3:1ffHabakkuk praised God for answering his questions. Evil will not triumph forever; God is in control, and he can be completely trusted to vindicate those who are faithful to him. We must patiently wait for him to act (3:16).
Life Application Study BibleHabakkukChapter 3
Habakkuk 3
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1487, 1488
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
3Habakkuk 3
2. Habakkuk’s prayer
1This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk:*
2Thave heard all about you, Lor.I am filled with awe by your amazing works.In this time of our deep need,help us again as you did in years gone by.And in your anger,remember your mercy.
3I see God moving across the deserts from Edom,*the Holy One coming from Mount Paran.*His brilliant splendor fills the heavens,and the earth is filled with his praise.
4His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.Rays of light flash from his hands,where his awesome power is hidden.
5Pestilence marches before him;plague follows close behind.
6When he stops, the earth shakes.When he looks, the nations tremble.He shatters the everlasting mountainsand levels the eternal hills.He is the Eternal One!
7Tsee the people of Cushan in distress,and the nation of Midian trembling in terror.
8Was it in anger, LORD, that you struck the riversand parted the sea?Were you displeased with them?No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!
9You brandished your bowand your quiver of arrows.You split open the earth with flowing rivers.
10The mountains watched and trembled.Onward swept the raging waters.The mighty deep cried out,lifting its hands to the LORD.
11The sun and moon stood still in the skyas your brilliant arrows flewand your glittering spear flashed.
12You marched across the land in angerand trampled the nations in your fury.
13You went out to rescue your chosen people,to save your anointed ones.You crushed the heads of the wickedand stripped their bones from head to toe.
14With his own weapons,you destroyed the chief of thosewho rushed out like a whirlwind,thinking Israel would be easy prey.
15You trampled the sea with your horses,and the mighty waters piled high.
16I trembled inside when I heard this;my lips quivered with fear.My legs gave way beneath me,*and I shook in terror.I will wait quietly for the coming daywhen disaster will strike the people who invade us.
17Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,and there are no grapes on the vines;even though the olive crop fails,and the fields lie empty and barren;even though the flocks die in the fields,and the cattle barns are empty,18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD!I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19The Sovereign LORD is my strength!He makes me as surefooted as a deer,*able to tread upon the heights.(For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
Textual footnotes
- Teman.
- a musical or literary term.
- 3:1 Hebrew adds according to shigionoth, probably indicating the musica! setting for the prayer.
- 3:3a Hebrew
- 3:3b Hebrew adds selah; also in 3:9, 13. The meaning of this Hebrew term is uncertain; it is probably
- 3:16 Hebrew Decay entered my bones.
- 3:19 Or He gives me the speed of a deer.
Life Application Notes 6 notes
3:2Habakkuk knew that God was going to discipline the people of Judah and that it wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience. But Habakkuk accepted God's will, asking for help and mercy. Habakkuk did not ask to escape the discipline, but he accepted the truth that Judah needed to learn a lesson. God still disciplines in love to bring his children back to him (Hebrews 12:5, 6). Accept God’s discipline gladly, and ask him to heip you change.
3:17-19Crop failure and the death of animals would devastate Judah. But Habakkuk affirmed that even in the times of starvation and loss, he would still rejoice in the LORD. Habakkuk’s feelings were not controlled by the events around him but by faith in God’s ability to give him strength. When nothing makes sense, and when troubles seem more than you can bear, remember that God gives strength. Take your eyes off your difficulties and look to God.
3:18Habakkuk had asked God why evil people prosper while the righteous suffer. God’s answer: They don't, not in the tong run. Habakkuk saw his own timitations in contrast to God’s unlimited power and control of all the world’s events. God is alive and in control of the world and its events. We cannot see all that God is doing, and we cannot see ail that God will do. But we can be assured that he is God and will do what is right. Knowing this can give us confidence and hope in a confusing world.
3:19God will give his foltowers strength and confidence in difficult times. They will run surefooted as deer across rough and dangerous terrain. At the proper time, God will bring about his justice and completely rid the world of evil. In the meantime, God’s people need to live in the strength of his Spirit, confident in his ultimate victory over evil.
3:19The note to the choir director was to be used when this passage was sung as a psalm in Temple worship.