Book of Habakkuk
Chapter 3
The third chapter of Habakkuk may be one of the most amazing psalms in the Bible. Yes, I mean psalms. We know the specific context in which the man wrote the prayer and understand exactly the circumstances that prompted him to write it.
The prophet prayed that God would intervene and stop the violence and injustice around him. The Lord promised He would, but by sending in a ruthless army to conquer them. Perhaps, the solution seemed worse than the original problem, Habakkuk mused back to the Lord, rather boldly, one might add. Life would actually get harder, not better or more just. God’s response to his loving and hurt follower was to let him know that He also promised to bring justice to those very same ruthless conquerors.
Instead of complaining or whining or throwing a tantrum, Habakkuk prayed and praised God. Indeed, we discover a magnificent psalm of praise, acknowledgement, surrender and faith: “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (v.2). He recalled the majesty, the holiness and the power of God; at the same time, he appealed to His eternal mercy. In the book of Hosea, we saw how crucial it is to acknowledge who God is. Habakkuk also remembered who God is and what He had done. In doing so, he came to understand that God’s plan, hard as it was, would indeed right wrongs and bring salvation (Hab..1:2-4), for he wrote: “You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one…” (v.13).
Somehow, knowing that the Babylonians would receive justice as well comforted the prophet. God did not tell him when this would happen, just that it would. Habakkuk chose to trust in God’s plan instead of his own. He knew that God’s timing was not his timing. And he knew that no matter how bad things got – for they were about to get worse – he could put his hope in God to take care of him and his concerns, his fellow people and their future. He could do more than just persevere, just hang in there with his persistent faith (This feat alone is already quite monumental). He could actually give thanks and rejoice: “I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 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. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights” (vs.16-19).
The prophet honestly spoke his mind and now received God’s answer. It was not exactly what he had had in mind, but he chose to trust God, to acknowledge Him, to remember that He hears and is at work, no matter what. Habakkuk remembered that his God is a powerful God, that He saves, that He comforts, that He can set things right. Our journey might seem long, but it is not over yet.
Key Verses:
“LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy… 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 3:2,17,18
Questions:
- How can you use this chapter to praise God and Him alone for who He is?
- In what areas of your life do you have a hard time trusting God? How might Habakkuk help you?
- Do you tend to complain? Whine (like me I’m sorry to admit)? Have a tantrum? What can you learn from the man Habakkuk? What specific steps can you take to make constructive changes in your life?
