John Calvin Commentary Habakkuk 3:11

"The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, At the light of thine arrows as they went, At the shining of thy glittering spear." — Habakkuk 3:11 (ASV)

Here the Prophet refers to another history, for we know that when Joshua fought, and the day was not long enough to slay the enemies, the day was prolonged according to his prayer (Joshua 10:12).

He seems, indeed, to have authoritatively commanded the sun to stay its course. But there is no doubt that, having been answered in his prayer, when he expressed this, he commanded the sun as he did through the secret impulse of the Holy Spirit.

We know that the sun would not have stopped in its course unless the moon also was stayed. Indeed, there must have been the same action regarding these two luminaries.

Hence Habakkuk says that the sun and moon stood still in their habitation; that is, the sun then rested, as it were, in its dwelling. When it was hastening in its course, it then stood still for the benefit of God’s people. The sun then and the moon stood—How?

At the light of your arrows they will walk. Some refer this to the pillar of fire, as though the Prophet had said that the Israelites walked by that light by which God guided them; but I do not doubt that this is said of the sun.

The whole sentence is connected in this way: the sun and moon walked, not as from the beginning, but at the light of God’s arrows. That is, when instead of God’s command, which the sun had received from the beginning as its direction, the sun had God’s arrows, which guided it, retarded its course, or restrained the velocity it had before.

There is, then, an implied contrast between the progress of the sun, which it had by nature until that day, and that new direction, when the sun was retained so that it might give place to the arrows of God, and to the sword and the spear. For by the arrows and the spear, he means nothing else but the weapons of the elect people; for we know that when that people fought under the protection of God, they were armed, as it were, from above.

Just as it is said of Gideon, The sword of God and of Gideon; so also in this place the Prophet calls whatever armor the people of Israel had, the arrows of God and His spear. For that people could not move—no, not a finger’s breadth—without the command of God.

The sun then was accustomed before to regard the ordinary command of which we read in Genesis. But it was then directed for another purpose: for it had regard to the arrows of God flying on the earth like lightning, and it had regard to the arrows, as though it stood astonished and dared not to advance.

Why? Because it was necessary for it to submit to God while He was carrying on war. So now we perceive how much kindness is included in these words.

Therefore, what we have already referred to ought to be borne in mind—that in this place there is no cold narrative, but such things are brought before the faithful as serve to confirm their hope, so that they may feel assured that the power of God is sufficient for the purpose of delivering them. For it was for this purpose that He formerly worked so many miracles. It follows—