Habakkuk3
New King James Version
1A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.
2O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
3God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise.
4His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden.
5Before Him went pestilence, And fever followed at His feet.
6He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting.
7I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
8O Lord, were You displeased with the rivers, Was Your anger against the rivers, Was Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation?
9Your bow was made quite ready; Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah You divided the earth with rivers.
10The mountains saw You and trembled; The overflowing of the water passed by. The deep uttered its voice, And lifted its hands on high.
11The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; At the light of Your arrows they went, At the shining of Your glittering spear.
12You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger.
13You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah
14You thrust through with his own arrows The head of his villages. They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret.
15You walked through the sea with Your horses, Through the heap of great waters.
16When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.
17Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—
18Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Habakkuk 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The prophet beseeches God for his people. (1, 2). He calls to mind former deliverances. (3–15). His firm trust in the Divine mercy. (16–19).
vv1-2
The word prayer seems used here for an act of devotion. The Lord would revive his work among the people in the midst of the years of adversity. This may be applied to every season when the church, or believers, suffer under afflictions and trials. Mercy is what we must flee to for refuge, and rely upon as our only plea. We must not say, Remember our merit, but, Lord, remember thy own mercy.
vv3-15
God's people, when in distress, and ready to despair, seek help by considering the days of old, and the years of ancient times, and by pleading them with God in prayer. The resemblance between the Babylonish and Egyptian captivities, naturally presents itself to the mind, as well as the possibility of a like deliverance through the power of Jehovah. God appeared in his glory. All the powers of nature are shaken, and the course of nature changed, but all is for the salvation of God's own people. Even what seems least likely, shall be made to work for their salvation. Hereby is given a type and figure of the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ. It is for salvation with thine anointed. Joshua who led the armies of Israel, was a figure of Him whose name he bare, even Jesus, our Joshua. In all the salvations wrought for them, God looked upon Christ the Anointed, and brought deliverances to pass by him. All the wonders done for Israel of old, were nothing to that which was done when the Son of God suffered on the cross for the sins of his people. How glorious his resurrection and ascension! And how much more glorious will be his second coming, to put an end to all that opposes him, and all that causes suffering to his people!
vv16-19
When we see a day of trouble approach, it concerns us to prepare. A good hope through grace is founded in holy fear. The prophet looked back upon the experiences of the church in former ages, and observed what great things God had done for them, and so was not only recovered, but filled with holy joy. He resolved to delight and triumph in the Lord; for when all is gone, his God is not gone. Destroy the vines and the fig-trees, and you make all the mirth of a carnal heart to cease. But those who, when full, enjoyed God in all, when emptied and poor, can enjoy all in God. They can sit down upon the heap of the ruins of their creature-comforts, and even then praise the Lord, as the God of their salvation, the salvation of the soul, and rejoice in him as such, in their greatest distresses. Joy in the Lord is especially seasonable when we meet with losses and crosses in the world. Even when provisions are cut off, to make it appear that man lives not by bread alone, we may be supplied by the graces and comforts of God's Spirit. Then we shall be strong for spiritual warfare and work, and with enlargement of heart may run the way of his commandments, and outrun our troubles. And we shall be successful in spiritual undertakings. Thus the prophet, who began his prayer with fear and trembling, ends it with joy and triumph. And thus faith in Christ prepares for every event. The name of Jesus, when we can speak of Him as ours, is balm for every wound, a cordial for every care. It is as ointment poured forth, shedding fragrance through the whole soul. In the hope of a heavenly crown, let us sit loose to earthly possessions and comforts, and cheerfully bear up under crosses. Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry; and where he is, we shall be also.
Key Words
תְּפִלָּה: intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
חֲבַקּוּק: Chabakkuk, the prophet
נָבִיא: a prophet or (generally) inspired man
שִׁגָּיוֹן: properly, aberration, i.e. (technically) a dithyramb or rambling poem
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
שֵׁמַע: something heard, i.e. a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
יָרֵא: to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten
קֶרֶב: properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
חָיָה: to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
Cross References
Habakkuk 3Paran and Seir/Teman are cited as places where God shined forth, recalling the Sinai covenant giving.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Refers to the sun and moon standing still in their habitation during Joshua's battle.
Supported by JFB
Historical account of the sun and moon standing still, showing God's cosmic intervention.
Supported by JFB
Direct parallel of God walking/riding through the sea and great waters during Israel's deliverance.
Supported by JFB
The term 'Shigionoth' is related to 'Shiggaion' in the title of Psalm 7.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Both identify 'thy work' as God's chosen people, Israel, whom He promises to revive.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prayer to revive God's people so that they may rejoice in Him during trials.
Supported by JFB
Parallel declaration of the Lord as 'my strength' and provider of secure high places.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel imagery of God making His people walk upon high places in victory and inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Habakkuk's internal trembling in response to hearing God's speech and approaching judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The alarming speech Habakkuk heard concerning the rise of the violent Chaldean troops.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the trembling of regional nations (Edom, Moab, Midian) at God's redemptive power.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The waters and deeps seeing God and trembling, reflecting Exodus imagery.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic parallel of the Lord coming down to tread upon high places.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Poetic parallel of God covering Himself with light as with a garment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Self-referential parallel linking the horses of salvation to walking through the sea.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Praising the Lord as the strength and 'God of my salvation' in song.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Resolving to look to and joy in the God of salvation despite national desolation.
Supported by Matthew Henry