Come Day 2 Come To See: Digging Deeper
February 11, 2025
Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Habakkuk 3:16-19
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls,
18 yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! 19 The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!
The Original Intent
1) What was Habakkuk’s response to encountering God’s presence? (verse 16)
In the original Hebrew language, the book of Habakkuk begins, “The burdensome oracle [Heb massa] which Habakkuk the prophet saw [Heb chāzāh].” (Habakkuk 1:1) Hazah refers to a divine revelation, usually during a deep sleep like what Abraham experienced in Genesis 15:1.
The prophet Habakkuk saw and heard what God communicated to him. Interestingly, he is the only ‘minor prophet’ who did not address the people directly. (Got Questions) In more journal-like form, Habakkuk records his questions for God followed by God’s responses to his questions.
For us to grasp the weight of Habakkuk’s prayer response in chapter 3 (Habakkuk 3:1), we need to zoom out just a bit. Strong protests to the Lord from Habakkuk dominate chapter 1; God answers in verses 5-11, prompting a rebuttal from Habakkuk. The final thoughts of God in the following chapter provide a striking contrast between lifeless gods and THE living God.
Because Yahweh ever reigns from His throne, silence before Him is the only right response. (Zephaniah 1:7) So, Habakkuk is humbled, “I trembled within … trembled where I stood.” He may have been terrified of what was to come, but he came to realize it was the right judgment of God at the right time.
Habakkuk can only stand in reverence of the One he has come to see and know.
The prophet’s prayer-song begins with consideration of the past as he waits for the Lord to do His work in the present. Though he had not been able to comprehend God using the evil Babylonians to bring judgment (Habakkuk 1), being reminded of the infinite power of the Lord brought holy silence.
Does that remind us of anyone else? There was another who was humbled and silenced by God’s declaration of Himself. (Job 42:1-6) Yes, God will handle Babylon in His time. The prophet was to wait and see.
The Everyday Application
1) What was Habakkuk’s response to encountering God’s presence? (verse 16)
Habakkuk’s fear affected him “within.” The prophet had heard and accepted the Lord’s word, but he trembled at the news of the impending doom. His lips quivered and his bones shook as he considered the Lord’s pronouncement.
Although it seems the prophet’s fear cut to the very core of his being, Habakkuk was not without hope. Can you feel it with him, Sister? In choosing this perspective, Habakkuk leads us all to cast aside our anxiety and sing of the Lord’s sovereign goodness. We trust that because He sits on His throne, He is good.
The value of trusting God in every circumstance is the peace He brings even in the midst of fear. (Hebrews 13:20-21) We know His future redemption is as certain as looming judgment (Luke 21:26-28), and we can rest in knowing He is orchestrating all events for our good as believers, even in times of great trial or sorrow. (Romans 8:28-31)
Friend, let us turn our eyes toward God through prayer and the Word. As we wait on Him to work, we stand in awe of the Lord’s goodness and greatness.
“I love Your voice. You have led me through the fire.
In darkest night You are close like no other.
I’ve known You as a Father, I’ve known You as a Friend,
and I have lived in the goodness of God.
All my life You have been faithful.
All my life You have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able,
I will sing of the goodness of God.”
(Goodness of God)
The Original Intent
2) What do we learn about Habakkuk’s heart posture toward God through his prayerful song in verses 17-18?
“Yet I will celebrate in the Lord!” (verse 18) What a shift for Habakkuk! Although the future days were certain to grow more distressing, he determined to praise the Lord and find joy in the God He trusted would save him.
It had been a challenging and discouraging period in the life of Israel. The wealthy in Judah were oppressing the poor, and the rulers had continually led the people into idolatry. (Micah 3:1-12) As many turned away from God, it seemed like God had, in turn, abandoned them.
Habakkuk communicated to God his agony over the situation much like the psalmist (David) had done years before. (Habakkuk 1:2-4, Psalm 13:1-4) Habakkuk describes the worst of circumstances by using a variety of agricultural metaphors (verse 17) which would have been familiar to those in his day. Figs, fruit (grapes), and olives represent the entire agricultural system of Israel, as well as the Promise of prosperity and provision by the Lord.
Olive trees are abundant in Israel, and the trees’ oil was consumed at most meals. By putting these vivid word pictures together, the prophet was summarizing the terrifying and terrible events that could be devastating for those desperately relying on crops and livestock to survive.
Using these worst-case scenarios, Habakkuk desired to demonstrate his loyalty to the Lord no matter what was ahead. God alone was his salvation.
There wasn’t anyone or anything on which the people should depend for survival except Him. It had been God who had sustained them; it would be God who would save them. Much like the young Hebrew men we find in Daniel 3:16-18, Habakkuk had come to see and know the power of God. EVEN IF the worst happened, he would only worship the Lord. What genuine faith!
The Everyday Application
2) What do we learn about Habakkuk’s heart posture toward God through his prayerful song in verses 17-18?
Habakkuk envisions the Babylonians invading the land, ruining their crops, destroying the flocks and herds, trampling vineyards and olive groves, and running savagely over their Promised Land. That’s what he sees.
But he doesn’t focus on physical sight, instead he chooses spiritual vision by focusing on God’s steady character. He chooses to rejoice in the Lord’s plan. I don’t know about you, Friend, but I need to rehearse this same truth.
I want to remember His promises and recognize His presence. Even though there are certainly difficult days ahead, and the enemy tempts me to despair, my deepest longing is to declare to my soul: Lord God, I may not understand all You are doing, but I trust Your goodness as You do whatever it takes to bring us into Your glory.
Sister, instead of constantly asking God questions like, ‘How can I get out of this?’, will you join me in pursuing a life that includes more prayers drawing us to rejoice in God’s nearness? (This is God’s will for us! 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Lord, help me to really see You. Because of Your finished work through Christ on the cross on our behalf, all we need to do is believe and accept Your invitation to confess our sin and receive everlasting life. (John 19:28-30) There are days I can’t make sense of what You’re doing, but it is in that anguish, You remind me of Your sustaining grace. Even in these difficult days, “yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” (Habakkuk 3:18)
F.F. Bruce writes, “It is right and proper to voice appreciation of God’s goodness when He bestows all that is necessary for life, health and prosperity. But when these things are lacking, to rejoice in God for His own sake is evidence of pure faith.”
The Original Intent
3) What does Habakkuk’s faith declare about God and His relationship to us? (verse 19)
“The Lord is … He makes … He enables.” This verse captures the essence of God: The Lord IS. Habakkuk declares, “The LORD, my Lord, is my strength.”
The Bible often connects the Lord’s name with His strength and His power to save. (Exodus 15:2-3, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 27, Psalm 118:4, Proverbs 18:10, Isaiah 41:10) The original Hebrew contains two different words for God: Yahweh (LORD) and Adonai (Lord). Here, the prophet addresses God by His Self-proclaimed name that was first revealed in Exodus 3:14-15. By the way, when God self-proclaims something, it is not the same as humans doing so! This was also the title the Jews often used in place of Yahweh.
The Jews considered the name too sacred to be uttered by sinful human beings. The revelation of the name announced to Moses in Exodus 3:14-15 denotes an astonishing nearness. Yahweh is … present, accessible, and near to those who call out to Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13-20), forgiveness (Psalm 25:8-11), and guidance (Psalm 31:1-3).
After Habakkuk humbly sees and acknowledges the LORD, he is then able to remember what He has provided and will provide. The prophet sees the future doom in the light of the present and able LORD.
Though there is the certainty of judgment (Habakkuk 2:3), the prophet believed God would supply exactly what he needs when the time comes. Habakkuk recognizes his future is in the hands of a good and sovereign God. He can walk in places where others stumble.
Although the prophet’s legs initially shook (verse 16), God enabled his messenger to walk through the valley he faced as sure-footedly as a deer navigates the steep places on the mountainside. He could declare as another prophet had spoken, “The Lord will renew my strength!” (Isaiah 40:31)
The Everyday Application
3) What does Habakkuk’s faith declare about God and His relationship to us? (verse 19)
In using the “I AM” phrase to identify Himself, the LORD declares Himself as the self-existent One—the eternal, unique, uncreated God. (Exodus 3:14) What an unfathomable thought: God just IS. (Psalm 145) Even more remarkable to a stunned crowd who stood nearby Him hundreds of years later is Jesus using the name “I AM” in reference to Himself. (John 8:58)
Sister, don’t miss this glorious reality! We who are in Christ through faith (Ephesians 1:7-14) have living within us the great “I AM.” That means there is nothing we need that is not ours through Him who IS!
One of the characteristics of a mountain deer is the surefootedness that allows her to climb high rocky terrain without stumbling. Just as she carefully places her back feet exactly where her front feet were to secure her steps, God protects and strengthens His children to keep them from falling in the fearful seasons of life. (Psalm 18:31-33)
Just as the prophet needed to remind himself, so do we. Sister, we can walk on the frightening high places without fear of falling! Although the meaning of the word “shigyonot” found at the beginning of chapter 3 is uncertain, I love how Habakkuk encouraged the reader at the end of the chapter. He clearly communicated this prayer was to be sung in public worship, led by the music leader and accompanied by an instrument!
So, let’s praise the LORD together now:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Praise God the Father who’s the source; praise God the Son who is the course;
Praise God the Spirit who’s the flow; praise God, our portion here below!
(The Doxology)
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