Dave Burnette's Commentary

Habakkuk Chapter 3

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Habakkuk
Date Penned: BC 612-589
Overview: For God's People to Move from Doubt to Faith (c 1-3)
Theme: Habakkuk's Prayer (c 3)
Message: Habakkuk's Prayer (v 1-19)

Habakkuk: Chapter 3 Commentary

     
(3:1) Habakkuk praised God for answering the questions. Evil will not triumph forever. God is in control and he can be completely trusted to vindicate those who are faithful to him. We must quietly wait for him to act.
 
(3:2) Habakkuk knew that God was going to discipline the people of Judah, and that it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. But he accepted God's will, asking for help and mercy. Habakkuk did not ask to escape the discipline, but accepted the truth that Judah needed to learn a lesson. God still disciplines in love, to bring his children back to him (Hebrews 12) Accept his discipline glady, and ask him to help you change.

(3:3-16) In these verses, Habakkuk paints the picture of God delivering his people out of Egypt in the dramatic Exodus (Exodus 14) God's awesome power is not restricted to creating scenic wonders: he also uses it to execute righteousness and justice. It is not enough to be awed by God's power. We need discipline in order to learn how to obey and live for him.

(3:17-18) Crop failure and the death of flocks would devastate Judah, But Habakkuk affirmed that even in times of starvation, he would still rejoice in the Lord. Habakkuk's feelings were not controlled by the events around him but by faith in God's ability to give him strength. Keep your eyes on the Lord instead of your difficulties.

(3:19) God will give his followers sure footed confidence through difficult times. They will run like deer across rough and dangerous terrain. At the proper time God will bring about his justice and completely rid the world of evil. In the meantime, God's people need to live in the strength of his Spirit, confident in His ultimate victory over evil. Habakkuk had asked God, why evil people prosper while the righteous suffer. God's answer is that evil doesn't win in the long run. Habakkuk saw his own limitations in contrast to God's unlimited control of all the world's events. We cannot see all that God Will is doing, but we can be assured that He will do what is right according to His Will. Knowing this brings us confidence and hope in a confusing world.


Dave Burnette's Life Application


Doing His Will

 Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue the book of Habakkuk with Chapter 3. In our text today we see Habakkuk praising God for answering His question. Trusting in His answer, Habakkuk prayed for Mercy for Judah, knowing God would bring judgement. In making application we see how we should have a heart to reach others. We should pray for Mercy for sinners and share God's Word before judgement comes. How about you? Do you see God's Purpose for your life? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Habakkuk who did the will of God by reaching the lost, sharing the Gospel, and praying for Mercy before judgment comes.

 

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Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk 3

 1A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.

 2O 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.

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

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

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

 6He 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.

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

 8Was 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?

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

 10The 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.

 11The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.

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

 13Thou 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.

 14Thou 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.

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

 16When 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.

 17Although 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:

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

 19The 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.