Habakkuk 3:7

The Bible says in Habakkuk 3:7-12, “I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.[8] Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?[9] Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.[10] The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.[11] The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.[12] Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.” In these verses we are being told about the judgment of God that will come against the non-believing peoples of the world. And then the Word of God will follow these verses by talking about the salvation that God has prepared for His people. Those are the two destinies that will be experienced by everyone on this earth: judgment or salvation. Concerning the judgment that will come upon the nations, the symbolism of water and the force that it can bring with a river or with the sea. A rushing or flooding river can cause great damage. It can wipe away everything in its path.

It is interesting that as this passage talks about the destruction that will come, it describes God in verse 8, “thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation.” They just needed to get aboard God’s chariot of salvation, spiritually speaking, and then they would be carried away from the flood waters and be saved. God always provides the way of salvation. You only need to call out to Jesus and He will be there to save you. His chariot shall come rushing to your side and He will welcome you in.

The Bible says in Habakkuk 3:13, “Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.” God’s great purpose is to save. That is what He wants to do more than anything else: save the lost souls of the world. Jesus said, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Notice carefully the second phrase of verse 13. It says, “even for salvation with thine anointed.” The word “anointed” literally translated is the word “Messiah.” Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the Savior. Salvation comes by Jesus and through Jesus. But notice carefully that right after mentioning “salvation with thine anointed,” the word of God says in Habakkuk, “thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked.” If you do not turn to Jesus for salvation, then you will be in danger of the judgment. Jesus said in Matthew 21:42-44, “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?[43] Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.[44] And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

The Bible says in Habakkuk 3:14-16, “Thou didst 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.[15] Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.[16] 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 cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.” This was going to be a terrible time of war and destruction for the nation of Israel. Habakkuk, like the other prophets of God, was seeing what would happen. They were terrifying events, and the invading armies were the hand of God. Habakkuk saw the wicked who were against God, and Habakkuk said in verse 14, “they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me.” But Habakkuk also saw God who came as with mighty horses to intervene. He said in verse 15, “Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.” It is an image that kind of reminds us of Christ walking on the Sea of Galilee. In verse 16 Habakkuk said that he heard a voice that made him afraid. Perhaps it was the voice of God as spoken through the invading armies. Perhaps it was the voice of God when He comes to deliver Israel at the last moment of human history. Whatever the voice was that he heard, it caused Habakkuk much fear. He said in verse 16, “When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice.”

But Habakkuk made one more statement about his fear and trembling: a statement about how to not be overcome by fear even in the midst of what otherwise would be seen as a fearful situation. He said, “that I might rest in the day of trouble.” The Lord certainly wants ever believer to be able to find peace and rest no matter “day of trouble” has come upon them. There will be troubles in this life. There will be troubles if you follow Jesus. Part of your trial will be: how do you respond to the troubles? There is a safe resting place where you can find peace: faith in Jesus. Jesus can give you strength and confidence and faith no matter what troubles come your way. He is the Prince of Peace.

In knowing about the sorrows and destructions that were going to come, Habakkuk realized that he had to have a very specific resolve in his heart if he was going to be able to face the sorrows and come out spiritually victorious. He wrote in Habakkuk 3:17-18, “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:[18] Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk realized an important spiritual reality. In this life even if you are serving the Lord, you can suffer unimaginable sorrows. You must be prepared for that possibility. If you lose everything you have and everyone you love, how will you respond? One way to respond properly is to be prepared for it. It says in First Peter 4:12, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” This truth flies in the face of the modern-day gospel of prosperity. No one knows what cross you will be called to bear except God and you. But you can get through it the right way with your faith intact if you take the same approach as Habakkuk. Habakkuk knew that he might suffer greatly, but he said, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” You can never lose the salvation that Jesus has given to you, if you are saved. And you can also keep the joy of your salvation if you keep the right priorities in your heart and do not forget the meaning of what Jesus did for you when He was suffering on the cross of Calvary.

The prophet Habakkuk continues in the last verse of his book with a declaration of the wonderful things that he does possess by faith no matter how bad his earthly circumstances might become. The Bible says in Habakkuk 3:19, “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. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” In the first phrase of verse 19 Habakkuk said, “The Lord God is my strength.” There are many, many benefits to being a Christian, and this is one of them. What a sad state that unbelievers are in. They only have their own strength, and that is not much compared to the Almighty God. What a happy state that believers are in: they can rely on the Lord Jesus Christ and do anything that comes their way. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

In the second part of Habakkuk 3:19 he gives a direct quotation from Psalms 18:33, “he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” This speaks of the energy, ability, and authority to do whatever God wants you to do. Talk about fulfillment: this is the ultimate fulfillment of life. And it is yours for free through faith in Christ.

It is interesting that after quoting one of the Psalms, Habakkuk uses the phrase, “To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” Of course, the Psalms were actually put to music and sung from the heart. What a great lesson to remember about the importance of singing Christian songs that are derived from the Word of God. Singing God’s Word can be a means to help you keep a joyful faith in the Lord. It says in Psalms 100:1-2, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.[2] Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” Also, it says in the New Testament in Ephesians 5:18-19, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;[19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” By the way, you can even sing secular songs, especially love songs as unto the Lord. Jesus told us to love God with all of our hearts. So when you sing a love song, you can direct your heart to the Lord in doing so. No doubt He loves to hear that. If you make a habit of singing as unto the Lord, no one can ever take away the joy that such singing can give. O, the power of music to help you have a life of faith and joy.

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