The book of Habakkuk contains one of the most eloquent praise poems in the Scriptures. This is all the more remarkable when one considers that the book begins with the prophet complaining against God and ends with that same prophet enthusiastically praising God.
**For more on Habakkuk’s story, see “The Just Shall Live by His Faith“**
And the key theme from this song of praise – the poem was put to music at Habakkuk’s instructions – is found in the closing verses. That despite times being tough and circumstances being difficult, Habakkuk declares that he will “rejoice in the LORD” and “joy in the God of [his] salvation.”
Let’s look at this wonderful praise poem of Habakkuk 3 together:
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.
Scholars do not know for certain what “Shigionoth” means, but it is likely a musical term to indicate the emotional style of the poem or song.
What we do know is that chapter 3 represents Habakkuk’s prayer of praise in response to the spiritual breakthrough he has had in his conversation with God (see chapters 1-2).
2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.
Habakkuk begins his prayer by recounting how “afraid” he had been at God’s initial answer to his prayer. And he now calls on God to “revive” or repeat His work with His people. And Habakkuk asks God to “remember mercy” as He dispenses judgment.
3 God came from Teman,
The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His glory covered the heavens,
And the earth was full of His praise.
4 His brightness was like the light;
He had rays flashing from His hand,
And there His power was hidden.
5 Before Him went pestilence,
And fever followed at His feet.
Habakkuk steps back in time to recount how God intervened on Israel’s behalf from the beginning. He refers poetically to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt as well as to God’s mighty power and revelation in the Sinai peninsula. He also refers to God’s “Shekinah glory” in this passage as well as God’s judgment.
6 He stood and measured the earth;
He looked and startled the nations.
And the everlasting mountains were scattered,
The perpetual hills bowed.
His ways are everlasting.
All of God’s creation – indeed, the entire cosmos – trembles in fear and awe at the power of God.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction;
The curtains of the land of Midian trembled.
8 O Lord, were You displeased with the rivers,
Was Your anger against the rivers,
Was Your wrath against the sea,
That You rode on Your horses,
Your chariots of salvation?
9 Your bow was made quite ready;
Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah
You divided the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw You and trembled;
The overflowing of the water passed by.
The deep uttered its voice,
And lifted its hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation;
At the light of Your arrows they went,
At the shining of Your glittering spear.
12 You marched through the land in indignation;
You trampled the nations in anger.
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For salvation with Your Anointed.
You struck the head from the house of the wicked,
By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah
14 You thrust through with his own arrows
The head of his villages.
They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me;
Their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret.
15 You walked through the sea with Your horses,
Through the heap of great waters.
Habakkuk uses vivid imagery to depict God’s power – at times alluding to specific and particular episodes while, at other times, being more general. The overall theme: God is awesome and His judgments are beyond the power of anyone to question or resist.
16 When I heard, my body trembled;
My lips quivered at the voice;
Rottenness entered my bones;
And I trembled in myself,
That I might rest in the day of trouble.
When he comes up to the people,
He will invade them with his troops.
Habakkuk returns to a reminder of his earlier fears and grief at God’s promise of judgment — “Rottenness entered my bones” and “I trembled in myself.” But he then closes with one of the most beautiful passages in all of Scripture:
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Wow! Incredible! It’s thought-provoking, somewhat sad, and yet beautiful all at the same time!
Remember this is an ancient agrarian economy, so what Habakkuk is describing here is utter destruction and desolation. No figs. No fruit. No olives or olive oil. No food. No animals to shepherd.
Make no mistake. This scenario would result in poverty, starvation, and the utter ruin and collapse of Judah. And yet…
Habakkuk says that, though the world may indeed fall away and though I may have nothing to grab hold of on this earth or in this life, nevertheless…
“I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk the prophet
This is incredible faith. Incredible love. Incredible dedication.
He’s basically saying, “If I lose everything, if our people lose everything, I will still have you, God, and I will take joy in that!”
Wow!
And then he closes with…
To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.
Remember how God had told Habakkuk to write down the vision that He (God) was going to give him? Well, now, Habakkuk is telling the “Chief Musician,” probably the one who served the Temple in Jerusalem, to write down this poem of praise – and to put it to music.
Habakkuk went from lamenting before God and complaining over God’s apparent neglect and silence to loudly proclaiming God’s greatness and holiness to all who would listen.
What about you?
