Habakkuk Chapter 3 Help from the Book of Habakkuk

Habakkuk 3: [1] A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. [2] O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

1) The Report of Habakkuk (1,2a)

Habakkuk knows that the LORD is in HIS Holy Temple (2:20). The LORD is on the throne.

In verse 1, Habakkuk makes it known that he is praying to the LORD with emotion, “shigionoth.”

In verse 2, Habakkuk had many questions and has received GOD’s answer, “O Lord I have heard thy speech.” Though he did not like what he heard, Habakkuk begins to pray.

The prophet Habakkuk lived in a day when the nation of Israel had departed from serving GOD.

Habakkuk saw the sins of the people and was greatly burdened (Habakkuk 1:1)

The cause of God appears in danger. Sin and wickedness is rampant in the nation of Israel

Violence fills the land, offenders are not punished

It is as if the work of God was about to die and become extinct

Little care or concern for the things of God

Few are interested in truth and righteousness (Truth had fallen in the street)

Even among the professing believers

Habakkuk wondered how long God would allow the wicked to prosper. Habakkuk asks for justice.

Suddenly GOD gave HIS answer. Judgment is coming.

Habakkuk 1:6

[6] For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

God said that He has been preparing the Babylonians to invade the land to discipline Israel

God will allow Babylon to chastise Israel by carrying Israel away into captivity.

This judgment and chastisement is meant to bring correction to Judah.

Habakkuk began to complain, “I am looking for salvation LORD, not discipline and devastation”

Habakkuk protested to God that a sinful people should not be chastised by a people more sinful.

Habakkuk 1:13

[13] Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

GOD told Habakkuk that at an appointed time Judah will be released from Babylonian captivity.

Then Babylon will be brought under the judgment of GOD for their treatment of GOD’s people.

2) The Reality to Habakkuk (2b)

Habakkuk heard God speak and “was afraid.”

Hab 3:16 “When I heard my belly trembled. My lips quivered.”

Habakkuk knows that GOD’s word will be fulfilled. Judah will be conquered by the Babylonians.

Habakkuk probably thought:

* I was once afraid God was not working at all.

* Now I am afraid that God is doing too much.

Other men of GOD were also afraid.

When God spoke, Isaiah said woe is me; Daniel said there remained no strength in me.

When the LORD spoke John “fell at his feet as a dead.”

Apostle Paul was put in such places that he wrote in 2 Cor 1:8 “we despaired even of life.”

3) The Reviving of Habakkuk (2c)

The prophet needed a change of heart, from his complaining and protesting.

Habakkuk is trying to accept the Word of the LORD, though it made him afraid, he must have faith.

Habakkuk knew the fulfillment of the vision was imminent and thus Habakkuk prays.

Habakkuk prays “O Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years.”

To pray for revival we must know what it is! Revival is the giving, preserving or restoring of spiritual life

* Paramedics attempt to revive someone whose life is in danger

To make alive is to quicken, to renew life and it is God’s work to revive.

We need to say “LORD, do it again” We need grace in the midst of the trouble

Psalm 51:12,13

[12] Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
[13] Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

John 5:21

[21] For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

John 6:63

[63]It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Psalm 119

[25] My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

[40] Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

[50] This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

[88] Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

[149] Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.

4) The Request of Habakkuk (2d)

Habakkuk prays “in the midst of the years make known.”

Habakkuk desires the LORD to send revival though the years may be tough while in captivity.

Habakkuk desires this reviving to come in the LORD’s appointed time.

Thus, Habakkuk submits to the LORD’s hand and the LORD’s will.

Revival is not just enthusiasm or excitement.

Habakkuk desires a revelation of GOD in the midst of those tough years of captivity.

LORD, make us to know thy power to save (He is able to save to the uttermost).

Make us to know the power of God to lift the fallen.

Make us to know the power of God to cleanse the guilty.

Make us to know the power of God to change the hardest heart.

LORD, make us to know the working of the Holy Spirit

Teach me what you are doing LORD.

Give me understanding.

LORD, make us to know the person and sacrifice of Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:21

[21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

5) The Recollection of Habakkuk (2e)

Habakkuk then prays “in wrath remember mercy.”

LORD we deserve the wrath of your judgment BUT in your wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk begins to recollect the mercies of GOD toward Israel.

Hab 3: [3] God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. [4] And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. [5] Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. [6] He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. [7] I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
[8] Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? [9] Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah.

There seems to be divisions by the word “selah”- which means to stop and meditate on these things.

1. Recollecting GOD’s Glory (3-9a)

In verse 3, “GOD came from Teman”, a mountain range and specifically Paran is mentioned.

Deut 33:2 The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount

Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

In verse 4, LORD show the mercy that gave the law at Mt Sinai when the glory of GOD came down.

In verse 4, LORD show the mercy that led Israel by a pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by day.

In verse 5, LORD show the mercy that released Israel from the bondage in Egypt when the plagues came.

In verse 6, LORD show the mercy that gave Israel an inheritance as you drove away their mighty enemies.

In verse 7, LORD show the mercy that caused our enemies to tremble.

In verse 8, LORD show the mercy that sent the plague of blood upon the powerful rivers of Egypt.

Lord show the mercy that divided the Red Sea for Israel to cross over on dry ground.

In verse 9a, LORD show the mercy where You have protected Your people according to Your promises.

Hab 3: [9] ….Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. [10] The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
[11] The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. [12] Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. [13] Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.

2. Recollecting GOD’s Goodness (9b-13)

In verse 9b, LORD show the mercy that caused the rock to give water to thirsty Israel in the wilderness.

1 Cor 10:4 for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

In verse 10, Lord show the mercy that rolled the flooding Jordan river back and Israel crossed over.

Lord show the mercy that caused the walls of Jericho to fall and Israel had victory.

In verse 11, LORD show the mercy that rained down hailstones on the enemy in Joshua 10

LORD show the mercy that fulfilled Joshua’s request to cause the sun and moon to stand still.

Joshua 10:8-11 Five kings attacked Joshua, GOD gave victory.

Joshua 10:12-14

[12]Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. [13] And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. [Is] not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. [14] And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

In verse 12, LORD show the mercy that gave Joshua victory after victory in the Canaan-land.

In verse 13, LORD show the mercy that you promised in order to bring the Messiah, the Savior.

LORD you have always sent a Savior even as David slew Goliath by wounding the head of the wicked.

Most of all LORD show the mercy in defeating the devil, the anti-christ and the false prophet.

Hab 3:[14] Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. [15] Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

3. Recollecting GOD’s Grace (14,15 )

In verse 14, LORD show the mercy you showed by causing the enemy to defeat themselves.

I think of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:16-23.

Three armies against one and the one is praising GOD and the three were defeated and the one was still in praise..

I think of Hezekiah surrounded by the enemy and he prayed and the angel of LORD came.

2 Kings 19:35 it came to pass that night that the angel of the Lord went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians 185,000.

In verse 15, LORD show the mercy that made a way for Israel to cross over the sea into deliverance.

Hab 3: [16] When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. [17] Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: [18] Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. [19] The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

6) The Rejoicing of Habakkuk (16-19)

Once again Habakkuk returns to the present day and his bone-shattering fears.

Babylon is coming to invade the land and Habakkuk sees Judah in desolation.

Babylon will come and Judah will have lost all they have.

Yet, in faith, Habakkuk finds a way to rejoice. Fear is overcome by faith.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, although the circumstances are bleak, Habakkuk will rejoice.

There is no joy in circumstances or material possessions.

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

When Habakkuk started this writing he was in the valley with a burden but ends up on a mountain rejoicing.

His circumstances have not changed, if anything they are worse, but he has changed.

He was now walking by faith instead of sight.

He was living by the provisions of God and not the circumstances of life

Habakkuk has learned to trust GOD, through it all.

He finds through providence that God is our strength.

Habakkuk feels that he has been given hinds feet like a mountain deer.

Habakkuk can now walk upon the steep places with no fear of the danger of falling.

Habakkuk addresses this letter to the chief singer. In other words, lets sing this song of prayer and trust GOD.

Habakkuk wrote this and put it to music upon his stringed instrument.

Conclusion

We can be in a valley of burdens and look to the LORD by faith and end up on the mountain rejoicing.

We can take this prayer and use or bodies as the instrument of praise to our GOD.

Our nation will be judged for her sins. We must turn to the LORD.

“O GOD, in wrath remember mercy!”