Habakkuk 3:4-14

4 His brightness is like the sunlight. Rays of light [stream] from his hand. That is where his power is hidden.

5 Diseases go ahead of him. Plagues follow after him.

6 He stands and shakes the earth. He casts a glance and startles the nations. The oldest mountains break apart. The ancient hills sink. The ancient paths belong to him.

7 I see trouble in the tents of Cushan. I see trembling in the tents of Midian.

8 The LORD is not angry with the rivers, is he? If you are angry with the rivers, if you are furious with the sea, [why] do you ride your horses, your chariots of salvation?

9 You get your bow ready for action, for the arrows [you] promised. Selah You split the land with rivers.

10 The mountains look at you. They writhe in pain. Floodwaters pass by. The deep ocean roars. Its waves rise up high.

11 The sun and the moon stand still. They scatter at the light of your arrows, at the bright lightning of your spear.

12 You march through the earth with fury. You trample the nations in anger.

13 You go out to save your people, to save your anointed. You crush the leader of the wicked household, stripping him bare from head to toe. Selah

14 You pierce the leader of his gang with his own arrows. His soldiers come like a violent storm to scatter me. They are arrogant like those who secretly eat up the poor.

Habakkuk 3:4-14 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.