community group discussion guide
introduction
Chapter 3 of Habakkuk marks the prophet’s transformation from confusion to trust. In our earlier discussions of chapter 1 and 2, Habakkuk lamented injustice and struggled with God’s surprising response, yet chose to wait and seek understanding. God’s answer, “the righteous shall live by faith” calls the prophet Habakkuk, and us, to trust in God even when his ways are mysterious.
In our remaining discussions of the book, we’ll further explore Habakkuk’s journey from fear to faith. Habakkuk pleads for mercy, recalling God’s past acts of justice and envisions God as a powerful Divine Warrior. His vision reassures us that God is active and just, even in judgment. Today, we’ll consider how we can anchor our hope not in present clarity but in the character and history of a God who saves.
read Habakkuk 3:1-15 (NIV)
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
2 Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.
3 God came from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His glory covered the heavens
and his praise filled the earth.
4 His splendor was like the sunrise;
rays flashed from his hand,
where his power was hidden.
5 Plague went before him;
pestilence followed his steps.
6 He stood, and shook the earth;
he looked, and made the nations tremble.
The ancient mountains crumbled
and the age-old hills collapsed—
but he marches on forever.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress,
the dwellings of Midian in anguish.
8 Were you angry with the rivers, Lord?
Was your wrath against the streams?
Did you rage against the sea
when you rode your horses
and your chariots to victory?
9 You uncovered your bow,
you called for many arrows.
You split the earth with rivers;
10 the mountains saw you and writhed.
Torrents of water swept by;
the deep roared
and lifted its waves on high.
11 Sun and moon stood still in the heavens
at the glint of your flying arrows,
at the lightning of your flashing spear.
12 In wrath you strode through the earth
and in anger you threshed the nations.
13 You came out to deliver your people,
to save your anointed one.
You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness,
you stripped him from head to foot.
14 With his own spear you pierced his head
when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though about to devour
the wretched who were in hiding.
15 You trampled the sea with your horses,
churning the great waters.
Take a few moments to reflect on the Scripture. Share some insights, questions, or points that strike you. Then read what follows.
from fear to faith
In the opening verses of this chapter, the prophet Habakkuk turns from complaint and questioning (chs. 1-2) to a posture of reverent intercession. He has seen the terrifying but righteous judgment of God that is coming, and yet, instead of resisting or arguing, he prays, “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds.…In wrath remember mercy” (v. 2). This prayer is born not of comfort, but of holy fear — a fear that acknowledges both God’s justice and compassion. Habakkuk is essentially pleading, “Lord, be who you have always been — powerful, just, and merciful — even in our darkest days.”
In seasons of turmoil and uncertainty, we can also pray the way we see Habakkuk prays here. Rather than merely asking for circumstantial changes (e.g., escape, relief, etc.), we can pray for God’s active presence — that he would “repeat them” or move again as he has done in the past, and that he would revive his work among us (v. 2). And even when his judgment or discipline seems necessary, we can ask God to temper it with mercy. This is a prayer shaped by the gospel: trusting God’s justice, yet leaning on his mercy through Christ. In our seasons of waiting with no seemingly clear answers, we are invited to pray like Habakkuk, seeking God’s sustaining grace and mercy rather than demanding answers.
- Why do you think Habakkuk begins his prayer with fear and awe (v. 2)? What does that reveal about his posture toward God?
- There are times when we may struggle to remember God’s past deeds or trust in his future goodness.
- How would you navigate this spiritual tension in your own life? What biblical stories or personal experiences remind you that God keeps his promises?
- What approaches might be compassionate or conversely, unhelpful, when interacting with someone struggling to see God’s past deeds?
- How might praying for God to “repeat his work in our day” and make them known change how we engage with our church, city, and country?
the Divine Warrior
Habakkuk’s vision shifts dramatically starting in verse 3, drawing back the curtain to reveal the majesty and cosmic power of God. The prophet sees the Lord coming in radiant glory, accompanied by plague and pestilence — symbols of God’s might and justice. At God’s presence, nature itself recoils: mountains crumble, hills bow low, and nations tremble (v. 6). This is not poetic exaggeration, or a return to ancient mythological battles against chaos, but a reminder of real historical events like the crossing of the Red Sea, when God’s acts disrupted the natural order to deliver his people. It’s also a declaration of a central biblical truth: God is not bound by nature or history, but sovereign over them. What may seem eternal to us, like mountains or kingdoms, is fleeting before an eternal God. In the midst of political upheaval, social unrest, or personal crisis, we are reminded that God holds all things together. Habakkuk’s earlier plea to remember God’s past deeds (v. 2) becomes a foundation for trust: what God has done before, he is able and willing to do again.
This theme continues In vv. 8-15, where God is revealed not only as the Creator but as the Divine Warrior. Habakkuk paints a powerful picture of God rising to confront injustice and defend his people. The imagery is rich with echoes of the Exodus: waters part, rivers retreat, the sun and moon pause in awe of their Maker. Yet God’s fearsome display of power and might is not random or vengeful; it is purposeful salvation. God’s wrath is just and purposeful. Habakakkuk sees that even when God’s judgments bring suffering to his own people, they are never signs of abandonment but instruments of salvation (v. 13).
The vision of God as Divine Warrior and Redeemer offers us profound comfort. In the darkest moments, when evil and injustice seem to prevail, we can cling to this image of God as one who is not passive or absent, but powerfully present. We can trust that God is decisively confronting evil and fighting for those who trust him. This vision foreshadows Christ’s ultimate victory on the cross, where divine judgment and mercy meet and where God’s power was most fully revealed in sacrificial love.
- What spiritual practices (e.g., journaling, testimony-sharing, or Scripture meditation) help you remember and internalize God’s past faithfulness?
- Are there areas in your life where you struggle to believe that God is fighting for you?
- Is there a situation where you feel called to “stand in the gap” — to intercede like Habakkuk did — for someone or something in your life or community? What might this look like?
1 New American Commentary
group exercise: "in wrath remember mercy"
Purpose:Along with Habakkuk, we can learn to pray like the prophet: “In wrath remember mercy.” It’s a prayer that says, “God, we accept your justice; but please have mercy! Be true to your merciful nature.”
Activity: >Consider together, where in your life or in the world, you long for both God’s justice and mercy. And write a personal prayer using this prompt:
“God, in your justice, I see ________. But in your mercy, I ask _________.”
Share what you wrote and intercede for these things aloud together as a group.
announcements
- Thursday, May 15 | Redeemer Network Prayer & Praise, 7-9 pm
Join us in the new Redeemer East Side building as we celebrate together God’s faithfulness and pray for his continued blessing and mission in NYC with our family of Redeemer Network of churches. - Sunday, May 18 | Membership Class, 7-9 pm
This is a pre-requisite class for becoming a church member. This class is strongly encouraged of anyone who considers RWS as their “home church.”
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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. Th
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