Hab. 3:1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.

After hearing God’s message, Habakkuk feels the need to pray.

Hab. 3:2 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.

Habakkuk acknowledges that he has heard God’s message and understood it. The message is powerful and has made Habakkuk afraid. He knows that God will bring to pass what He has purposed, so Habakkuk is already interceding for deliverance for his people from the judgment to come.

“revive thy work” – This seems to be a reference to the Jews who would be taken into captivity by Babylon. I think Habakkuk is asking God to provoke the people to turn back to Him in faith with new life as His chosen people. Although the punishment is deserved, he is asking for God’s mercy on behalf of his people.

Frankly, I think that is always God’s purpose in judgment. He is always trying to provoke people to turn to Him in faith. That is a principle that has come through loud and clear in my study of end times.

Hab. 3:3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

This seems to be a quote of Moses’ blessing on Israel in Deuteronomy.

Deut. 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

Teman = Edom; Seir is in Edom.

Jer. 49:20 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman:

Paran = a wilderness close to Sinai

Num. 10:12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

I think I must have missed something in my readings through the scripture. This verse in Deuteronomy seems to be painting a picture of God’s revelation to Moses and the people of Israel that involves a great deal more than He has seen fit to share with us in scripture prior to these words of Moses. I can’t help but immediately make a connection with the second coming of Jesus as described in Isaiah 63 when He again comes from Edom. Again, it will be a time when His glory is apparent to all and the earth will be full of His praise. I know I’m missing something important here.

Hab. 3:4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

This verse continues Habakkuk’s reference to Deuteronomy 33:2. God’s glory must have been shielded from the people of Israel by his cloud of saints—similar to the cloud of witnesses referenced in Hebrews.

Ex. 34:5 And the LORD descended in the cloud…

Heb. 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,

Ex. 34:29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

Obviously Moses’ face was shining with the reflected glory of the Lord that was shielded from the people by the “cloud.”

Horns are a picture of power and authority. The law given at Sinai establishes guidelines for His people as their authority.

Hab. 3:5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.

Hab. 3:6 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.

Hab. 3:7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

Habakkuk continues to praise God for his provision and protection of Israel as He delivered them from Egypt and delivered the promised land into their possession. It was clear that He was the power intervening on behalf of and fighting for the Israelites.

Hab. 3:8 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?

Hab. 3:9 Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.

Hab. 3:10 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.

I’m not sure exactly what is being referenced here. God provided an escape for Israel from Egypt by parting the Red Sea. He also cleared a path through the Jordan as they entered the promised land. Habakkuk is definitely continuing his praise of God for His works as the God of Israel.

Hab. 3:11 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.

Hab. 3:12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.

Hab. 3:13 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.

This section begins with a reference to God causing the sun to stand still until the Israelites were able to avenge themselves on the kings of the Amorites and their armies as described in Joshua 10. God always went before His people in battle when they were looking to Him in faith and obedience.

Hab. 3:14 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.

Hab. 3:15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.

Hab. 3:16 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.

In this section, Habakkuk’s praise becomes more personal. He is identifying personally with God’s actions on behalf of Israel.

In verse 16 he seems to begin to reference God’s message to His people through Habakkuk. It’s a powerful message of judgment that produces fear in Habakkuk.

“that I might rest” – I can’t help but wonder if Habakkuk isn’t hoping he is dead when God’s judgment falls. The scripture often references death as rest or sleep.

Dan. 12:13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Hab. 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour 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:

Hab. 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

At this point Habakkuk purposes in his heart to rejoice in the Lord no matter how terrible his physical circumstances may get. The word rejoice implies to “jump for joy, to triumph.” He is confident of deliverance and victory in his own life as he places his faith in God.

Hab. 3:19 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. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Habakkuk declares his confidence in God to provide him the strength that is necessary to overcome in any situation. Just as He has enabled the deer to be sure footed in the high places, God will provide safety and security for Habakkuk, and all His people, who place their faith in Him. Habakkuk could be remembering one of the psalms in this verse.

Psa. 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Psa. 18:33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.

Evidently, Habakkuk was a musician who wrote this prayer to be shared as a song of praise.