Habakkuk 3:1-15

Habakkuk's Third Prayer

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. According to Shigionoth.^[a]^[b]

2 Lord, I have heard the report about You; Lord, I stand in awe of Your deeds. Revive [Your work] in these years; make [it] known in these years. In [Your] wrath remember mercy!

3 God comes from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran.^[c] Selah His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise.^[d]

4 [His] brilliance is like light; rays are flashing from His hand. This is where His power is hidden.

5 Plague goes before Him, and pestilence follows in His steps.

6 He stands and shakes^[e] the earth; He looks and startles the nations. The age-old mountains break apart; the ancient hills sink down. His pathways are ancient.

7 I see the tents of Cushan^[f] in distress; the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.

8 Are You angry at the rivers, Lord? Is Your wrath against the rivers? Or is Your rage against the sea when You ride on Your horses, Your victorious chariot?

9 You took the sheath from Your bow; the arrows are ready^[g] to be used with an oath.^[h]^[i] Selah You split the earth with rivers.

10 The mountains see You and shudder; a downpour of water sweeps by. The deep roars with its voice and lifts its waves^[j] high.

11 Sun and moon stand still in [their] lofty residence, at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear.

12 You march across the earth with indignation; You trample down the nations in wrath.

13 You come out to save Your people, to save Your anointed.^[k] You crush the leader of the house of the wicked and strip [him] from foot^[l] to neck. Selah

14 You pierce his head with his own spears; his warriors storm out to scatter us, gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak.

15 You tread the sea with Your horses, stirring up the great waters.

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Habakkuk 3:1-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK 3

The title of this chapter is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, composed after the manner of a psalm of David, and directed to the chief singer, Hab 3:1,19. The occasion of it is expressed, Hab 3:2 in which the prophet declares his concern for the work of the Lord, and the promotion of the kingdom and interest of Christ; and observes the various steps that were, or would be, taken for the advancement of it; for which he prays, and suggests that these would be after the manner of the Lord's dealing with the people of Israel, and settling them in the land of Canaan, Hab 3:3-15 and there being several things awful in this account, both with respect to the judgments of God on his enemies, and the conflicts and trials of his own people, it greatly affected the mind of the prophet, Hab 3:16 and yet, in the view of the worst, he expresses his strong faith in the Lord, as to better times and things, that would most assuredly come, Hab 3:17-19.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 12

[a]. Perhaps a passionate song with rapid changes of rhythm, or a dirge
[b]. Ps 7 superscription
[c]. Dt 33:2; Jdg 5:4-5
[d]. Jb 37:22; Ps 148:13; Isa 42:10
[e]. Or surveys
[f]. Midian
[g]. Or set
[h]. Hb obscure
[i]. Dt 32:40-43
[j]. Lit hands
[k]. the Davidic king or the nation of Israel
[l]. Lit foundation