Habakkuk 3:1-19

Background: Habakkuk was a prophet under (good) King Josiah, 640-609bc. When King Josiah dies, the following king was not so good (Babylonia rises!). Interesting to me: Habakkuk 2:4 was what the Apostle Paul used in Romans 1:17 to introduce the justification by faith alone principle. Martin Luther’s interpretation of this verse totally reoriented his thinking and was a contributor to which the Protestant Reformation was based on. Hallelujah!

Citations, citations: This study’s title and the series outlines were originally preached from by Edwin Shepperson at Grace Church in September/October 2013. These Bible studies in this series are from my own notes (by the Spirit’s direction) upon hearing when the sermons were preached.

Habakkuk 3:4-19 New American Standard Bible (1995)

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.

2Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

3God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah.
His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise.
4His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power.
5Before Him goes pestilence, and plague comes after Him.
6He stood and surveyed the earth; He looked and startled the nations. Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered, the ancient hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.
7I saw the tents of Cushan under distress, the tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling.

8Did the Lord rage against the rivers, or was Your anger against the rivers, or was Your wrath against the sea, that You rode on Your horses, on Your chariots of salvation?
9Your bow was made bare, the rods of chastisement were sworn. Selah.
You cleaved the earth with rivers.

10 The mountains saw You and quaked; The downpour of waters swept by. The deep uttered forth its voice, it lifted high its hands.
11 Sun and moon stood in their places; they went away at the light of Your arrows, at the radiance of Your gleaming spear.
12 In indignation You marched through the earth; in anger You trampled the nations.
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for the salvation of Your anointed. You struck the head of the house of the evil to lay him open from thigh to neck. Selah.
14 You pierced with his own spears the head of his throngs. They stormed in to scatter us;
Their exultation was like those who devour the oppressed in secret.
15 You trampled on the sea with Your horses, on the surge of many waters.

16 I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,
For the people to arise who will invade us.

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.

For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.

When bad things happen we know…

1. …God is with us. vs.2

“Midst of the years” – Phrase of the now (“our time” NIV) Revive your work (as bad things can suck the life out of us. “In wrath, remember mercy” – God promised to be with us always, and that can sustain us through “bad things”.

2. …God speaks to us. vs. 3-7

“Selah” in verse 3 means dwell on it, consider it. He is way more powerful than the worst thing that can happen to me. Vs. 6, “His ways are everlasting” He is eternal, our “problems” are not. In bad times, we must maintain a clear understanding of who His is. He wrote THE Book: BIBLE!

3. …God fights for us. vs. 8-15

14-15 detals something like crossing the Red Sea: He fights for us, He is in the struggle with us, when we feel caught and need to wait on God. When we learn to stand still, waiting on Him, we move forward.

There is a spiritual battle raging, Ephesians 6:12, and we need to take up our armor (Ephesians 6:13-18). It’s warfare, are you prepared to fight? Can you trust Him through it? He’s with you always and promises to never leave us or forsake us (Romans 8:28). No negative self talk, change the “tape”, Philippians 4:8.

4. …God changes us (if we allow it) vs. 16-19

“If we allow it” is KEY. Even if it doesn’t get better, or seem like things are improving, I will still praise Him. He is worthy of every praise. During – through – after bad things He wants to produce Joy in us (even through good things/times do not return to us).

He’s my strength/salvation, I can move from “victim” to “overcomer” through His strength (Philippians 4:13). He has helped me in taking ownership over my issues. The endurance/stamina/strength, patience through the struggle (Colossians 4:9-13).