Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Habakkuk 3
Habakkuk 3:2O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk asks God to repeat His famous miracles in his own time, pleading for God to show mercy even while He is rightfully angry at sin.Habakkuk 3:17-18Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
These verses are some of the most famous in the Bible, showing that joy is a choice based on who God is, not on how much food or money we have.Habakkuk 3:19God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.
This verse explains that God does not simply take away our problems. He gives us internal strength to walk through them without falling.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Prophet's Plea for Mercy
After two chapters of complaining and questioning God about the rise of the cruel Babylonians, Habakkuk finally stops talking and starts praying. He has heard God's answer that judgment is coming, and it leaves him in awe and fear. He begins by asking God to remember His mercy even as He brings discipline to the nation of Judah.
The Majestic Warrior Appears
The scene shifts to a dramatic vision of God moving across the landscape like a thunderstorm. Habakkuk uses imagery from the Exodus and the conquest of the Promised Land to show that God is a warrior-king. This vision reminds the prophet that the same God who saved Israel from Egypt is still powerful enough to save them now.
From Fear to Faith in Habakkuk 3
In Habakkuk 3:1-19, the prophet moves from a state of deep anxiety to a place of unshakable confidence. He begins with a humble prayer in verses 1-2, witnesses a terrifying yet hopeful vision of God's power in verses 3-15, and concludes with a personal commitment to trust God in verses 16-19.
A Request for Revival (Habakkuk 3:1-2)
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:
2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
Commentary:
Habakkuk asks God to show mercy and repeat His great deeds in the present day.
The Splendor of God (Habakkuk 3:3-7)
3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran.
4 His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.
5 Before him went pestilence, and plague followed at his heels.
6 He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Commentary:
God appears in blinding light and power, shaking the very foundations of the earth.
The Chariot of Salvation (Habakkuk 3:8-15)
8 Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord? Was your anger against the rivers, or your indignation against the sea when you rode on your horses, on your chariot of salvation?
9 You stripped the sheath from your bow, calling for many arrows. Selah.
10 The mountains saw you and writhed; the raging waters swept on; the deep gave forth its voice; it lifted its hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their place at the light of your arrows as they sped, at the flash of your glittering spear.
12 You marched through the earth in fury; you threshed the nations in anger.
13 You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck.
14 You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors, who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.
15 You trampled the sea with your horses, the surging of mighty waters.
Commentary:
God fights like a warrior to defeat evil and bring salvation to His people.
Joy in the Midst of Loss (Habakkuk 3:16-19)
16 I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.
Commentary:
Even if everything is lost, Habakkuk chooses to find his joy and strength in God alone.
Timeless Truths for a Trembling Heart
The Power of Remembering
Habakkuk finds hope by looking backward at what God did during the Exodus. By remembering God's past faithfulness, we can find the strength to face an uncertain or scary future.
Mercy within Judgment
The passage shows that God's discipline is never without a purpose. Even when He allows 'wrath' or trouble, His ultimate goal is the 'salvation' of His people and the defeat of evil.
Joy as a Spiritual Discipline
Joy is presented not as a feeling that depends on good luck, but as a choice to delight in God. It is possible to be 'trembling' with fear and 'rejoicing' in God at the exact same time.
Applying Habakkuk's Song to Your Life
It teaches that it is okay to feel afraid and physically overwhelmed by bad news, as seen in verse 16. However, instead of letting fear paralyze you, you can take those feelings to God in prayer and remind yourself of His power and past help.
You can use verses 17-18 as a personal vow. When you face financial loss or personal disappointment, you can choose to say, 'Even though I lost my job or my health is failing, I will still take joy in the God who saves me.'
According to verse 19, it means God gives you the ability to stay steady and sure-footed even when you are walking through 'high places' or dangerous, steep situations. It is a promise that God will provide the specific strength you need for your specific struggle.
Trusting the God of Our Salvation
Habakkuk concludes his book by declaring that God is the ultimate source of strength, regardless of what happens in the world. In this prayer, we see that God's majesty and power are always used for the purpose of saving His people and making things right. The message is clear: even when the world is shaking, our relationship with the Creator remains a solid ground for joy. We are invited to stop looking at the empty fields and start looking at the God who walks with us through them.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith is not the absence of fear, but the decision to trust God in spite of it. Habakkuk shows us that we can be honest about our trembling hearts while still choosing to sing about God's goodness. This chapter invites us to move from 'Why, Lord?' to 'Yet, I will rejoice.'
- What 'empty field' in your life are you currently worried about?
- How can you remind yourself of God's past miracles this week?
- Will you ask God today to make your feet steady like a deer's for the path ahead?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter explains why the judgment is coming and promises that the 'righteous shall live by his faith.'
Connections Across Scripture
A parallel passage where David also speaks of God making his feet like the feet of a deer.
The Song of Moses, which celebrates God as a warrior who saves His people at the Red Sea.
Paul's New Testament teaching on finding joy and strength in Christ regardless of circumstances.
Discussion Questions
- Habakkuk asks God to 'remember mercy' in the midst of wrath. Why is it important to believe that God is both just and merciful at the same time?
- The prophet describes God's power as being 'veiled' or hidden (verse 4). In what ways do you see God's power working behind the scenes in your own life?
- If everything you rely on for comfort (like your home, bank account, or health) was taken away, what specific things about God's character would still give you joy?