View Habakkuk 3 in the note window.
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.
1: Upon Sigionoth - A musical instrument.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
11: Stood still - At the prayer of Joshua.
In the light - Which was most miraculously continued.
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.
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.
15: Didst walk - Thou heldest on thy way, from thy entering in
on the east of the land, to the west thereof.
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.
17: The labour - The labour bestowed upon the olive.
Yield no meat - Corn. Flock - Of sheep.
19: Like hinds feet - That I may escape to God my refuge.
He will make me - To conquer and triumph.
