Catholic Commentary on Habakkuk 3

“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... yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Habakkuk's Prayer

A prayer of Habakkuk: LORD, I have heard your speech and feared. LORD, revive your work in the midst of the years; in wrath remember mercy. God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. He stood and shook the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. The ancient mountains crumbled and the age-old hills collapsed, but his ways are eternal. I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. 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.

The Catechism identifies Habakkuk's declaration as one of the purest expressions of joy that is not conditioned on circumstances: the rejoicing in God that persists when every material support has been removed (CCC 2657).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, yet I will rejoice. The yet is the hinge of the whole prayer. Six negatives: no figs, no grapes, no olives, no food, no sheep, no cattle. Then yet. The yet does not deny the negatives; it rises above them. The rejoicing that waits for conditions will never rejoice. The rejoicing that says yet I will is the rejoicing that transforms conditions. Practice the yet.

Prayer

Lord God, though everything fails around us, yet we will rejoice in you and be joyful in God our Savior. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3
Habakkuk’s Prayer
1 This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth:* 3:1 Shigionoth is probably a musical term indicating the setting for the prayer.
 
2 O LORD, I have heard the report of You;
I stand in awe, O LORD, of Your deeds.
Revive them in these years;
make them known in these years.
In Your wrath, remember mercy!
 
3 God came from Teman,
and the Holy One from Mount Paran.
Selah † 3:3 Selah or Interlude is probably a musical or literary term; also in verses 9 and 13.
His glory covered the heavens,
and His praise filled the earth.
4 His radiance was like the sunlight;
rays flashed from His hand,
where His power is hidden.
5 Plague went before Him,
and fever followed in His steps.
6 He stood and measured the earth;
He looked and startled the nations;
the ancient mountains crumbled;
the perpetual hills collapsed.
His ways are everlasting.
 
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in distress;
the curtains of Midian were trembling.
8 Were You angry at the rivers, O LORD?
Was Your wrath against the streams?
Did You rage against the sea
when You rode on Your horses,
on Your chariots of salvation?
9 You brandished Your bow;
You called for many arrows.
Selah
You split the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw You and quaked;
torrents of water swept by.
The deep roared with its voice
and lifted its hands on high.
11 Sun and moon stood still
in their places
at the flash of Your flying arrows,
at the brightness of Your shining spear.
12 You marched across the earth with fury;
You threshed the nations in wrath.
13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
to save Your anointed.
You crushed the head of the house of the wicked
and stripped him from head to toe.
Selah
14 With his own spear You pierced his head,
when his warriors stormed out to scatter us,
gloating as though ready
to secretly devour the weak.
15 You trampled the sea with Your horses,
churning the great waters.
 
16 I heard and trembled within;
my lips quivered at the sound.
Decay entered my bones;
I trembled where I stood.
Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress
to come upon the people who invade us.
Habakkuk Rejoices
 
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and no fruit is on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though the sheep are cut off from the fold
and no cattle are in the stalls,
18 yet I will exult in the LORD;
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
19 GOD the Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like those of a deer;
He makes me walk upon the heights!
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.

*3:1 3:1 Shigionoth is probably a musical term indicating the setting for the prayer.

†3:3 3:3 Selah or Interlude is probably a musical or literary term; also in verses 9 and 13.

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