Habakkuk

The book of Habakkuk records a conversation between God and Habakkuk. In essence, Habakkuk questions his troubling context. God's somewhat unexpected answers result in Habakkuk's wonderful conclusion.

Habakkuk: "How long, O LORD, will I call for help, and You will not hear? I cry out to You, 'Violence!' yet You do not save" (1:2).

Habakkuk lists the troubles he sees: "iniquity," "wickedness," "destruction and violence," "strife and contention" (1:3). Because of all this, Habakkuk concludes, "Therefore the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted" (1:4).

God: "I am doing something in your days - you would not believe if you were told" (1:5).

God challenges Habakkuk, "Look . . . ! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder!" (1:5), because God's unbelievable work will amaze Habakkuk. God explains that He is raising up the Chaldeans, a people "fierce and impetuous" (1:6), "dreaded and feared" (1:7). In their arrogant wickedness, "their justice and authority originate with themselves" (1:7). They "come for violence" (1:9), "swooping down to devour" (1:8). Their one purpose is to conquer other nations. They "seize dwelling places which are not theirs" (1:6), "collect captives like sand" (1:9), "mock at kings" (1:10), "laugh at every fortress and heap up rubble" (1:10). Most shocking is that God is the One "raising up" this nation (1:6) and giving them power to "sweep through like the wind" (1:11).

Habakkuk: "Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously?" (1:13).

Habakkuk doesn't understand how God can do such a thing, knowing that God's "eyes are too pure to approve evil, and [He] can not look on wickedness with favor" (1:13). Habakkuk asks, therefore, "Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?" (1:13). Habakkuk compares the vulnerable nations to fish swimming aimlessly, with no leader to direct or protect them (1:14). He says the Chaldeans have a net in which they "drag them away" and "gather them together" (1:15) quite successfully. "Their catch is large" (1:16), and they "continually slay nations without sparing" (1:17). Of course, the Chaldeans attribute this to their own strength, and accordingly "offer sacrifice to their net" (1:16).

God: "The vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail" (2:3).

God clearly declares that what He has predicted will in fact happen. "It will certainly come, it will not delay" (2:3). God then gives several comparisons for the Chaldeans. They will be like a drunk man who is emboldened by wine to go out and conquer unrestrainedly (2:5). They will be like a creditor who makes exorbitant loans, becoming rich at others' expense (2:6,8). They will be like a builder who takes advantage of others to make his house great (2:9). They will be like a leader who uses violence to build a town for himself (2:12). They will be like a party host who makes his guests drunk so he can take advantage of them (2:15).  

For each illustration, however, God also declares judgment. Chaldea's victories will be only temporary; in time the oppressed will rise up. Those conquered by his drunken boldness will "take up a taunt-song against him, even mockery and insinuations" (2:6). Those crippled by his outrageous loans will "rise up suddenly," and the Chaldeans "will become plunder" for them (2:7). The very parts of the house built by the wicked "will cry out" against the builder (2:11). God declares woe on the wicked town builder (2:12), and the party host will become drunk himself and will be at the mercy of the guests (2:16).

Chaldea's error was being a "proud one" (2:4). Chaldea made its own strength its god (1:11), and God reveals the folly of this belief. "What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it . . . ? For its maker trusts in his own handiwork when he fashions speechless idols" (2:18). Chaldea was foolish to trust in itself, and there was no hope that its victories would endure. God was in control, and He would make His glory known (2:14). "The righteous [would] live by his faith" (2:4). God concludes His speech with the reassuring challenge, "The LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him" (2:20).

Habakkuk: "LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear" (3:2).

Habakkuk fixes his eyes on God. He recognizes God as "the Holy One" (3:3). He considers God's "splendor" (3:3), His "praise" (3:3), His "radiance" (3:4), and His "power" (3:4). He recognizes God's eternal ability to control nations through pestilence, plague, or any other method (3:5-7). In verses 8-15, Habakkuk graphically recounts God's judgment, perhaps past judgments or perhaps foreseeing the future judgment of Chaldea. In short, the very earth and heavens obey and yield to the hand of God, as will men and nations; there is no stopping His chastisement.

Habakkuk sees that God "went forth for the salvation of [His] people" (3:13). Because Habakkuk's salvation remains in the future, however, he admits, "In my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us" (3:16). Nevertheless, because he has reminded himself of truth about God, Habakkuk concludes, "Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation" (3:17-18).

Habakkuk recognized that things might be really bad for a while; it might seem like the wicked are winning. God might even intentionally use wicked people to execute His plan, but their success will last only as long as it coincides with and accomplishes His purposes. Ultimately, God will bring His followers victory.