Chapter 3 is part of the answer to the question the prophet asked in Chapter 1: Why does God allow the wicked to go unpunished? The answer is that He is still on the throne and active in human history.
Somewhere in this last section, Habakkuk’s fear changes to faith. He says he was frightened when he heard about the works of God. He knows that the time of God’s victory over the enemy might be long coming, but he says he will wait just the same.
Let’s examine Habakkuk’s prayer and apply it to our situation today.
I hear, and I tremble within;
my lips quiver at the sound.
Rottenness enters into my bones,
and my steps tremble beneath me.
I wait quietly for the day of calamity
to come upon the people who attack us.
Though the fig tree does not blossom
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer
and makes me tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3.16-19
The verses from Habakkuk beautifully picture a profound expression of faith and trust in the Lord, even amidst adversity and uncertainty. Here are a few ways we can apply these verses to our current situation.
(1) Facing Fear with Faith – In today’s world, where news of conflict, economic downturns, and societal upheavals can cause much anxiety, these verses remind us to face our fears with faith in God.
We do well to follow Habakkuk’s example of waiting on God. To wait on God amid trouble declares that God is our number one option, and we don’t have a fallback in case He doesn’t give us what we want.
We wait for Him to act and trust Him completely.
This is not easy to do. The only way to stand firm in faith is to nourish our relationship with God every day and to live by it, no matter what.
(2) Hope in Times of Scarcity – In our day, many people face economic hardships, joblessness, or spiritual barrenness.
How do we maintain joy and hope when our external conditions are so challenging? Our response needs to be real and not just a mere whistling in the dark.
Jesus told his followers in the Parable of the Vine and the Branches (John 15.1-7) that without Him, we can do nothing.
The only way we can maintain hope and joy during difficult times is the same way we do everything else. We live in an abiding relationship with Jesus, and He supplies the power.
(3) Divine Strength in Weakness – The prophet declares, “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer and makes me tread upon the heights.”
There is a particular type of deer known for its remarkable ability to place its feet in perfect alignment, one after the other. This skill enables the deer to effortlessly navigate and ascend the steep, perilous mountain terrains.
This is a powerful picture for our our spiritual journey, symbolizing the act of placing our steps in the footsteps of Jesus, walking His path, and following His guidance.
Each of the three responses we can make to God, informed by Habakkuk’s prayer, centers on cultivating a loving relationship with God. This relationship serves as both our foundation and our hope in challenging times.
It is crucial that we come to God and engage with Him daily, nurturing this connection. As we meet with Him, we will learn our specific assignment for the day and commit to carrying it out.
This approach is the only way we can navigate these times with hope and joy, while patiently trusting in the Lord.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 