A Hymn of Thanksgiving

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A Hymn of Thanksgiving

• Habakkuk 3

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Habakkuks Hymn

• Two citations
• Exodus Event (Exodus 3-15)
• Holy Wars (Joshua 6-13)

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Divine Warrior against Oppression (Exodus event)
Exodus 14 Habakkuk 3
Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground (v.16). Were you angry with the rivers, O LORD? Was your wrath against the streams? (v.8a)
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Divine Warrior against Oppression (Exodus event)
Exodus 14 Habakkuk 3
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided (v.21) the deep roared and lifted its waves on high (v.10c)
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Divine Warrior against Oppression (Exodus event)
Exodus 14 Habakkuk 3
The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsementhe entire aremy of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left (vv.28-29). You came out to deliver your people, to save your annointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot (v.13).
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Divine Warrior against Idolatrous Nations (Holy
War)
Josh 10.12aß-13b Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies Habakkuk 3.11-12 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear. In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.
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Between two sets of Liberations and Holy Wars

• Habakkuks stance in the interim between
  Yahwehs ancient victories and his coming
  intervention, between vision and fulfillment, is
  strikingly similar to that of the Christian. The
  Christian lives after Gods victory over evil in
  Jesus death and resurrection but prior to his
  final victory at Jesus second coming and the
  general resurrection (Roberts 1991 85).

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Jesus as Warrior Liberator

• I saw heaven standing open and there before me
  was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful
  and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head
  are many crowns. He has a name written on him
  that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed
  in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the
  Word of God. The armies of heaven were following
  him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine
  linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a
  sharp sword with which to strike down the
  nations. He will rule them with an iron
  scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of
  the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on
  his thigh he has this name written KING OF KINGS
  AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19.11-16).

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Christians as warriors and liberators

• Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that
  when the day of evil comes, you may be able to
  stand your ground, and after you have done
  everything, to stand (Eph 6.13).
• the belt of truth
• the breastplate of righteousness
• boots of the gospel of peace
• the shield of faith
• the helmet of salvation
• the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6.14-17).

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Christians as warriors and liberators

• Gods glory covered the heavens and his praise
  filled the earth at creation (Hab 3.3b)
• Again the earth will be filled with the
  knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters
  cover the sea because of Christs ambassadors
  (Hab 2.14).