(Part 1)

JBTM Paul D. Wegner
108
The first four woes more easily translate into today’s terms—stealing, destroying others
to make oneself wealthy, killing others to build a city, seeking to ruin and shame someone.
But “worshipping false idols” is a little more difficult since most people in western society
do not worship idols statues. The principle here goes beyond the literal worship of an idol,
to include anything that takes the place of God in our lives. Like the Babylonians, power
can become an idol—it can be the focus of our lives, shaping everything we do and think. It
can become what we value and live for above all else. But other things can become idols as
well, such as money, status, even seemingly good things like family or friends. Exodus 20:5
lets us know that God is a jealous god and will not take second place to anyone or anything.
The most important part of this section is 2:20, which reminds us that “God is in His
holy temple” and is watching over all of this—nothing escapes his gaze. Habakkuk thought
that God was not watching as the Babylonians wiped out other nations—but he was. The
woes listed just before this verse let us know that anyone who harms his people will have
to answer to God.
Once Habakkuk stops complaining, listens to God, and re-evaluates his faulty
suppositions about God, he is ready to take the next step.
III. STEP 3: TRUST IN GOD NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES (3:1–19)
In chapter 3 Habakkuk offers a prayer in the form of a “Psalm of Trust.” The words in v.
1, “according to the Shigionoth,” only occur here and in Psalm 7:1. “Shigionoth” appears to
refer to a type of song. At the end (verse 2:19) it states, “For the choir director: on stringed
instruments.” Some suggest it is a term that refers to the rhythm or cadence of the section.
Either way, the word suggests a psalm.
Let’s look at verse 2: “O LORD, I have heard your report and I am afraid” (my translation).
It is very likely that Habakkuk is referring back to the message that God told him in 1:6. He
admits that it has caused him to fear. Fear, when it causes us to look outside ourselves and
to God, can be a healthy thing. Through this announcement of the coming punishment,
Habakkuk is finally starting to see what his God is really like—he is a majestic God who can
cause pagan nations to do his bidding.
Habakkuk then says, “Revive Your work in these years; in the midst of the years make
it known.” He appears to be asking God to show him some of those great works from the
past that he has heard so much about—like the parting of the Red Sea that allowed the
Israelites to go across but drowned all the Egyptian soldiers. That was pretty good. Or
when the Israelites marched seven times around Jericho and the walls fell down. That was
pretty good, too. Or when Gideon with just three hundred men defeated a vast hoard of
Midianites. Habakkuk is requesting similar miracles for himself and his people. And then
in the last phrase of v. 2, Habakkuk adds, “In Your wrath remember mercy.” Isn’t that