Habakkuk fills chapter
3 with the awe of God. He shows his fear of God’s power, evidenced through His
wrath, and God’s mercy. Habakkuk does this through a prayer. Through the
chapter, he gives a historical account about who God is, what He’s done, and
what He will do. Verse two of this chapter is the thematic statement; while
verses 18-19 are the ultimate expression of Habakkuk’s praise and worship of
God for who He is. Through all the things God did in the past, Habakkuk could
say the Lord is his strength.
What had God done and
what will He do according to history and this prophet? First, Habakkuk reminded
the Judeans of God’s presence in their history. God was with their
forefather, Abraham, and He chose them as His people. Habakkuk said this in
verse 3 when he said God comes from Teman and from Mount Paran. Abraham came
through Teman and the Israelites, in their exodus wandering, camped or visited
at Paran several times.
Habakkuk continued to
remind the Judeans who God is by His presence in nature. He said God’s
splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise. Even His
created world will proclaim and praise Him.
Next Habakkuk reminded
the Judeans of what God had done. This reminded them of His presence in
power. God brought pestilence and plague to the Egyptians. He startled the
nations and made them tremble. Before the watching nations, God shattered
mountains on which cities relied for defense. The people of Cush and Midian knew
God and trembled. Even other nations realized who God is, and that He is
eternal.
Habakkuk then used
rhetorical questions to make his point. Was God angry against the rivers or
sea? Was He concerned about the salvation of the waters or of people? This made
sense to the listener. This prayer of Habakkuk’s was for them to attune to and
return to God.
Habakkuk said the power
of God’s love would bring them salvation and/or chastisement. God tried to give
salvation to His people, but then, as the loving Father, He had to resort to
chastisement. The bows of other nations God would use to correct them. Habakkuk
paused and let the people think about this.
God’s kindness leads us to
repentance and salvation (Romans 2:4).
With verses 9-11,
Habakkuk returned to God’s influence on nature. Before he wrote about
God’s power in nature. This time Habakkuk personified nature as writhing in fear
and raising its voice and hands in proclaiming God. Even the sun and moon
acknowledged God’s majesty. Their light dimmed when God’s great splendor shone.
God’s glorious light outshone the stars and moon, so they were unseen.
With verses 12-15,
Habakkuk showed God’s power in chastisement would be fearful, but it would
cause salvation. He showed God’s power over all things for His purposes. God
was indignant because the Judeans (and all Israelites), though God showed His
love and care for them, showed by their lives how little God meant to them. He
was angry because of their disobedience. Habakkuk said God marched through the
earth and trampled the nations. God would destroy all the people counted on to
give them what they needed or wanted. Still, God did not do this because of His
anger. He based His anger upon His love
for all the people of Israel. God would march and trample because of His
love for them to save the people. He was angry at the Israelites and the people
who caused them pain and destroyed them. God would chastise the Judeans and
their subjugators. He would kill their subjugator’s leader with his own spear.
Though the Judeans’ enemy would exult in Judah’s destruction, God would go far
and wide to chastise them with His might, knowledge, and anger. He would cross
lands and seas to accomplish it.
Habakkuk recognized God’s
power, influence, salvation, love, and continual presence. He feared with awe
His God and he trembled with fear at God’s prophecy of Judah’s destruction.
Habakkuk’s fear was so great he shivered with it and his bones melted.
With Habakkuk’s final
three verses, he proclaimed his certainty in God’s word and His love. He
praised God because he recognized that though Judah’s enemies would loot and destroy
them, God was their salvation. God would not permanently remove His hand from
His chosen people. Habakkuk rejoiced triumphantly because God is mighty. God
was his strength. He believed God would lead him and make him steady even
during rocky or shaky, fearful times.
Though God takes us
through difficult times, we can trust Him. We can proclaim God when we
experience trials because we realize He is our salvation. His salvation comes from His love for us as does His chastisement. Everything God does is because of His love
for us. Recognize God’s greatness, His power, influence, love, and
continual presence, just as Habakkuk did.
Join Habakkuk and the great cloud
of witnesses exulting and rejoicing in the Lord, the God of our salvation!
“Rejoice
in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” Psalm 4:4
Though
my days are dark, oh Lord, I will remember Your splendorous light and the rays
of power coming from Your hands. I will not be afraid. I will wait upon and exult
in You now knowing You are in control and this time is for my growth because of
Your love. You, God, will provide the way of escape, and I will be able to endure
through this trial with Your strength and guidance, too. Amen.
“No temptation has overtaken you but such
as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of
escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 [NASB]
Rejoice
with fear and trembling; God will break through for you!
