Habakkuk 3

Title: Faith in the Midst of Chaos

Text: Habakkuk 3:1-19

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.

2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you,

and your work, O Lord, do I fear.

In the midst of the years revive it;

in the midst of the years make it known;

in wrath remember mercy.

3 God came from Teman,

and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah

His splendor covered the heavens,

and the earth was full of his praise.

4 His brightness was like the light;

rays flashed from his hand;

and there he veiled his power.

5 Before him went pestilence,

and plague followed at his heels.

6 He stood and measured the earth;

he looked and shook the nations;

then the eternal mountains were scattered;

the everlasting hills sank low.

His were the everlasting ways.

7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction;

the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.

8 Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord?

Was your anger against the rivers,

or your indignation against the sea,

when you rode on your horses,

on your chariot of salvation?

9 You stripped the sheath from your bow,

calling for many arrows. Selah

You split the earth with rivers.

10 The mountains saw you and writhed;

the raging waters swept on;

the deep gave forth its voice;

it lifted its hands on high.

11 The sun and moon stood still in their place

at the light of your arrows as they sped,

at the flash of your glittering spear.

12 You marched through the earth in fury;

you threshed the nations in anger.

13 You went out for the salvation of your people,

for the salvation of your anointed.

You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,

laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah

14 You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors,

who came like a whirlwind to scatter me,

rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.

15 You trampled the sea with your horses,

the surging of mighty waters.

16 I hear, and my body trembles;

my lips quiver at the sound;

rottenness enters into my bones;

my legs tremble beneath me.

Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble

to come upon people who invade us.

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

19 God, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer's;

he makes me tread on my high places.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

-Pray

Introduction – Story:

There’s a story of a sailor who, during a fierce storm at sea, stood confidently at the helm of his ship, guiding it through raging waves and powerful winds.

When asked how he could remain so calm while the storm raged around him, he replied, “I have no control over the storm, but I trust my compass to guide me safely.”

The compass, to him, was a symbol of certainty amidst uncertainty.

In a way, Habakkuk found himself in the middle of a storm. The Babylonian invasion was imminent, and Judah was corrupt.

Yet in Habakkuk 3, we find a prophet who moves from complaint and confusion to faith and confidence in God, even in the chaos.

I. The Prayer for God's Power (Habakkuk 3:1-2)

1. The Recognition of God's Fame (v.2a)

Habakkuk begins this chapter with a prayer: “O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear.”

The Hebrew word for "report" is shema (שֵׁמַע), which can mean "fame" or "reputation."

Habakkuk acknowledges that God's fame precedes Him.

He has heard of God’s mighty deeds in the past, from the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt to the miracles in the wilderness.

Habakkuk reveres this power and seeks God's intervention again.

2. The Request for God's Revival (v.2b)

“Revive your work in the midst of the years; in the midst of the years make it known.”

The Hebrew word for "revive" is chayah (חָיָה), meaning "to bring to life." Habakkuk isn’t asking for God to do something new but for God to renew His mighty works of old.

The prophet longs for a fresh manifestation of God’s power and presence. In our times of trouble, we too must cry out for revival, not just for new circumstances, but for God’s power to be made manifest in the midst of our struggles.

3. The Request for Mercy (v.2c)

“In wrath, remember mercy.” Even though Habakkuk knows judgment is coming because of Judah’s sin, he pleads for God’s mercy.

The Hebrew word for "mercy" here is racham (רָחַם), a deep, compassionate love.

It shows the tenderness of God’s heart even in the face of judgment. Like Habakkuk, we must ask for God’s mercy when we face the consequences of our own actions.

II. The Picture of God's Power (Habakkuk 3:3-15)

1. The Splendor of God's Majesty (vv.3-4)

Habakkuk paints a vivid picture of God coming from Teman and Mount Paran (regions associated with the Exodus).

The prophet says that His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.

The Hebrew word for "glory" is hod (הוֹד), which speaks of majesty, grandeur, and awe-inspiring beauty.

God’s splendor is so overwhelming that “His brightness was like the light” (nagah, נָגַהּ), a brilliant, radiant glow.

This image reminds us that God’s presence is overwhelmingly powerful and beautiful, filling both heaven and earth.

2. The Power of God's Judgment (vv.5-7)

Habakkuk then describes God’s march through the earth with plagues before Him, reminiscent of the judgments in Egypt.

The word "plague" here is deber (דֶּבֶר), a destructive force sent to humble nations.

Habakkuk envisions God shaking the nations and mountains, symbols of stability, quivering before Him.

In this, we see that no nation, power, or problem can stand against the authority of God. His judgments are swift and certain.

3. The Salvation Through God's Power (vv.8-15)

In verses 8-15, Habakkuk reflects on God's past acts of deliverance for Israel.

He describes God as a warrior, armed with "bow" and "arrows" (qeshet - קֶשֶׁת, chets - חֵץ), who "trampled the sea with [His] horses."

The sea often symbolizes chaos in ancient literature, and here God is shown as mastering chaos itself.

His chariots of salvation (yeshua, יְשׁוּעָה) ride over the waters.

This imagery points to God’s power to save in the face of overwhelming opposition.

Like Israel crossing the Red Sea, we too can trust in God to deliver us from the chaos around us.

III. The Response of Faith (Habakkuk 3:16-19)

1. The Trembling of the Prophet (v.16)

Habakkuk describes his physical reaction to the vision of God’s coming judgment: “I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters my bones; my legs tremble beneath me.”

The Hebrew word for "tremble" is ragaz (רָגַז), meaning to quake or shake in fear.

This shows that even the prophet, though full of faith, is not immune to the terrifying reality of God's judgment.

Faith doesn’t deny fear; it overcomes it.

2. The Declaration of Trust (vv.17-18)

Habakkuk's faith reaches its zenith in verses 17-18: “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines... yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

The word "rejoice" is alaz (עָלַז), meaning to exult, to leap for joy.

Habakkuk chooses joy in God, not because his circumstances are good, but because God is good.

This is a deep and mature faith that sees beyond immediate trials.

3. The Confidence in God's Strength (v.19)

Finally, Habakkuk declares, “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

The Hebrew word for "strength" is chayil (חַיִל), denoting might, efficiency, and ability. Habakkuk knows that God will give him the ability to navigate the difficult terrain ahead, just as a deer can walk securely in high, rocky places.

This speaks of God's empowering grace that enables us to stand firm in faith no matter the difficulties we face.

Conclusion – Life Applications:

1. Remember God’s past faithfulness.

Like Habakkuk, when we face hardship, we must look back and remember the “report” of God’s work.

Recalling His faithfulness in the past builds our confidence in the present. Reflect on the moments God has been faithful to you, and trust that He remains the same.

2. Choose faith over fear.

Habakkuk’s trembling did not stop him from trusting God. It’s normal to feel fear in the face of uncertainty, but we are called to move beyond fear into faith. Faith does not eliminate the storm but anchors us in God's unchanging character.

3. Rejoice in God, not in circumstances.

Habakkuk's joy was not dependent on favorable outcomes but on the unchanging nature of God.

In your life, practice the discipline of rejoicing in God, especially when things are tough. True joy is found in the God of your salvation, not in the material blessings of this life.

God, the Lord, is your strength. Even when the storm rages, He remains your unshakable compass.