What does "eternal mountains were shattered" teach about God's sovereignty? Setting the Scene Habakkuk 3:6: “He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations; the ancient mountains crumbled; the age-old hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.” Examining the Phrase in Context • “Ancient mountains” (often rendered “eternal mountains”) picture the most stable, immovable parts of creation. • In prophetic vision, even these are shattered simply by God’s presence—He “stood… He looked.” No battle, no struggle—just His sovereign gaze. • The verse sits in a hymn recalling God’s past interventions (e.g., the Exodus) while foreshadowing His future acts of judgment and salvation. Truths About God’s Sovereignty Revealed 1. God rules over the physical universe • Mountains outlast empires, yet they “crumbled” at His inspection. • Psalm 97:5: “The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD.” • Revelation 6:14: “Every mountain and island was moved from its place.” Creation is utterly subject to Him. 2. God’s authority is effortless • Habakkuk stresses verbs of minimal action—He “stood,” He “looked.” Nothing opposes Him effectively (Job 9:5-6). 3. God’s rule is timeless • “His ways are everlasting.” The mountains seem eternal to us, but only God truly is. Isaiah 40:28: “The everlasting God… does not faint or grow weary.” • The contrast highlights His unchanging nature versus creation’s fragility. 4. God’s sovereignty extends to nations and history • The same glance that shatters mountains “startled the nations.” Political powers are as fragile as hills before Him (Daniel 2:21). 5. Divine judgment and salvation are guaranteed • If He can dismantle mountains, He can also remove obstacles to rescue His people (Isaiah 41:15-16). • Believers can rest in His capacity both to judge evil and to deliver the faithful. Living in Light of This Sovereignty • Worship with reverence—recognize we come before the One who crumbles mountains. • Trust His unshakable plans—when circumstances feel immovable, remember that mountains aren’t. • Stand boldly in holiness—if creation yields to Him, so should our hearts (Romans 12:1). • Proclaim hope—God’s sovereign power makes His promises sure (2 Corinthians 1:20). |
    |