Habakkuk 2:13

“Behold, is it not of the LORD”

God created the world and God is a consuming fire. Fire is like jealousy. And jealousy burns like fire. Song of Solomon 8:6 says, “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.”

One of the names of God is the name Jealous. Jesus is a jealous God who keeps His promises. Jealousy burns as a flame of fire and fire cleanses. When we think of fire we think of judgment and destruction. God is love therefore God loves judgment. Hell and the lake of fire are places of fire and judgment. In Heaven God sits on a fiery throne and His eyes are as a flame of fire. Law and grace, mercy and judgment: two very different kinds of fire. The fires of hell and the fires of Heaven are two very different fires yet both are the holy fire of God and not strange fire. Physical fire and spiritual fire are two very different kinds of fire. Either way is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire?

If you are going to labour in the fire the best fire to labour in is the fire of the Spirit of God rather than the fires of the judgment of His wrath. Even nuclear war as much death and suffering as it causes is still something God uses in His judgment. Do not hate God for the wars that men bring upon themselves rather learn to trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins and have faith that whatever happens in life is the judgment of God. All things work together for good to them that love God and to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Habakkuk chapter 2 speaks of the judgment of God. To everything there is a time and a season: A time for mercy and a time for judgment. Somehow even amidst the sufferings and injustices of war God still uses such for judgment and mercy. In Habakkuk chapter 2 there is a reference to the 7 years of the great tribulation and the terrible judgment upon all nations of the earth. Such a judgment however will not be something done by the power of man such as just nuclear war but rather it will be done by the supernatural power of God. When God judges the nations of the world the world will know it is the judgment of God and not simply the devices of man.

Habakkuk chapter 2:13-14 says, “Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” The reason for the judgment of God is to fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD. Mankind is lost in its sins. Mankind needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. Mankind desires glory. But the only glory that is incorruptible is the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Fire itself has a glory to it.

Is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire? Let us come near together for judgment. Can a man take fire in his bosom? Ye shall burn with fire in a pillar of fire to give them light. They shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away. Set the brands on fire! Keep yourselves in the love of God. Set the brands on fire, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude 1:21, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Labour is part of life. Everything in life takes effort and requires work even breathing air takes a physical effort. The world is labouring, all men are labouring all men are putting forth some kind of effort. It is much better for the world to keep itself in the love of God rather than to have to go through life labouring with the fires of judgment upon the world.

When the fires of the judgment of God are mentioned what is also mentioned is vanity. There is nothing vain about the judgment of God but the labours of men which oppose the judgment of God are vain. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of Judgment. Jesus was judged on the cross for the sins of the world. For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. And in flaming fire God takes vengeance on them that believe not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fires of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ both those that obey the gospel and those that do not? The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. This is after all the purpose which God hath purposed in the whole earth, this is after all the reason to labour in the very fire so that the knowledge of the glory of the LORD in both the redemption and the vengeance of Jesus touches the souls of men. This is the labour which Christians who live for the Lord and love the gospel of Jesus Christ do. Few men ever labour this kind of labour. All things are full of labour. Behold, it is not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire.

We know that the promises of God are sure. Therefore we know that according to the will of God all men hear the truth of Jesus Christ and His eternal love for them and His willingness to save them from their sins. Therefore it tis true that one day all the earth shall know the LORD and all the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of His glory for the depth saith and the sea saith love is as strong as death and jealousy as cruel as the grave. And the love of Jesus conquers death.

The fire that saith not, it is enough, is never satisfied. Who enlargeth his desire as hell? Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of earth increaseth His grace in this age of grace.

Isaiah 40:28 says, “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.”

The people weary themselves for very vanity as empty vessels. The everlasting God Jesus Christ does not weary. We looked for peace from sea to sea. Shall they not rise up suddenly in the judgment of God? They shall rise up suddenly into eternal life those whom in their hearts confess that Jesus is the Son of God.

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire which hath a most vehement flame? The depth saith, the sea saith, it is not in me. Through the sea with affliction, the seas of Sunas. Sunas for depth and grace for height hast thou not known that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

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