Habakkuk 3

This article contains the study questions and answers I’ve written for a youth Bible study on Habakkuk 3. Feel free to use and adapt as you like. My only request is that you don’t ditch the stuff about Jesus. We need to read the Old Testament through a Christ-focused lens.

Pray and Get Going

1. What kinds of things do people usually do when they feel like things (relationships, health, or school) are falling apart?

This question is supposed to get the group familiar with what Habakkuk must be feeling in his situation.

________

In Habakkuk 3, the prophet feels anxious, like things are about to fall apart. But instead of giving up, he follows a five-step process for dealing with his situation:

🧠 He remembers
🙏 He prays
😨 He trembles
⏳ He waits
🎉 He rejoices

________

Read Habakkuk 3

2. In verses 2–15, what does Habakkuk remember?

🧠 He remembers God’s powerful acts in the past.

“Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.”
Habakkuk 3:2

Habakkuk looks back to various OT stories to remind himself of God’s saving deeds:

Mount Sinai (Habakkuk 3:3–4; Deuteronomy 33:2; Exodus 19:16–20)
The Exodus (Habakkuk 3:5; Exodus 7–12)
Victories under the judges (Habakkuk 3:7, 14; Judges 3:8–10; Judges 6–8)
The crossing of the Red Sea and Jordan (Habakkuk 3:8, 15; Exodus 14; Joshua 3–4)
Conquests under Joshua (Habakkuk 3:11–12; Joshua 10:12–14)
Other stuff (Habakkuk 3:6, 13)

3. What is Habakkuk’s prayer in verse 2?

🙏 He prays, asking God to repeat his past saving deeds in the present time, and to remember his mercy even in wrath.

4. Why do you think Habakkuk trembles in verse 16?

😨 He trembles, knowing that God’s judgment is coming, and it’s terrifying. Even though he trusts God, he feels the weight of what’s about to happen.

5. How does Habakkuk wait (verse 16)? Do you think he found that hard? Would you find it hard?

⏳ He waits quietly for the day of trouble (verse 16). He chooses patience even while feeling afraid. It was probably pretty hard, and many of us would struggle too. Thankfully, God’s patience means salvation (2 Peter 3:15)

6. In verses 17–19, why does Habakkuk rejoice?

🎉 He rejoices because God is his strength and salvation, even if everything else fails, e.g., no crops, no food, no safety. He rejoices not in his circumstances, but in who God is: his Saviour.

Read Philippians 4:4–7

7. How do Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4–7 help us understand Habakkuk’s joy in hard times? What do both passages teach us about how to respond when life is falling apart?

They both teach us to rejoice in the Lord, pray instead of panic, and to trust God’s peace to guard our hearts. When Paul refers to “the Lord”, he’s specifically speaking about Jesus as Lord. Jesus changes everything, and we need to remember that. Paul, like Habakkuk, reminds us that our hope and joy is found in God’s presence, not in perfect circumstances.

Pray and Give Thanks

Thank God for being your strength even when life is hard.
Ask him to help you remember his saving deeds, especially those through Jesus.
Rejoice in who he is, even if everything else feels uncertain.
Pray for peace that will guard your heart and mind in Christ (see Philippians 4:7).