For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14
The prophet Habakkuk is considered a minor prophet but there is nothing minor about his ministry nor the word of God which proceeded from his mouth. He is often quoted in popular verses like: “The just shall live by faith” and “Write the vision and make it plain”. He is a praying prophet who seeks to know the will of God by asking questions and then speaking prophetically once he hears from God.
His declaration in Habakkuk 2:14 is very powerful and relevant today. In part because it was in the middle of a prophesy which was a woe to the wicked. For the discerning eye, even in this time of trouble and uncertainty, we know that the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea. The prophet Isaiah who is a major prophet and revered by our Jewish brothers and sisters, writes in Isaiah 6:3 — Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” This is the testimony of angels which the prophet Isaiah saw in a vision of the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. When we lift our eyes, we too can see the glory of the Lord, because His glory surrounds us. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork (Psalm 19:1).
Have you ever beheld a majestic view in nature and sensed the glory of God in it? Before the pandemic when flying in an airplane was common, I often marveled as the plane ascended through the clouds, as I recalled the word of the Lord in Nahum 1:3 that declares: The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet. The purity of our God can be appreciated by the knowledge of His glory as it is declared by the prophets. Think about it and meditate on the fact that the clouds are the dust of His feet. If you have ever been in the clouds, you can appreciate the glory of God by looking back and seeing His glory in the rear view mirror. This is one of the ways in which the heavens declare the glory of God. May you be conscious of His glory that surrounds you today and everyday.
There is something special about the glory of God that fills the temple when we gather together in worship and adoration of His majesty. What then are we to do when we cannot gather? Hear how David expresses himself in Psalm 137:4-6 when he is away from the familiar settings of praise and worship — How shall we sing the Lord’s song In a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth— If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy. The knowledge of the glory of the Lord allows us to remember that the Lord is with us, even when the setting changes. We can sing the Lord’s song in our homes, in the car, in the marketplace or whenever we are, knowing that we are the temple of God, and He dwells among us. That is why David declares that if he does not remember Jerusalem — the apple of Gods eye, his skilled right hand which he played the harp, will loose its function; the tongue of the sweet psalmist that sings praises to the Lord, should cling to the roof of his mouth. I pray that you would exalt the presence of the Most High God above your greatest joy during this pandemic.
Lord God fill your people today, with the knowledge of your glory, according to Your word. For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea. Cause us to see Your glory in all the earth, as You surround us daily with Your glory!
Maranatha
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