression and to bring down the proud and to thresh the mountains (kingdoms), they shall boast in themselves of the victory of Liberalism (freedom from authority).”
We continue with Verse 12 in our next post.