Before us is a solemn psalm filled with reverence before the Creator's majesty, permeated with the fear of God - the only fear that does not humiliate but frees and lifts a person up. The majestic picture of the Lord's procession over the nations allows us to recall...
Before us is a solemn psalm filled with reverence before the Creator's majesty, permeated with the fear of God - the only fear that does not humiliate but frees and lifts a person up. The majestic picture of the Lord's procession over the nations allows us to recall motifs well known to us from other biblical books, preserved in prayers composed by many righteous people and psalmists. But now before us is another facet of knowing God, and it is grasped no longer by former knowledge, but by living faith that drew from the prophet's heart a confession of faithfulness.
We see a new quality of faithfulness to the Creator, inseparably connected with the revelation about faith. Habakkuk's faith does not depend at all on whether he receives anything from the Lord. Habakkuk is ready to turn to Him not in order to ask anything of Him, not to solve some practical tasks. No, he is ready to follow Him completely without self-interest: he is certain that God's truth is itself more valuable than earthly goods and life's prosperity. Everything else necessary for people the Lord will give them - it will, as will be said later, be added. But He wants to give a person much more than that person can imagine on the basis of earthly experience.
3 Habakkuk begs of God to succour his people, Hab 3:1-2.
He calls to mind God's former appearances for his people, Hab 3:3-15.
He encourages himself to trust in God, Hab 3:16-19.
3:1 Upon Sigionoth - A musical instrument.
3:2 Thy speech - In answer to the inquiry made chap.Hab 1:13-14. Was afraid - Trembled at what thou speakest.In the midst of the years - Even before the seventy years are expired.Make known - Thy truth, wisdom, power, and compassion.
3:3 God - The God of our fathers, discovered himself from Teman, a mountain not far from mount Sinai, where the law was given.Paran - Near Sinai. His glory - This the prophet mentions as a support of his faith, that God so gloriously appeared among their fathers.Full of his praise - Of works which were worthy of all praise.
3:4 As the light - Pure, clear as the sun, but much more dazzling.His hand - The face of Moses shined; the face, yea, hands of our God, shine with glorious light. There - In that light wherewith he appeared.The hiding - Which discovered much of it, but hid much more; it was light inaccessible.
3:5 Before him - When God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he made the pestilence go before him, so preparing room for his people.
3:6 He stood - Gave his presence with Joshua, as one that stood by while the work was done. The land - The promised land.He beheld - Looked with a frowning countenance. Drove asunder - Cast them out, his eye did this, for he looked on them, and did this.His ways - The wisdom, goodness, justice, holiness, and power of God, which he shews in governing his people.
3:7 The tents - The people that dwelt in them. Arabia - Near whose borders Israel marched. In affliction - In fear and pain, lest that mighty people should fall on them. The curtains - Those that dwelt within them; these people dwelt in tents, which were made up on the sides with curtains.
3:8 The sea - The Red Sea. Ride - As a general in the head of his army. Upon thine horses - Alluding to the manner of men.Salvation - No; but he came to save his people.
3:9 Thy bow - One part of armour is put for the whole. The Lord is represented as armed, in readiness to smite through all his enemies.According to the oaths - In pursuance of his oath made to our fathers, and their posterity. Cleave the earth - When they were to march through a dry and thirsty land.
3:10 Overflowing - The inundation which at that season was wont to be very great in and round Jordan, passed away at the word of God; the waters below flowed, and ran from those above, which stood on a heap to make a path for Israel. The deep - Either the deep channel in which Jordan flowed, or the Red Sea with dreadful roaring parted its waters. Lift up his hands - Its waves which stood on an heap.
3:11 Stood still - At the prayer of Joshua.In the light - Which was most miraculously continued.
3:13 With thine anointed - Under the conduct of thine anointed, Joshua, the type of the Messiah. Thou woundest - Gavest a deadly wound to the kings of Canaan. The house of the wicked - The courts of these kings were houses of the vilest wickedness.By discovering - Destroying all from head to foot.
3:14 Villages - All the cities and all the unwalled towns.They - The inhabitants of Canaan. As a whirlwind - With violence invading me on every side. To scatter - To disperse and drive away the Israelites. Their rejoicing - They rejoiced in full confidence of swallowing up Israel unawares.
3:15 Didst walk - Thou heldest on thy way, from thy entering in on the east of the land, to the west thereof.
3:16 When I heard - What dreadful desolations God threatened against Israel. My heart trembled - Another effect of surprising fears and astonishment. Rottenness - A decay of all my strength.That I might rest - These fears made me betake myself to God, that I might rest in him. He - The king of Babylon. The people - The Jews.
3:17 The labour - The labour bestowed upon the olive.Yield no meat - Corn. Flock - Of sheep.
3:19 Like hinds feet - That I may escape to God my refuge.He will make me - To conquer and triumph.