Today’s Reading is Habakkuk 3:1-19.
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image”. Yeah, right. Folks in the Bible do that all the time.
Look at Habakkuk:
Verse 4 He comes with the brightness of lightning; light flashes from his hand, there where his power is hidden.
– The God of lightning is called Zeus (Roman Jupiter). Sure it makes sense to talk about our God with images of strength that others can use.
Verse 8 You rode upon the clouds; the storm cloud was your chariot, as you brought victory to your people.
– Not only Zeus but most solar deities drive a chariot. The God of the Bible is no different.
Verse 14 Your arrows pierced the commander of his army when it came like a storm to scatter us, gloating like those who secretly oppress the poor.
– Our God is not weak but heavily armed. He can shoot our enemies like all ancient archers.
One reply on “Habakkuk 3:1-19”
[…] his speech by describing the creative power of God he borrows extensively from Hellenistic imagery. That is pretty common throughout the Bible. World Literature has always been interconnected across religious and cultural lines. […]