Sometimes, even as Christians, we find ourselves feeling unsettled by world events or personal situations. And if we’re not careful, those moments of concern can grow into a sense of fear. But through His Word, God offers us a better way to respond when difficulties loom.
One of those comforting passages is in the book of Habakkuk. The prophet wrote this book around 605 to 588 BC – a worrisome time as the people of Judah were watching the Babylonian empire grow and start to threaten their nation.
Chapter 3 of Habakkuk is an impassioned prayer of remembrance, celebration and encouragement. And the main message, that God is always in control and never stops watching over His people, is one that applies today as much as when it was first written.
Beyond his anointing as a prophet of God, not much is known for sure about Habakkuk. Some believe, based on the music-related note at the end of his prayer, that he came from the family line of Levi. And most scholars agree that he lived in Jerusalem at the time that he wrote his book.
Whatever his lineage, Habakkuk’s writing reveals a heart that longs to know and understand what God is doing. And as the text shows, he was not afraid to go to the Lord directly to ask hard questions.
Chapters one and two are really an extended dialogue between Habakkuk and God. The prophet first lifts up a lament and receives a quick response:
“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:1).
“Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed” (Habakkuk 1:5).
Next, Habakkuk boldly asks God why He is letting the wicked continue to prosper. But, he later finishes this section with a vow to wait on God’s answer.
Chapter two documents God’s promise to punish those who are living immorally. Several times He speaks the phrase “Woe to him who…” followed by a declaration of the Lord’s sovereignty over them.
True to his word, Habakkuk patiently and humbly listens to God’s decree. His words, once full of doubt and confusion, now express praise and worship. He finishes the prayer as he started, giving glory for how God’s presence bolsters his spirit.
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:19).
Habakkuk uses names of specific places and people in this passage as a way to poetically describe God’s greatness.
“God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth” (Habakkuk 3:3).
Teman, a district and town in the southern part of Edom, and Mount Paran, located nearby, were both located on the eastern side of Israel. To say that God came from those two places indicated that God was rising up to shine over His people and to bring in new victory.
Interestingly, Moses delivered sermons from Mount Paran that included similar imagery.
“This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. He said: ‘The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran’” (Deuteronomy 33:1-2).
A few verses later, remembering how God’s power had been unleashed at earlier times, Habakkuk mentions two tribes that had experienced the Lord’s wrath: the Cushan and the Midianites. Again, he stresses that even non-believers are laid low under God’s Hand.
“I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish” (Habakkuk 3:7).
In his prayer, Habakkuk captures several truths and traits of God.
God’s brilliance - He is a light for His people.
“His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden” (Habakkuk 3:4).
God’s might - He is a warrior for His people.
“He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed — but he marches on forever” (Habakkuk 3:6).
God’s majesty - He deserves the awe of His people.
“I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled” (Habakkuk 3:16).
God’s faithfulness - He works on behalf of His people.
“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).
God’s sovereignty over the nations - He stands against the enemies of His people.
“In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot. With his own spear you pierced his head when his warriors stormed out to scatter us, gloating as though about to devour the wretched who were in hiding” (Habakkuk 3:12-14).
God’s power over all creation - He uses even nature to protect His people.
“...the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high. Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear” (Habakkuk 3:10-11).
God’s Wrath - He punishes those who mistreat His people.
“Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps…You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows” (Habakkuk 3:5,9).
After his passionate acknowledgment of God, Habakkuk seems convinced that the Lord will act in His perfect timing. With that confidence, the prophet reaffirms his trust in and expectation of the Lord’s goodness. And that clearly brings a sense of contentment to his heart as he waits.
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
This prayer from ages ago has universal themes that strongly resonate in our time. We can all find comfort in knowing that God loves us, fights for us and wins the battles the world presents. And this passage invites us to spend time recalling how God has moved in our own lives by:
Being aware of how God has already helped usBeing thankful for His provision Being trusting that we will see His goodness againBeing determined to wait for His perfect timingCelebrating what He’s already done builds a foundation to look ahead with renewed courage. We’ll seek out other Bible verses that offer God’s grace, and go to Him more quickly and earnestly in prayer.
Habakkuk’s prayer was written to be a balm for the anxious heart of believers. It offers a more positive way to handle unsettling and even frightening times. And when we follow the prophet’s example, we’ll be equipped to keep a righteous attitude and outlook, no matter what we are facing. His rescue and victory will come at just the right time.
“Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us” (Habakkuk 3:16).
Heather Adams is an author, speaker, and singer living in Connecticut. Heather’s passion is to equip and encourage believers to seek more of God’s truth and to experience more of His joy each day. Her book, Bow Down: The Heart of a True Worshipper is a practical, 30-day devotional about worship based on the writings of King David. Heather's blog, Worship Walk Ministries, offers weekly Scripture passages and insights to ponder. A native New Englander, Heather is settling into her home in the South, trying out local foods and watching for the alligators that live nearby!
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