We have been studying the prayer of the prophet in Habakkuk 3. Though he trembled in his boots as he anticipated the devastating attack of the Babylonian army sent by God to judge His people, he humbly declared, “I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us” (Habakkuk 3:16).
God had promised to deal with the approaching army and Habakkuk believed He would. But until that happened he had to wait patiently, enduring the devastation left in their wake. In prayer he assured God, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior!” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
Wow! What an antidote to despair. This is how you snatch victory from defeat. This is how you by faith open the door for God to strengthen and sustain you. Listen to how Habakkuk closes his prayer and the book: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:19).
Then, to highlight his prayer even more, he affirms, “For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.” In other words, his prayer becomes a song. And he not only sings it himself, he wants it to become a part of the worship of God’s people!!
Out of pain, by faith he anticipates gain. Out of devastation, by faith he anticipates hope-filled praise. Out of complaint and confusion, by faith he anticipates songs of victory.
