Nahum 3
Unlike the preceding chapters, Habakkuk Chapter 3 consists of the prophet’s prayers and praises. This section is recorded in the style of the Psalms (poetic form), with trust in and reverence for God, and praise at the center. It can be broadly divided into the opening of the prayer (verses 1-2) and a depiction of God’s great past acts (verses 3-15), a confession of faith (verses 16-19)
1verseWoe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery—no end to the prey.
2verseThe noise of the whip, the noise of the rattling of wheels, prancing horses, and bounding chariots,
3versethe horseman charging, and the flashing sword, the glittering spear, and a multitude of slain, and a great heap of corpses, and there is no end of the bodies. They stumble on their bodies
4versebecause of the multitude of the prostitution of the alluring prostitute, the mistress of witchcraft, who sells nations through her prostitution, and families through her witchcraft.
5verse“Behold, I am against you,” says the LORD of Armies, “and I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame.
6verseI will throw abominable filth on you and make you vile, and will make you a spectacle.
7verseIt will happen that all those who look at you will flee from you, and say, ‘Nineveh is laid waste! Who will mourn for her?’ Where will I seek comforters for you?”
8verseAre you better than No-Amon, who was situated among the rivers, who had the waters around her, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was of the sea?
9verseCush and Egypt were her boundless strength. Put and Libya were her helpers.
10verseYet was she carried away. She went into captivity. Her young children also were dashed in pieces at the head of all the streets, and they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.
11verseYou also will be drunken. You will be hidden. You also will seek a stronghold because of the enemy.
12verseAll your fortresses will be like fig trees with the first-ripe figs. If they are shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.
13verseBehold, your troops among you are women. The gates of your land are set wide open to your enemies. The fire has devoured your bars.
14verseDraw water for the siege. Strengthen your fortresses. Go into the clay, and tread the mortar. Make the brick kiln strong.
15verseThere the fire will devour you. The sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the grasshopper. Multiply like grasshoppers. Multiply like the locust.
16verseYou have increased your merchants more than the stars of the skies. The grasshopper strips and flees away.
17verseYour guards are like the locusts, and your officials like the swarms of locusts, which settle on the walls on a cold day, but when the sun appears, they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.
18verseYour shepherds slumber, king of Assyria. Your nobles lie down. Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to gather them.
19verseThere is no healing your wound, for your injury is fatal. All who hear the report of you clap their hands over you, for who hasn’t felt your endless cruelty?
Flow and Characteristics by Section
- Verses 1-2: The opening of the prayer
Habakkuk recalls God’s past works and asks that He would reveal His power even now. The prayer shows humility and fear, as well as the heart of intercession (Remember mercy even in wrath). - Verses 3-15: God’s history
In this part, praise is given for how God saved His people through historical events like the Exodus, and for the greatness of God revealed in nature and among the nations. Through poetic depictions (the shaking of the earth, the twisting of the mountains, the storm wind and lightning, etc.), it emphasizes that God rules over both nature and history. - Verses 16-19: A confession of faith and praise
Habakkuk expresses his state in fear, but at the same time confesses a decision of faith that he will rejoice and be glad because of the LORD, even if any situation arises. In the final verse, he sings that God is my strength and that He makes me victorious even in hardship.
Points for Reflection
- Within prayer and praise, we can find a fundamental trust. Even amid reality that is not understood, Habakkuk moves forward in faith by reflecting again on God’s great power and guidance.
- Even if the environment or external circumstances do not change, you can notice that you can still not lose your joy within your relationship with God.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- When I face difficulties or problems that have not been resolved, I can remember God’s past acts like Habakkuk and pray in trust even in fear.
- Regardless of external conditions, it can become an opportunity to check whether I can be glad with only God alone.
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This is the last chapter of Nahum.