Habakkuk’s Prayer and the Pandemic

While I was praying very early Sunday morning about many things, including the coronavirus pandemic, the phrase “In your wrath remember mercy!” came to my mind. I prayed that in the midst of this pandemic God would show us His mercy. I knew those words were somewhere in the Bible, but didn’t remember where. So as soon as I was done praying, I looked them up and discovered that they are part of a prayer song written by the prophet Habakkuk which is recorded in Habakkuk 3. The prayer mentions “plague” and “pestilence” (Habakkuk 3:5), confirming to me that it is especially relevant to our current situation. But even more than the specific mention of a pandemic (using different words), there were several phrases throughout Habakkuk’s prayer that spoke to my heart. I printed it out on a sheet of paper in very large font so I could take it with me and continue to think about, meditate on it, and pray through it on my long morning walk (which was long and leisurely as the “church service” I prepared was already on line and there was no need to keep close track of the time this past Sunday morning like there usually is). I thought, “I should share some of this.” And so, I am writing this blog post.

I am not going to discuss every word from Habakkuk 3. But I will share how I see some of the words of Habakkuk’s ancient prayer as applying to us during this pandemic we are facing, and in our lives more generally (for the pandemic will soon pass, but God’s Word will remain relevant and powerful!).

CSB17 Habakkuk 3:1 A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk. According to Shigionoth.

Both in the Bible, and throughout the history of the Church, those people who have been used most powerfully by God have been devoted to prayer. And so it is not surprising to find a prayer beautifully woven into Habakkuk’s prophetic book, just as prayers are found woven into Paul’s epistles and in many other places in the Bible. But we must remember that it is not just prophets and apostles who are called to be devoted to prayer. We all are (see Colossians 4:2)! And when James refers to the great power of Elijah’s prayers, he does so in order to remind us that we, too, can pray with great power (see James 5:17). May God stir our hearts to pray.

We do not know what the Hebrew term “Shigionoth” means precisely, but it was probably a musical term (see also the last verse in this prayer, Habbukuk 3:19). Music is a powerful way to strengthen our hearts and to express our praise and prayers to God.

Habakkuk 3:2a LORD, I have heard the report about you; LORD, I stand in awe of your deeds. Revive your work in these years; make it known in these years.

Habakkuk knew about God’s great works of deliverance when He rescued His people from slavery in Egypt and brought them into the promised land. Habakkuk longed to see God intervene with great power to revive and renew His people during Habakkuk’s lifetime. Don’t you long for the same thing today? Don’t you desire to see God’s gracious, powerful work bring a new spiritual awakening and a great revival? I do! I long to see God’s mercy and power made known “in these years.” Now, even in 2020.

Habakkuk 3:2b In your wrath remember mercy!

God’s wrath is the expression of His hatred of everything that is evil and wrong. His wrath is good. Would we prefer a God who didn’t mind having a little evil around?

Does His wrath mean He doesn’t love us? No! Haven’t you ever been angry with someone whom you love very much?

But if God only acted according to justice, we would have no hope. Do we think that in light of all our greed in this midst of a suffering world, in light of all the unborn babies that have been torn apart and killed, considering that we have flooded the world and corrupted many minds and hearts with the filth of pornography, remembering all the hate and violence in our land, do we think that this pandemic is worse than we deserve? No! If we got what we deserved the pandemic would have a 100% infection rate and would be 100% lethal. And in fact, outside of Christ death is indeed the doom that awaits every person (Romans 6:23).

But in the midst of His just wrath, God remembers mercy. God will use this pandemic for good (see this post for 7 ways He might use it for good). And in the midst of it, God can mercifully protect many of us, and help others through the sickness, and heal many, and help scientists and doctors find cures, and provide for all our needs. In the midst of His just wrath, God never forgets His love and mercy! And He wants us to pray to Him about this, praying back to Him His own great promises and recalling in prayer His mercy and grace.

CSB17 Habakkuk 3:3b-3:4a His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise.  His brilliance is like light; rays are flashing from his hand.

I thank God that shelter in place orders do not restrict outdoor walks (as long as we maintain a safe distance from others while walking, which is easy to do where I walk – the other morning I think I came closer to a fox dashing into the woods than I did to any other human on my walk). The beauty of God’s creation has not been touched by the coronavirus and it reminds me that God is still in control. Not only are trees, sunrises, and fields just as beautiful as ever, but often on my walks this time of year the air is full of the songs of a multitude of birds of different types. That was the case while I was taking the photograph above. I wish you could have been there with me (well, standing 6 feet or more from me), but even more I pray that God will remind each of you in His own ways that He is still in control of all that happens in our world.

Habakuk 3:5 Plague goes before him, and pestilence follows in his steps.

God is charge of this virus. It does not threaten Him at all. That is a comforting thought!

Habakkuk 3:6a He stands and shakes the earth; he looks and startles the nations.

Sometimes we need to be shaken from our complacency and startled out of our spiritual slumber. May God use this pandemic to turn many hearts towards Him.

Habakkuk 3:6c His pathways are ancient.

God has been working to turn people back to Him throughout all the long history of humanity. He has used pandemics and catastrophes of many kinds. He knows what He is doing. He does not make mistakes or errors in judgment.

Habakkuk 3: 17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, 18 yet I will celebrate in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

I hope and pray that the effect on our economy, both as a nation (and for other nations), and for each family, will not be too severe. But even if it is sever, even if the economy is wrecked for a long time and myself and others I know lose a lot (and some have already lost a lot), I will continue to rejoice in the Lord. God will provide for us. And He will save us. He will save us not merely from a little financial loss, He saves us from our sin and from death. Habakkuk understood this, yet now that God’s gospel has been revealed in Christ, we have even more reason to rejoice than Habakkuk had!

Habakkuk 3:19 The LORD my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! For the choir director: on stringed instruments.

How will we get through this? God will give us the strength we need. He will strengthen us to climb mountains and walk on them without falling. Our God is with us. Even in this pandemic, nay, especially in this pandemic, we can and should trust Him, pray to Him, and sing His praise!

A related blog post:

The Coronavirus and The Lord's Prayer


Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .