Habakkuk Ponders God’s Majesty

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.

vs 1 Read chapter 3 again. What kind of literary form in the Bible does this chapter remind you of? Optional question – Look up shigionoth (shiggaion) in a Bible Dictionary and explain what it means.

The term shigionoth seems to be a musical term. It is the plural form. The singular is used in Psalm 7:1 and it may refer to the style of music. If you will observe the musical terms: shigionoth in verse 1, stringed instruments in verse 19, and Selah in verses 3, 9, and 13, it is obvious this chapter is a psalm or poem written by Habakkuk to celebrate his new understanding of what God has taught him. Exell comments, "The Bible contains many grand songs and odes. But this song of Habakkuk stands in peerless splendour amongst them all."

2 Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.

vs 2 What attitude is Habakkuk now displaying towards God’s coming judgement on Israel? How do you understand the Old Testament concept of God’s wrath? Give other examples from the Bible when in God’s wrath, he showed mercy.

Habakkuk’s attitude has changed. He speaks of God’s deeds and asks God to renew them or revive them again in Habakkuk’s day. It seems that Habakkuk now understands God’s judgement and accepts God’s answers to his complaints. To Habakkuk, the coming judgement on Israel would be a display of God’s anger. Certainly it was, but Habakkuk understood that even in the midst of God’s wrath, there would be divine mercy. This is what he prays for.

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, there are times when God showed mercy to the nation even though they deserved wrath. Even now, although God was sending Babylonia to take Israel into captivity, he would show mercy and bring the people back to Judea to re-establish their nation and rebuild their temple.

3 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth.
4 His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.

vs 3-4 What does this verse tell us about God’s power? How can understanding God’s power give us faith even during difficult times?

Habakkuk is rehearsing in his mind the power and might of God – his glory covers the heavens, his praise fills the earth, his splendor is as the sunrise, the hidden power of heat and light flash from God’s sun rays. As we read these words, we realize the immense power of God and the faith that Habakkuk had in God’s might. When we contemplate God’s power, it causes a renewed faith in our soul.

Braden comments, "When the geologist, physiologist, chemist, have told us all they know, we find they have left wondrous secrets unrevealed. Concerning the world of creation there is more unknown than known. We have not exhausted, and surely we cannot exhaust the resources of God."

5 Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps.
6 He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed. His ways are eternal.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish.

vs 5-7 To what events do you think Habakkuk is referring? How can we view plague and pestilence as coming from God? Share about a time in your life when God used illness or trouble for your good? What underlying thought do you think Habakkuk had in mind when he wrote, "his ways are eternal"?

Habakkuk is recalling how God in times past defeated Israel’s enemies. No nation can stand against the might of God. So in a way, Habakkuk is saying he understands that God is now allowing this judgement on Israel. God could prevent it but chooses not to. The plague and pestilence could not come to Israel if God would prevent it, but God’s steps of judgement have been put in place. Just as God sent plagues and pestilence to bring judgement on Egypt and deliver Israel, now God will send judgement on Israel and deliver them back into captivity, although for only a short season.

In spite of this coming judgement, Habakkuk now understands that God’s ways are eternal – they are right, they are holy, and they are just. In his two complaints he questioned that, but now he understands God’s justice. His faith is still in the God whose ways are eternal. Even during this time of punishment, Israel will grow and learn and abandon their idol worship.

Sometimes God allows bad things to happen to Christians because he knows we need to learn a lesson or need to focus our attention back on the spiritual. Trouble and illness may all be gifts from God which will work out for our benefit and our good. But it never seems that way when we are facing them. That’s how Habakkuk felt when he lodged his two complaints with God. Now he understands what Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

8 Were you angry with the rivers, O Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode with your horses and your victorious chariots?
9 You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers;
10 the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high.

vs 8-10 To what events do these verses refer? How is Habakkuk gaining a better understanding of what he designates as God’s anger? What attitudes about God do you need to change?

Now Habakkuk puts things in perspective with eternity. He thinks of God’s creation. He portrays an earth being tormented and overwhelmed by the creation process. If the earth were human, it would certainly feel that God was angry. But this troubling of the earth was the very thing that created the rivers and streams, that built the mountains and changed the seas into land. The earth was tormented, but God was creating something beautiful out of the turmoil.

What turmoil or trouble are you facing? Does it seem that the torrents are sweeping over you? It may be that God is creating something beautiful in your life – God is forming you into a new creation. Perhaps we need to change our attitude about problems and confusion in our life. It may not be something bad at all. In fact it may be the very best thing for us to learn how to trust God and become the kind of Christian that God wants us to become.

11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear.
12 In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.

vs 11-12 What do you think it means that the sun and moon stood still? How should we be more in awe of God’s power? How did Habakkuk arrive at this realization?

God has the power to cause the sun and the moon to stand still. He actually did this when Joshua was pursuing the Amorites. But the point of these verses is Habakkuk’s realization of the extent of God’s power. He now understood that both he and his nation were in the hands of the Almighty God. No matter what bad things might be threatening, God was the one in control. God had spoken the words to Habakkuk before the events happened. So Habakkuk could have faith that when the promised events occurred, God would be in charge of Israel and of Habakkuk’s safety.

Habakkuk arrived at this understanding because he was willing to complain to God and bear his heart to the Creator. He had questions that he couldn’t answer. He thought God might be acting in an unjust manner. Instead of ignoring those nagging doubts, he took them to the only one who could give him an answer – he took them to God. And God taught him about true justice, and true holiness. And Habakkuk’s doubts were replaced by a new-found faith.

Footnotes:

Exell: The Biblical Illustrator, vol. 10, Habakkuk pg. 49, Baker Book House

Braden: The Biblical Illustrator, vol. 10, Habakkuk pg. 51, Baker Book House



	Habakkuk 3:1-12