“He stood, and measured the earth: He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: His ways are everlasting.” (Habakkuk 3:6)
In the prophet’s prayer he recalls the mighty work of the Lord. Then he states “His ways are everlasting.” They are eternal because He is eternal. It’s thought that Habakkuk wrote this for the captives, to give them hope because there is hope in our God Who is not changing with the times, circumstances and whim. His works are everlasting. His Word is everlasting. And His promises are everlasting. He changes not.
Paul explains that no one has an excuse that they didn’t know there was a God, because God can be seen in the things He created. “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20) I’ve heard from people who don’t believe in God and those who refuse to submit to Him how they love nature. They feel God’s presence and His peace in nature but don’t recognize it as the reflection of God. They see God’s beauty and are in awe of nature, but reject the manifestation of God in His creation. David declared: “...The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.” (Psalms 19:1) The prophet Nehemiah declared that God preserves His creation. (Nehemiah 9:6) He keeps it alive and nourishes it. The psalmist wrote: “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.” (Psalms 119:90) And Paul wrote: “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17) It’s God Who establishes all things and stands by it. Unbelievers don’t have an answer when told that the peace they feel in nature is the presence of God in His creation.
God’s greatest work is His redemptive work in man. All His love, power and wisdom is displayed in our rescue and miraculous salvation. It is beyond our imagination all that had to take place and all that happened for God’s magnificent triumph in the hearts and lives of man. And all we can do is receive with gratitude and joy. And our joy is superseded by God’s joy. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) In this verse the word rejoice means with mirth. The King James Dictionary gives this definition: “Social merriment; hilarity; high excitement of pleasurable feelings in company; noisy gayety; jollity. Mirth differs from joy and cheerfulness, as always implying noise.” In Jewish celebrations mirth always involved dancing. There is a possibility that God’s mirth involves dancing over us with joy. His works are everlasting and eternal. Our salvation is everlasting and eternal, with Him forever. (Romans 6:23; 1John 5:11-13) And Peter tells us that it’s because it’s from God Whose Word is eternal. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1Peter 1:23)
God’s Word is eternal. It’s uncertain who wrote Psalms 119 but many conclude that it was either the prophet Ezra or David who declares, “...For ever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalms 119:89) Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35) The Gospel is God’s Word which is eternal. Peter was explaining how things on earth wither and pass away but God’s Word remains forever. He wrote: “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1Peter 1:25)
We can depend on the Lord. And we can depend on His Promises. He changes not. His Promises don’t change. What God said, will not change. His promises do not change because of circumstances or because of us. God is not like us ruled by circumstances. Before Joshua died, he spoke to the Israelites saying, “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” (Joshua 23:14) Joshua and the Israelites had come through the most arduous part of their journey as they took over the Promised Land. God had been faithful in bringing them through their journey and through all the obstacles. And just like He didn’t fail the Israelites, He will not fail us, His children and the beloved in Jesus. We can depend on His promises. “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2Corinthians 1:20)
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