HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:1 Habakkuk’s Prayer. Habakkuk asks for a new demonstration of God’s wrath and mercy, such as God gave so powerfully in the past. He closes with a confession of faith and trust in God (compare vv. Habakkuk 3:1, Habakkuk 3:3, Habakkuk 3:9, Habakkuk 3:13, Habakkuk 3:19 with... [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:2 I HAVE HEARD. Habakkuk had heard of God’s great saving acts, which he recalls in vv. Habakkuk 3:3 (see Exodus 15:1). IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY. A plea that when God judges, he will also be merciful. This is how God always deals with his people (see Exodus 34:6). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:3 TEMAN means “south.” Along with the reference to MOUNT PARAN (Numbers 13:26; Deuteronomy 33:2), it may suggest the time following Israel’s exodus from Egypt. HIS SPLENDOR COVERED THE HEAVENS. When biblical authors refer to God’s mighty acts in the exodus, they often use... [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:4 Habakkuk compares God’s presence at Mount Sinai to a thunderstorm with darkness and lightning (see Exodus 19:18; Psalms 18:9). PESTILENCE and PLAGUE often appear as pictures of divine judgment (Exodus 7:14; Deuteronomy 28:21; Psalms 91:3,... [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:6 ETERNAL MOUNTAINS. Mountains were considered part of the foundation of the earth, so their quaking was a sign of divine judgment (Psalms 18:7; Jeremiah 4:24). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:7 CUSHAN... MIDIAN. These tribes living near Edom see God’s power and are frightened. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:8 RIVERS... SEA. God used his power over the Nile (Exodus 7:14) and Jordan Rivers (Joshua 3:14), as well as the Red Sea (Exodus 14:2), to demonstrate his greatness in the exodus era. The CHARIOT OF SALVATION is a picture of God bringing deliverance to this people. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:9 MANY ARROWS probably describes thunderbolts. SPLIT THE EARTH. An image of thunderstorms and floods cutting through the desert. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:11 SUN AND MOON STOOD STILL refers to Joshua’s victory at Gibeah (Joshua 10:12). The Lord’s victory here will be equally sensational. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:12 THRESHED THE NATIONS. See Amos 1:3. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:13 God fought for his people (YOUR ANOINTED) because they were his covenant people, a nation of priests (Exodus 19:6; Psalms 114:2). THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED may refer to either the pharaoh of Egypt or the leaders of Canaan. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:16 I HEAR. Habakkuk realizes he must wait patiently while his people are punished, and then God will unleash his power against the Babylonians. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:17 Anticipating great destruction by the Babylonians, Habakkuk has radically changed. He began by informing God how to run his world; he ends by trusting that God knows best and will bring about true justice. THOUGH THE FIG TREE SHOULD NOT BLOSSOM. Even during suffering a... [ Continue Reading ]
HABAKKUK—NOTE ON HABAKKUK 3:19 HE MAKES MY FEET LIKE THE DEER’S. Habakkuk can have confidence in God. He can live on the heights even during extreme circumstances (see Malachi 4:2). CHOIRMASTER. Probably the director of the temple musicians. This note suggests that Habakkuk meant this to be a “praye... [ Continue Reading ]