Habakkuk 3:1,2

Habakkuk's prayer for mercy -- Habakkuk 3:1-2: The chapter begins "A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth." (Habakkuk 3:1) This prayer is "according to Shigionoth." The Amplified Bible translates it, "A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to wild, enthusiastic, and triumphal music.” The Jerusalem Bible translates it exactly the opposite, "a lamentation, slow, solemn, or mournful." We really do not know what "Shigionoth" means. It seems to be some musical term as this chapter begins with the word "Shigionoth" and ends "To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." (Habakkuk 3:19) Another musical term "Selah" is found three times in this chapter. (Habakkuk 3:3; Habakkuk 3:9; Habakkuk 3:13) This is a term for a pause or a crescendo. It is used 74 times in the book of Psalms and only these three other times in the entire Bible. Likely this chapter is Habakkuk's "Psalm of Hope."

The prayer from Habakkuk was for God to "Revive" His work or to preserve alive His people. Habakkuk understood that the Lord must punish the wicked but he asked that God temper the punishment with mercy. Habakkuk prayed, "In wrath remember mercy." Habakkuk knew that Judah was soon to be conquered by the Chaldeans yet he prayed, "O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy." Our times have many similarities to Habakkuk's days. There is sin, violence and all kinds of evil everywhere in our nation. God, the Bible, salvation and the one true church are largely ignored. We very much need revival in our day also.