Habakkuk 3:12

“Thou didst march through the land with indignation, etc.] Not the land of Canaan, fighting against the inhabitants of it, dispossessing them to make room for the Israelites, whatever allusion may be to it; but the antichristian land, the whole Romish jurisdiction, and all the states of it, through which the Lord will march in wrath and fury, when he pours out the vials of it upon them; or this is desired, and prayed for; for it may be rendered, “do thou march through the land”f137, etc.; foreseeing and believing that he would: thou didst thresh the heathen in anger; or, “do thou thresh”f138, etc.; these are the Papists, called heathens and Gentiles in Scripture, because of the heathenish…”

“march--implying Jehovah's majestic and irresistible progress before His people (Jdg 5:4; Psa 68:7). Israel would not have dared to attack the nations, unless Jehovah had gone before. thresh-- (Mic 4:13).”

“Thou didst march the earth in indignation - The word “tread” is used of very solemn manifestations of God, (Judges 5:4; Psalms 68:8; of the procession of the ark, 2 Samuel 6:13. It is denied as to the idols, Jeremiah 10:5.) of His going to give to His own victory over their enemies Not the land only, as of old, but the earth is the scene of His judgments; the earth which was “full of His praise,” which He “meted out” Habakkuk 3:3, Habakkuk 3:6 which contained the nations whom He chastened, the whole earth. Thou dost thresh the heathen in anger - Not then only, but at all times unto the end, distress of nations and perplexity are among the shoots of the fig tree, which betoken that the…”

“didst march: Num 21:23-35; Josh. 6:1-12:24; Neh 9:22-24; Psa 44:1-3, Psa 78:55; Act 13:19 thresh: Jer 51:33; Amo 1:3; Mic 4:12, Mic 4:13 Habakkuk 3:13”

“In Hab 3:12 there follows a description of the judgment upon the nations for the rescue of the people of God. Hab 3:12. "In fury Thou walkest through the earth, in wrath Thou stampest down nations. Hab 3:13. Thou goest out to the rescue of Thy people, to the rescue of Thine anointed one; Thou dashest in pieces the head from the house of the wicked one, laying bare the foundation even to the neck. Selah. Hab 3:14. Thou piercest with his spears the head of his hordes, which storm hither to beat me to powder, whose rejoicing is, as it were, to swallow the poor in secret. Hab 3:15. Thou treadest upon the sea: Thy horses, upon the heap of great waters." The Lord, at whose coming in the terrible…”