Habakkuk 3
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Chapter 3
Chapter Overview:
Verses:
Habakkuk begs of God to succour his people, ver. 1, 2.
He calls to mind God's former appearances for his people, ver. 3 - 15.
He encourages himself to trust in God, ver, 16 - 19.
| 3:1 | Upon Sigionoth - A musical instrument. |
| 3:2 | Thy speech - In answer to the inquiry made chap. 1:13 ,14.Was afraid - Trembled at what thou speakest.In the midst of the years - Even before the seventy years are expired.Make known - Thy truth, wisdom, power, and compassion. |
| 3:3 | God - The God of our fathers, discovered himself from Teman, a mountain not far from mount Sinai, where the law was given.Paran - Near Sinai. His glory - This the prophet mentions as a support of his faith, that God so gloriously appeared among their fathers.Full of his praise - Of works which were worthy of all praise. |
| 3:4 | As the light - Pure, clear as the sun, but much more dazzling.His hand - The face of Moses shined; the face, yea, hands of our God, shine with glorious light. There - In that light wherewith he appeared.The hiding - Which discovered much of it, but hid much more; it was light inaccessible. |
| 3:5 | Before him - When God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he made the pestilence go before him, so preparing room for his people. |
| 3:6 | He stood - Gave his presence with Joshua, as one that stood by while the work was done. The land - The promised land.He beheld - Looked with a frowning countenance. Drove asunder - Cast them out, his eye did this, for he looked on them, and did this.His ways - The wisdom, goodness, justice, holiness, and power of God, which he shews in governing his people. |
| 3:7 | The tents - The people that dwelt in them. Arabia - Near whose borders Israel marched. In affliction - In fear and pain, lest that mighty people should fall on them. The curtains - Those that dwelt within them; these people dwelt in tents, which were made up on the sides with curtains. |
| 3:8 | The sea - The Red Sea. Ride - As a general in the head of his army. Upon thine horses - Alluding to the manner of men.Salvation - No; but he came to save his people. |
| 3:9 | Thy bow - One part of armour is put for the whole. The Lord is represented as armed, in readiness to smite through all his enemies.According to the oaths - In pursuance of his oath made to our fathers, and their posterity. Cleave the earth - When they were to march through a dry and thirsty land. |
| 3:10 | Overflowing - The inundation which at that season was wont to be very great in and round Jordan, passed away at the word of God; the waters below flowed, and ran from those above, which stood on a heap to make a path for Israel. The deep - Either the deep channel in which Jordan flowed, or the Red Sea with dreadful roaring parted its waters. Lift up his hands - Its waves which stood on an heap. |
| 3:11 | Stood still - At the prayer of Joshua.In the light - Which was most miraculously continued. |
| 3:13 | With thine anointed - Under the conduct of thine anointed, Joshua, the type of the Messiah. Thou woundest - Gavest a deadly wound to the kings of Canaan. The house of the wicked - The courts of these kings were houses of the vilest wickedness.By discovering - Destroying all from head to foot. |
| 3:14 | Villages - All the cities and all the unwalled towns.They - The inhabitants of Canaan. As a whirlwind - With violence invading me on every side. To scatter - To disperse and drive away the Israelites. Their rejoicing - They rejoiced in full confidence of swallowing up Israel unawares. |
| 3:15 | Didst walk - Thou heldest on thy way, from thy entering in on the east of the land, to the west thereof. |
| 3:16 | When I heard - What dreadful desolations God threatened against Israel. My heart trembled - Another effect of surprising fears and astonishment. Rottenness - A decay of all my strength.That I might rest - These fears made me betake myself to God, that I might rest in him. He - The king of Babylon. The people - The Jews. |
| 3:17 | The labour - The labour bestowed upon the olive.Yield no meat - Corn. Flock - Of sheep. |
| 3:19 | Like hinds feet - That I may escape to God my refuge.He will make me - To conquer and triumph. |