Habakkuk3
World English Bible · Public Domain
1A prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet, set to victorious music.
2Yahweh, I have heard of your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, Yahweh. Renew your work in the middle of the years. In the middle of the years make it known. In wrath, you remember mercy.
3God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and his praise filled the earth.
4His splendor is like the sunrise. Rays shine from his hand, where his power is hidden.
5Plague went before him, and pestilence followed his feet.
6He stood, and shook the earth. He looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains were crumbled. The age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal.
7I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction. The dwellings of the land of Midian trembled.
8Was Yahweh displeased with the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers, or your wrath against the sea, that you rode on your horses, on your chariots of salvation?
9You uncovered your bow. You called for your sworn arrows. Selah. You split the earth with rivers.
10The mountains saw you, and were afraid. The storm of waters passed by. The deep roared and lifted up its hands on high.
11The sun and moon stood still in the sky at the light of your arrows as they went, at the shining of your glittering spear.
12You marched through the land in wrath. You threshed the nations in anger.
13You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the land of wickedness. You stripped them head to foot. Selah.
14You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears. They came as a whirlwind to scatter me, gloating as if to devour the wretched in secret.
15You trampled the sea with your horses, churning mighty waters.
16I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, for the coming up of the people who invade us.
17For even though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines, the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food, the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls,
18yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and enables me to go in high places. For the music director, on 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