Habakkuk 3:1-2 NLT
[1] “This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk: [2] I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.”
Habukkuk’s first response to these astonishing disclosures is an expression of wonder at God’s works. His accusation, born of ignorance, has turned to amazement and agreement. God is right, after all. Thinking back to his nation’s history, the prophet remembers what God did to the Egyptian army when they tried to destroy God’s people. Yes, God used them for His purposes but… He also destroyed them in a spectacular way for their wickedness.
Second, the prophet pleads for his own people. The history of God’s intervention that saved His people gives the prophet the courage to ask the Lord to do it again. After all, as God revealed to Moses, mercy is the bedrock of His character.
Exodus 34:6 NLT
[6] “The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Habakkuk knew he was on solid ground when he prayed for mercy. In His earthly ministry, Jesus revealed the nature of the Father who never ignores the bleat of a lost lamb.
Mark 10:46-47, 49, 51-52 NLT
[46]”Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. [47] When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”…
[49] When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”…
[51]“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” [52] And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”
A well-loved gospel story speaks of this instant response to a blind man’s cry. So, Habakkuk, too, asked the Lord for mercy for his people. Only God’s mercy could temper His judgment in the face of His wrath against their rebellion.
From verse 3 to 13 of chapter 3. Habakkuk describes, in magnificent poetic language, the progress of God as a mighty cosmic warrior, sweeping through enemy territory to subdue armies and rescue His people from their assailants. Even natural boundaries were no obstacle to the Lord as He marched across land and sea to set His people free.
Habakkuk 3:4-12, 12-14 NIV
[4] His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. [5] Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. [6] He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed— but he marches on forever. [7] I saw the tents of Cushan in distress, the dwellings of Midian in anguish. [8] Were you angry with the rivers, Lord? Was your wrath against the streams? Did you rage against the sea when you rode your horses and your chariots to victory? [9] You uncovered your bow, you called for many arrows. You split the earth with rivers; [10] the mountains saw you and writhed. Torrents of water swept by; the deep roared and lifted its waves on high. [11] Sun and moon stood still in the heavens at the glint of your flying arrows, at the lightning of your flashing spear. [12] In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed the nations.
[12] You marched across the land in anger and trampled the nations in your fury. [13] You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe. [14] With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey.”
These verses reveal the prophet’s radical change of perspective. No longer did he view God as a weakling or an inadequate God who could do nothing about His people’s defiance.
Now his view of God reached the magnificent heights of the mighty sovereign Ruler of heaven and earth. In His wrath against the nations that had oppressed His people, God had mobilised the powers of heaven and earth to crush the enemy. If God had done that for Israel in the past, He could do it again.
To be continued…