Habakkuk has brought his complaints to the Lord and he has heard the Lord’s responses. Now, having a better understanding of God’s purposes, Habakkuk resolves to live by faith. For this reason, Habakkuk offers a prayer of praise so that God’s people would worship Him. Specifically, praising Him for His mercy, power, and salvation. Let us consider this prayer of praise in more detail.
For God’s Worship (3:1)
Habakkuk wrote this prayer of praise so that God’s people would worship Him; especially in times of trouble. Verse 1 says, “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.” What is a Shigionoth? We are not exactly sure, but we do know that this prayer of praise is a psalm to be sung in the Temple during worship. Habakkuk 3:19 ends with, “To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.” This word is used twice in the Bible: Psalm 7 and Habakkuk 3. In Psalm 7, the title says, “A Meditation [Shiggaion] of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.” Psalm 7, like Habakkuk 3, is a plea for God to save/deliver during times of turmoil. Psalm 7:9 says, “O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end. But establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.” Habakkuk 3:13 says, “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.” This prayer of praise is to be a model for us to follow when we find ourselves in turmoil. In these difficult times we can praise God who saves us in our time of trouble.
For God’s Mercy (3:2)
Habakkuk prays for the Lord to remember His mercy as He pours out His wrath. The Lord promised to send the Babylonians as punishment against Judah. Habakkuk now knows that, while this judgment will be unpleasant, it is God’s will and therefore good for the nation. He pleads with the Lord to “revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy” (3:2). The Bible testifies that the Lord’s mercy is great (Is 54:7), sure (Is 55:3), abundant (1 Pet 1:3), tender (Ps 25:6), and new every morning (Lam 3:22-23).
Habakkuk has an eternal perspective when He prays for mercy. He recognizes that the Lord is just in His wrath. He also recognizes that the Lord is bringing punishment upon Judah to purify them and draw them back to Himself. This is why Habakkuk prays, according to the will of God, for God to revive His work. This revival is modeled by Habakkuk in verse 2 as he fears the Lord, prays for revival to come quickly, and appeals to the Lord for mercy. Habakkuk knows the Lord is merciful.
For God’s Power (3:3-16)
Habakkuk praises the Lord for His glorious power. His power is demonstrated in His work for the glory of His name and for the good of His people. Using imagery from Judah’s past, Habakkuk remembers God’s powerful displays of His glory in the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of Canaan. Habakkuk mentions specific places such as Teman (Edom), Mount Paran (Sinai), tents of Cushan (Sinai), curtains of the land of Midian (Sinai) to remind the people of Judah of the Lord’s power demonstrated in the Exodus from Egypt. These specific places may seem terrifying to God’s people, but God is more powerful than they are and we can take comfort in this truth. Habakkuk also mentions generic places such as the earth, nations, everlasting mountains, perpetual hills, rivers, and the sea to show the Lord’s power over all things. These things intimidate us, but before the Lord’s awesome and mighty power they are: startled, scattered, bowed, and they tremble.
Next Habakkuk shows us God’s power over the universe. He uses imagery of a warrior who courageously goes forth into battle against the enemy. He wrote, “You marched through the land with indignation; You trampled the nations in anger…You struck the head from the house of the wicked, by laying bare from foundation to neck. You thrust through with his own arrows the head of his villages” (12-14). He is also the warrior who battles to save His people. He wrote in verse 13, “You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for salvation with Your Anointed.” This salvation harkens back to the Exodus, but also foreshadows the salvation that comes from the Anointed One, Jesus Christ. Habakkuk praises God for His complete, unchallenged authority over all things and resolves to fear the Lord (16). Remembering this gives him confidence to live by faith; especially when overwhelmed by the things of the world.
For God’s Salvation (3:17-18)
Habakkuk humbled himself before the Lord and praised Him for His salvation. In verses 17-18, we read the conclusion of the prayer of praise by describing what it means to live by faith. Habakkuk wrote, “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–yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (3:17-18). Living by faith means that when everything else fails, the Lord will not. Habakkuk remembers that what is most important is the Lord. God provided many blessings to the kingdom of Judah: fig trees, olive trees, fields, flocks, etc.; but what is most important is the strength the Lord provides in His salvation. We must be careful not to turn God’s blessings into idols.
For God’s People (3:19)
The book of Habakkuk encourages us to live by faith. Like Habakkuk, we struggle to understand the world around us. Why is there so much wickedness? Where is God in all this? Why does it seem as if God isn’t doing anything about the evil around me? In times like these, we plead for God to save/deliver us during times of turmoil. Our seasons of difficulty will come and we trust that God will be with us and will help us through them. Habakkuk wrote, “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” (3:19). It is in these moments of doubt, we are reminded that “the Lord is in His holy temple” (2:20) and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (2:14). Therefore, we must live by faith (2:4) as we trust in the Lord Jesus for our salvation. Are you one of God’s people? Have you been born again? Have you been forgiven of all your sin? Have you received the Holy Spirit? Have you been adopted into the family of God? If not, repent of your sin and believe that Jesus is the Christ. If you are a Christian, trust the Lord. Obey His commands. Live by faith. Humble yourself before Him and give Him the praise and worship He deserves.
First Baptist Scott City, MO 
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