When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
Habakkuk describes his physical response to divine revelation: 'When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops' (shamati vattirga'az bni lishmua tzafilu sephatay yavo raqav ba'atzmotay vetachtay erga'ash asher anuach leyom tzarah la'aloth le'am yegudemu). His entire body reacts: belly trembling (vattirga'az bni), lips quivering (tzafilu sephatay), bones feeling rotten (yavo raqav ba'atzmotay), trembling in himself (vetachtay erga'ash). This isn't casual acknowledgment but visceral terror at coming judgment. Yet he adds: 'that I might rest in the day of trouble' (asher anuach leyom tzarah). Through trembling comes rest—peaceful submission to God's will. This demonstrates mature faith: feeling appropriate fear at God's judgment yet finding peace in trusting His sovereign purposes.
Historical Context
Habakkuk's physical response to prophetic vision echoes other prophets' experiences (Daniel 8:27, 10:8; Ezekiel 1:28). Encountering divine revelation, especially concerning judgment, produces genuine fear—not intellectual acknowledgment but whole-person terror. Yet through processing this revelation, submitting to God's will, and trusting His character, Habakkuk arrives at 'rest in the day of trouble.' When Babylon invaded (605, 597, 586 BC), those who had internalized Habakkuk's message could maintain peace even during catastrophe, knowing God remained sovereign. This 'rest in trouble' isn't avoiding difficulty but trusting God through it—the same rest Jesus offers (Matthew 11:28-30) that transcends circumstances.
Questions for Reflection
How can appropriate fear of God's judgment coexist with peaceful trust in His sovereign purposes?
What does it mean to find 'rest in the day of trouble'—peace during rather than avoidance of difficulty?
How does understanding coming judgment help believers prepare spiritually and emotionally for trials?
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Analysis & Commentary
Habakkuk describes his physical response to divine revelation: 'When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops' (shamati vattirga'az bni lishmua tzafilu sephatay yavo raqav ba'atzmotay vetachtay erga'ash asher anuach leyom tzarah la'aloth le'am yegudemu). His entire body reacts: belly trembling (vattirga'az bni), lips quivering (tzafilu sephatay), bones feeling rotten (yavo raqav ba'atzmotay), trembling in himself (vetachtay erga'ash). This isn't casual acknowledgment but visceral terror at coming judgment. Yet he adds: 'that I might rest in the day of trouble' (asher anuach leyom tzarah). Through trembling comes rest—peaceful submission to God's will. This demonstrates mature faith: feeling appropriate fear at God's judgment yet finding peace in trusting His sovereign purposes.