January 14 – Habakkuk’s Prayer

January 14 – Habakkuk’s Prayer

Habakkuk 3:1-19

The book of Habakkuk begins with a lament.  He is weary of the violence and lawlessness found among the people of Judah and begs the Lord to intervene.  Consequently, God sends the Chaldeans (that bitter and hasty nation – Hab. 1:6) to bring justice to his people.  Then, Habakkuk complains to God that the punishment exceeded the sins, the Chaldeans were evil.  Chapter Two finds Habakkuk in his watchtower and he hears from God that the righteous will live while the arrogant will fall.  The Chaldeans were quite arrogant in the oppression of God’s children.

In Chapter Three, we find this great psalm of Habakkuk, praising God for all he has done throughout history.

“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” (Habakkuk 3:2).

The next verses tell of the majestic power of God in beautiful language.

“His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden” (Habakkuk 3:3b-4).

Habakkuk sees the wrath of the Lord filling the earth and says, “Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear. In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations. You came out to deliver your people, to save your anointed one” (Habakkuk 3:11-13a).

The power of the Lord was almost too great for him to comprehend:

“I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us” (Habakkuk 3:16).

The Old Testament prophets expected and received immense and powerful responses from the Lord.  They walked so closely in His will that when they called down His wrath upon the people of Israel or their enemies, the Lord’s response was swift and fearsome.  Can you imagine what it would be like to walk so closely with God every moment of the day that you knew His thoughts regarding the occurrences around you and were aware of His actions?  We would be quivering and trembling.

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a dear, he enables me to go on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:19).

There is no one like the Lord who reigns above all else.  He is the one who give us strength to rise above our fears and the terrors of the world around us.  Praise the Lord!