Habakkuk 3
Habakkuk 3 is part of “Habakkuk's Prayer” (3) in the outline of Habakkuk.
Habakkuk 3 summary
Still the correspondence is kept up between God and his prophet. In the first chapter he spoke to God, then God to him, and then he to God again; in the second chapter God spoke wholly to him by the Spirit of prophecy; now, in this chapter, he speaks wholly to God by the Spirit of prayer, for he would not let the intercourse drop on his side, like a genuine son of Abraham, who "returned not to his place until God had left communing with him." Gen 18:33. The prophet's prayer, in this chapter, is in imitation of David's psalms, for it is directed "to the chief musician," and is set to musical instruments.
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Still the correspondence is kept up between God and his prophet. In the first chapter he spoke to God, then God to him, and then he to God again; in the second chapter God spoke wholly to him by the Spirit of prophecy; now, in this chapter, he speaks wholly to God by the Spirit of prayer, for he would not let the intercourse drop on his side, like a genuine son of Abraham, who "returned not to his place until God had left communing with him." Gen 18:33. The prophet's prayer, in this chapter, is in imitation of David's psalms, for it is directed "to the chief musician," and is set to musical instruments. The prayer is left upon record for the use of the church, and particularly of the Jews in their captivity, while they were waiting for their deliverance, promised by the vision in the foregoing chapter. I. He earnestly begs of God to relieve and succour his people in affliction, to hasten their deliverance, and to comfort them in the mean time (Hab 3:2). II. He calls to mind the experiences which the church formerly had of God's glorious and gracious appearances on her behalf, when he brought Israel out of Egypt through the wilderness to Canaan, and there many a time wrought wonderful deliverances for them (Hab 3:3-15). III. He affects himself with a holy concern for the present troubles of the church, but encourages himself and others to hope that the issue will be comfortable and glorious at last, though all visible means fail (Hab 3:16-19).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in Habakkuk 3
Habakkuk 3 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Habakkuk's Prayer
1A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to Shigionoth. 2O Jehovah, I have heard the report of thee, and am afraid: O Jehovah, revive thy work in the midst of the years; In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. 3God came from Teman, And the Holy One from mount Paran. [Selah His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of his praise. 4And [his] brightness was as the light; He had rays [coming forth] from his hand; And there was the hiding of his power. 5Before him went the pestilence, And fiery bolts went forth at his feet. 6He stood, and measured the earth; He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; And the eternal mountains were scattered; The everlasting hills did bow; His goings were [as] of old. 7I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. 8Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers, Or thy wrath against the sea, That thou didst ride upon thy horses, Upon thy chariots of salvation? 9Thy bow was made quite bare; The oaths to the tribes were a [sure] word. [Selah Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. 10The mountains saw thee, and were afraid; The tempest of waters passed by; The deep uttered its voice, And lifted up its hands on high. 11The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, At the light of thine arrows as they went, At the shining of thy glittering spear. 12Thou didst march through the land in indignation; Thou didst thresh the nations in anger. 13Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, For the salvation of thine anointed; Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked man, Laying bare the foundation even unto the neck. [Selah 14Thou didst pierce with his own staves the head of his warriors: They came as a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 15Thou didst tread the sea with thy horses, The heap of mighty waters.
Rejoicing in the Lord
16I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth 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 that invadeth us. 17For though the fig-tree shall not flourish, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength; And he maketh my feet like hinds’ [feet], And will make me to walk upon my high places. For the Chief Musician, on my stringed instruments.