The burden of Habakkuk

The Burden of Habakkuk

Habakkuk 1:1 states, “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see…”  The Hebrew word translated burden in this Scripture is massa (4853).  This word carries the concept of an utterance which according to Strong’s Hebrew dictionary. He includes both spoken and singing and states that this is true especially of singing.  This word connotes a burden born in upon this person by God.

       This heavy burden expresses mental desire i.e. a vision which the prophet “did see”.  This same word massa is used of the chief singer Chenaniah in I Chronicles 15:22.  The prophets and musicians had visions of God born in upon them so vivid that the Holy Writ records is as something born in upon the prophets and musicians by God himself.

       As a Christian musician, when you feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit in your back, be sure that you deliver that message through your musicing.  Rather than be fearful of delivering the serious message that God has born in upon your spirit, thank God that He has trusted you to deliver his message to the people.

       God uses musicians and preachers to carry the burden of Jehovah to His church.  Never be ashamed to get excited about singing and playing that is anointed of God.  Never reject true hart felt emotion and meaning in musical ministry.  Believability comes through expressing your “visions of God” expressed in your musicing.  No person ever expects a preacher to drone out a sermon, and no one should expect a musician to remain stone faced and removed emotionally from his or her musical ministry.