Bible Book of Habakkuk | Trusting God in Crisis
A dialogue between the prophet and God, wrestling with injustice and concluding with a song of trust. Habakkuk chapters explained with summary and commentary.
About Habakkuk
Genre: Minor Prophet. Theme: Trusting God in Crisis
- Author
- Habakkuk
- Date
- c. 605 BC
- Read Time
- 15 mins
- Purpose
- Wrestling with why God uses evil nations to punish.
- Key Verse
- Hab 2:4 - Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
- Christ
- Justifier of the faithful.
- Audience
- The confused faithful watching a wicked world get even worse
- Format
- Dialogue between prophet and God.
- Prophetic Protest
- The only book consisting of a private dialogue/wrestle between a prophet and God.
- Watchtower Stance
- The attitude of patient, faithful waiting for God's answer in the midst of national chaos.
Habakkuk wrestles with why God would use a more wicked nation (Babylon) to punish a less wicked one (Judah).
The book moves from a 'Why?' complaint to a 'Woe' judgment, and finally to a 'Who' worship song.
Jesus is the Justifier who enables the faithful to live and rejoice even when the 'fig tree does not blossom'.
Overview of Habakkuk
Habakkuk 1 - Habakkuk's Complaint
O LORD, why do you tolerate evil? "Behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans." Your eyes are pure. Why do you look upon the treacherous?
Habakkuk 2 - The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith
The LORD answered: "The just shall live by faith. Woe to him who plunders nations! What profit is an idol? The LORD is in his temple."
Habakkuk 3 - Habakkuk's Prayer
O LORD, renew your works! He stood and shook the earth. You crushed the head of the wicked. I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.