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| Photo by Jim Tracy |
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.
“Please, God, don’t forget love in Your anger.” He is a fearful God we worship, but also a God of love.
3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah (“Stop and think about that”). His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.
Teman and Paran were mountains near Sinai. This is almost word for word a repeat of Moses’ song of praise (Deuteronomy 33:2) as well as several Psalms and some of Isaiah’s work. Habakkuk is remembering God’s deliverance in times past and looking forward to His future deliverance.
4 And His brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of His hand: and there was the hiding of His power.
“Horns” was a symbol of power. Most other translations use the word “rays.”
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.
God fought for Israel in the wilderness. He destroyed their enemies, sometimes without them even having to lift a hand.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Cush was a grandson of Noah through Ham. His sons settled Mesopotamia, all of Arabia (including Midian), parts of India and Egypt. God destroyed all these people who opposed Israel in her travels.
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?
Did God divide the Red Sea because He was angry at the water?
9 Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even Thy word. Selah. 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.
God fought for Israel in at least one case with floods of water.
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.
God had the sun stand still during one battle in order to give Joshua time to defeat their attackers.
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.
God is so mighty that all of creation is subject to Him. When He punishes a people they are destroyed and there is no hope. How do you defend against God?
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.
The Bible tells us God even drove the natives of Canaan out with swarms of bees.
15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
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.
When you consider God’s strength and power, it is easy to be afraid of Him.
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor 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.
Even though Habakkuk sees God’s punishment, he will continue to serve Him. God is worthy of our praises.
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.
Even though Habakkuk was terrified of God and His strength, it also comforted and even filled him with joy to know that this same powerful God was his protector.
To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
At least this last chapter was written for use as a praise song.