Yes, Habakkuk resolves his questions, all of them, with a grand statement of faith!

Prayer for this man of God is no longer (if it had ever been) simply “getting” what one wants!

Or gleaning answers to current questions about God’s governing the world!

Now, for this man of God anyway, prayer has become “communion” with His Lord.

Habakkuk chapter 3 is our Text for this Friday in August, 2015.

The whole Unit (chapter 3) begins with a “superscript,” saying “a prayer of Habakkuk!”

A prayer, yet he asks for nothing!

Nothing personal anyway.

He acquiesces to God’s Will, realizing dark days are ahead for Judah. Backsliding Judah! “Lord (for Thy Nation), in Wrath remember Mercy,” he pleads.

Then … miraculously … God comes on the scene!

The teachers call it a “theophany,” an appearance of the Lord Himself!

Read some of it with me.

“God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.” Habakkuk 3:3-5

Then … “The mountains saw thee (God), and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck.” Habakkuk 3:10-13

This happens as the man prays, this grand vision of the Lord!

It may be a description of our Lord’s yet future but literal Return to earth!

How did Habakkuk respond?

At first … “When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself.” Habakkuk 3:16, the “fear” of the Lord, reverent respect!

Then … forgetting any previous “issues,” Habakkuk resolves:

No matter what, I shall trust the Lord!

If I know HIM … all else fades in comparison!

Thus the ultimate conclusion of a mature faith, a mature prayer life. “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” The end of Habakkuk 3, verses 17-19.

Wow!

Prayer … as worship!

Prayer … as dedication to God!

Prayer … as determination!

Prayer … on its highest level!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Lord, so teach us to pray!