Habakkuk 3:4

His splendor was like the sunrise;

rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.

The name of this blog comes from this verse. In this post I wish to analyze the verse itself. Another post will be dedicated to the larger context of Habakkuk 3.

In brief, this verse comes towards the beginning of verses 3-7 in which Habakkuk sees a theophany—that is, a vision of God in His power descending to deliver justice on the earth. This verse, then, is referring to the physical description of God, that is, that when God came down, His appearance was too bright to truly behold. The ESV translates this phrase as: His brightness was like the light. The NASB states: His radiance is like the sunlight. And finally, the NET Bible says: He is as bright as lightning.

The Hebrew word that is translated splendor is more generically translated as brightness in other places, including other English translations. However, when referring to God, and making a comparison to light, the idea is that God’s brightness is so complete and full that it chases away shadows and there can be no darkness in its presence. It is a dazzling light that the eye is drawn to, and that holds the beholder’s attention. Thus God’s light is like the sunrise; it is a beautiful sight to see, and one that a person will watch for a while and not just glace at casually.

Once, when we were vacationing in Bali, Indonesia, my husband and I both got up early one morning to see the sunrise. The staff at the resort always prepared a simple coffee and snack bar for such intrepid tourists such as ourselves who woke early to see the sun rise up over the ocean. We got there early and sat at the top of the beach and watched the sun break over the horizon. Bali is a beautiful island and we were surrounded by lush foliage, bright flowers, and soft, white sand, but none of that compared to watching the sun come up. First it was just orange rays of light, then the golden orb made its appearance slowly. We watched for a good forty five minutes until the sun was higher above the horizon. The light was so brilliant and pure, so fresh and refreshing after the darkness of night and early morning.

When God comes on that final day, it will be like watching the sunrise. Light will pour forth and chase all darkness away as the Lord Almighty marches into His creation and brings justice and righteousness and final redemption to the good works of His hand. Until that day, we have the sunrise itself to remind us that there will be a day when the Son will reign eternal and all will be made right, for God is constant and faithful to His people, just as the sunrise is faithful to the morning.