Habakkuk & The 3-D Matrix of Spiritual Warfare

Hercules Fighting Antaeus (1634), by Francisco de Zurbarán

The Greek mythological character Antaeus (gk.,antao,opponent, ‘to oppose, to face off, Anti), was the offspring of Gaia & Poseidon, he was a huge wrestler and every time he threw his opponent down to earth he got stronger. However, Hercules defeated him with a crushing bear hug, not allowing Antaeus to get him on the ground.

Habakkuk, not a mythological Titan, was called the ‘ardent embracer of God , the wrestler. Some scholars date his work around 606B.C., because he is foretelling the invasion of Judah by the Babylonians. His prophetic calling, Journey and words became the cornerstone of the New Testament doctrine of justification by faith, “as for the proud one his soul is not right, but the just shall live by faith” (Hab.2:4; Rom.1:17; Gal.3:11; Heb.10:36-38). In addition, Habakkuk’s word launched the necessary Protestant Reformation when Martin Luther read Romans 1:17 which slew the “monster of uncertainty” which fed upon a salvation built on works rather than by grace through faith alone.

Habakkuk , saw all the violence, lawlessness, iniquity, perversion, strife and wickedness flourish and unchecked in his day (Hab.1-11). He wrestled in antiquity (and we must wrestle with today) with the great philosophical and theological question of ‘theodicy’ or “why is there evil if there is a God who is good and all powerful in moral authority and justice?” He took his complaint to God and wrestled with the LORD (Habakkuk 1:12-2:4). Eventually, his complaints—about the seeming inactivity of God’s justice and the proliferation of evil—were quelled into a posture of trust and faith in God in the midst of a flood of evil, destruction and death. God’s warfare, God’s holiness and God’s goodness can tame the most angry, timid or unruly heart producing a quiet spirit of deep humility and trust in the heat of the battle (Hab.2:20;3:16). Our messianic silence forged in the place of watchfulness (Hab.2:1) and intercession (Hab.3:1) can defeat the arrogant boisterous, mocking shouts, advancements and celebrations of our spiritual enemies. The full-throated prayer life of Jesus in secret before the Father was the ‘golden-silence’ of faith that disarmed principalities and power in earthly and heavenly places (1 Peter 2:23). God has , is and will exercise His justice of grace and wrath in His way and in His time. In the mean time, we must bring his justice through the gospel of the kingdom to the broken-hearted, the prisoners of sin and shame , the poor and marginalized!

God the Father seeks worship-warriors, who know when to speak and when to be silent in a humble attentive “submissive” spirit. The Father supplies ‘grace’ to the humble, who in their brokenness and contrition surrender to Him who works “all things” together for good which triumphs over evil. We must wage war in word and deed!

We wage war or struggle or wrestle on three different levels as followers of Christ. This spiritual warfare is kind of like 3-D Chess. We war against the world, our flesh and the devil.  The better we are at wrestling with God and ourselves in submission and humility, the more triumphant we live when dealing with spiritual wickedness. John, the beloved, taught “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” It stands to reason, our first focus must be on knowing Christ above us, through us and in us!

 Know God, know yourself and know your enemy.

  1. We wrestle with God… The Most High God  seeks to subdue us for His purpose. Jacob wrestled with God (God wrestled with Jacob) all night at the River Jabbok and was transformed in name and character. Wrestling with God releases a new name and future for us through weakness and humility.  Daniel wrestled with God in Babylon concerning the captivity of His people and the restoration of all things.  Paul wrestled with God to remove a “thorn in his flesh”. Also Paul, wrestled with the incongruity between his mind and his will and his actions (Romans 7). In Paul’s case, God’s will prevailed not with healing but with grace and power through weakness and limitation.  Peter said, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, casting all your anxiety upon Him for He cares for you.”  The love of God is the most powerful weapon formed by God to subdue our pride, our vices, our unbelief  and our fear in order to release His grace. 

 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak…So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” (Genesis 22:24,30)

  • The Call to Character:  Glorification of the Believer: We are transformed from “glory to glory” into the likeness of Son of God (Rom.8:29) by total surrender to the firm hand of God that changes us spirit, soul and body (2 Cor. 3:17-18). 
  1. We wrestle with our sinful nature: This the backdrop of Romans 7, which ends,  “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.  Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Rom.7:24-8:1).  Not unlike the necessity to get dressed everyday, we must daily “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make now provision for the flesh in regards to its lusts” (Rom.13:14). 
  • The Call to Purpose Driven Life of Service: The Sanctification of the Believer; this progressive process is what “sets us apart” to be Spirit-driven to serve others through self-mortification.
  1. We wrestle against the kingdom of darkness: We must not be empty-headed when it comes to our knowledge of the schemes of Satan. He takes advantage of ‘ignorance’. The devil is the ‘god of this world’ but He is not God Almighty, nor the Creator-Redeemer of all things.  We must respect evil powers, for even Michael, the great warring angel, said “The Lord rebuke” you when dealing with the body of Moses (Jude 8-9). Our appeal against darkness is first and foremost always an appeal to the Father and His kingdom will, authority and power. We are commanded by the Apostle Paul  to do everything we can (which is to first seek God and deny ourselves) to stand against evil in acts of obedience. This obedience to Christ and the gospel  will inevitably  bring some level of backlash, opposition, persecution and suffering. We are to “put on the full armor of God” and take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word to win this battle (Eph.6:10-17). 

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) was a 17th and early 18th Century minister of the Gospel in England

  • The Call to Victory: The influential enthusiastic believer seeks to both preserve, enhance and advance the victory of Jesus Christ against the kingdom of darkness. Similiar to the example of Jesus in the wilderness, with the direct aid of the Holy Scriptures these private and public victories transform the fullness of the Spirit into the “power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:1,14). 

Author: swimmingmonk1980

Follower of Jesus for 40 years; Married 35 years; Father of 5; a continual recipient of God's saving grace; a contemplative; enjoy nature; eventually I overcome reluctance and take risks; the greatest joy is strengthening others by helping them become fully aware of the presence, power, purpose and purity of Jesus on their behalf

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