“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” Daniel 3:17
In the book of Habakkkuk, we have the account of a prophet who is ovewhelmed by the coming invasion of the Chaldeans, an invasion that is sure to come, and which will bring with it untold suffering. The prophet is exercised in mind and heart because of the godless Chaldeans being much more “wicked” than the nation of Israel. However, the judgment of God is based greatly upon the light that a person, or nation, has received. The one, as Jesus said, who “has” will be responsible for much more, thus his judgment will be more severe. Such was the case of Israel, as she had been chosen of God to be a light-bearer to the nations of the fact that there was only one God, and that He was the Sovereign Savior of mankind. This calling, and light, Israel had abandoned, hence, the judgment would be severe. The judgement was not just a punitive matter, but a corrective one. We see this in the deportation of Israel to Babylon. Having been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, she would spend seventy years in exile according to the words of Jeremiah. However, even there, God would reveal to her how she was to live, and how He would provide for her. There would be much suffering. However, even before the deportation started, God promised their return to the land, and His blessing upon them.
As for Habakkuk, it was difficult to see anything but the Chaldean hoard advancing, and their certain conquering of Israel. In all of this, with the clouds gathering, the Lord brings Habakkuk to faith in a specific way, with a victorious attitude which would see him, and many others of faith, through the ordeal. Habakkuk would write: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls.” (3:17) Such was Habakkuk’s assessment of that which was coming. And yet, he would then write: “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” (3:18,19) Herein is victory, the victory of faith, rejoicing in the Lord who never changes, and who reigns regardless of the “wars that war below.”
In the case of the three Hebrew youths who were to be thrown into the fiery furnace at the command of Nebuchadnezzar, because they would not bow down to the idol that he had made, their attitude was likewise a victorious one. These young men of faith were unashamed, and unhesitating, in the expression of their faith in the Hebrew God, the true and living God, as they were “…not careful to answer” the king. (Daniel 3:17) Their answer, facing certain death if God did not intervene, was: “If it be so, our God whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (v. 17,18)
How is the testimony of Habakkuk similar to that of the Hebrew youths? Both expressed a resolute, final and entire faith in God, in whom they had entrusted all that they were and had. Habakkuk goes very far in declaring that in place of fear, his choice is to rejoice in the Lord, His God, salvation, stability, and keeper. The Hebrew youths were unmoved by the king, as they had already settled the question of who was their true King. All four of these men would prove God’s faithfulness.
Dear Father, Establish us in Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.