Habakkuk
Summary
The PRAYER-SONG of the prophet and the TRIUMPH OF FAITH. it begins with Habakkuk's plea for God to 'revive Your work' and in 'wrath remember mercy'. it features a majestic THEOPHANY: a vision of God's glory and power marching through history for the salvation of His people. it reaches its sublime climax with the most powerful expression of unconditional trust in all Scripture: 'though the fig tree shall not blossom... YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD'. it conclude with the declaration that the LORD God is the prophet's 'STRENGTH' who makes his feet like hinds' feet.
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
O LORD, I have heard Your speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.
And His brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of His hand: and there was the hiding of His power.
Before Him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at His feet.
He stood, and measured the earth: He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: His ways are everlasting.
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was Your anger against the rivers? was Your wrath against the sea, that You did ride upon Your horses and Your chariots of salvation?
Your bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even Your word. Selah. You did cleave the earth with rivers.
The mountains saw You, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of Your arrows they went, and at the shining of Your glittering spear.
You did march through the land in indignation, You did thresh the heathen in anger.
You wentest forth for the salvation of Your people, even for salvation with Your anointed; You woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation to the neck. Selah.
You did strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
You did walk through the sea with Your horses, through the heap of great waters.
When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he comes up to the people, he will invade them with his troops.
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.