Habakkuk 1:5 and Hebrews 10:37

Habakkuk 1:5 and Hebrews 10:37

1. Habakkuk’s prophecy was fulfilled in the time of the Chaldean destruction. He was told to “look among the nations” because God would “work a work in your days” as he was “raising up the Chaldeans”. 1:5,6.

2. The vision was for an appointed time, but would not lie. There would be a delay, but it woud not be a permanent delay. They were told to “wait for it”. Habakkuk’s generation is not yet waiting for the Chaldeans to come and destroy it.
3. Two different words are used for the two occurrences of tarry in the text. Note, one says will tarry and the other says will not tarry. The first word is Strong’s #4102 “Mahahh,” (to question, hesitate, stay or delay) and the latter is Strong’s #309 “achar” which means to continually delay, be late, linger behind, slack or be there longer than the appointed time.
4. Ezekiel’s prophecies extend for 20 years from 593-571 BC. He had been in Babylon from the time of the first deportation in 605 B.C. In the 12th year of his exile, he learned that the city of Jerusalem had been captured, about 581 B.C. (Ezk. 33:21). Habbakuk is dated approx. 609-597 BC in the time of Jehoakim’s reign. Thus, both Habbakuk and Ezekiel prophecy before the city of Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC by the Chaldeans.
5. This destruction was therefore imminent during the time of both prophets. However, Ezekiel, prophesied that it would not be postponed (delayed) just as Habbakuk had stated.

Eze 12:22-28 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’? (23) Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” But say to them, “The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. (24) For no more shall there be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. (25) For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it,” says the Lord GOD.’ ” (26) Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (27) “Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ (28) Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,” says the Lord GOD.’ “

Ezekiel clearly debunked the false notions of Israel that the “vision he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off” (v. 28).

6. Thus both Habakkuk and Ezekiel taught that there would be NO DELAY. The time before the destruction was a period of God’s long-suffering, the purpose of which was to bring the nation to repentance. They refused and the destruction came at the APPOINTED time whose END HAD COME, (Ezk. 7)
7. In the N.T. the text is cited and applied, not to the Chaldean invasion, but in like manner to the Jews of Paul’s day who would experience a similar fate for ignoring God’s call for them to repent. Paul cites the text as a reminder of what happened in the Chaldean instruction, but the Jews of his day equally would not listen, (Acts 13:40, 41. He certainly was not prophesying a “first or second” Chaldean invasion.
8. Thus, the phrase, “mikron, hosan, hosan” in the verse, Heb 10:37 “FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME AND WILL NOT TARRY”, equally speaks of the impending coming of the Lord in judgment upon Jerusalem in 70AD.
9. That this was the day of judgment is clearly seen for those who can connect the dots of Heb. 9:28, i.e. the Lord’s appearing a second time, (foreshadowed by the law of the “about to come good things) with 10:25, where they saw the day approaching, when God would “take vengeance” and “judge His people” (Heb. 10:30, and thus come in a very very little while).
10. Heb. 10:30 is quoted from Deut. 32:34-36, the same source for 2 Peter 3 and the time of the avenging of the blood of the righteous, per Matt. 23:34-36, when the temple was destroyed, Lk. 21:20-22, Rom. 12:19, where God’s wrath was poured out on those who persecuted the church in Paul’s day, 1 Thes. 1:14-16; 2 Thes. 1:7, Rev. 18:20, 24, 19:1-2. See also Deut. 32:41, 43. There can be no doubt, it was the parousia fulfilled in Israel’s last days.

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Habakkuk 1:5 and Hebrews 10:37