In the Word: Habakkuk

What better place to start than in the book from which I will be sharing tomorrow for church? This little book is nestled in with the other minor prophets between Nahum and Zephaniah.

Historically, scholars believe Habakkuk was written between 605-597BC by Habakkuk, a prophet living in the Southern Kingdom of Judah before it's fall to the Babylonians or Chaldeans. The time in which Habakkuk is living and writing has been a tumultuous one. Israel had become a divided nation with the Northern Kingdom, Israel and the Southern Kingdom, Judah. The Northern Kingdom was ruled by wicked king after wicked king. Eventually Israel was conquered by the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom, had kings that did follow God, but also many who did not. Ultimately, Judah would be conquered by the Babylonians and exiled, that is, forcibly removed from their own land. So Habbakuk writes this oracle or burden in the time between the Northern Kingdom's fall but before the fall of the Southern Kingdom.

Unlike many other prophetic books, Habakkuk is unique in that rather than God speaking through a person to His people, here Habakkuk is speaking to God on the people's behalf. The main question that Habakkuk asks is, 'How can a good, faithful and sovereign God allow His people to go through terrible times?'

The book opens with this line, 'The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw' (1:1 NKJV). This suggests that this is more than just a vision, but rather it is a heavy, complex weight that Habakkuk would have to carry and share to God's people.

Verses 2-4 have Habakkuk crying out to God, 'How long...?' He describes the corruption, pain, suffering and misbehaviour of the people against God and their fellow man. He wonders how this faithful God, good God, holy God, could stand to look upon this chaos and not step in to do something about it. It's quite incredible how these verses could very well be written about the times we are living in today.

God responds in verses 5-11. His response is the warning that He will not stand by forever. He will raise up a people to enact His justice. But the confusing part of it is that God would use the pagan nation of Babylon for His purposes. Thus, showing that God can use anyone and anything for His glory.

But of course, this is still a point of confusion for Habakkuk. His questioning of God continues with verses 12 till chapter 2 verse 1. Interestingly, Timothy Keller shares of an Old Testament commentator who says that, 'When Habakkuk says, "O Lord, are You not from everlasting?" that this is actually an insult. It's a way of saying, "I thought you were infinite, I thought you were infinitely good and wise. How could you be letting this happen?"'

It's a very real response from Habakkuk. I'm sure many of us at some point or another have wrestled with God, have called Him out or at least have wanted to. Not many people feel right in lamenting or expressing their anger or deep pain to God. Habakkuk here is showing an incredible amount of honesty, vulnerability, humanity but also faith and intimacy. I'd liken it to opening your heart and pouring your deepest pain out to your closest friend, or your spouse. When you're carrying a heavy burden, when the pain is deep, when you're at a loss and you just lay it all out, that's how I read this. But Habakkuk isn't angry with God. He says, 'My God, my Holy One' showing his faith in God's plan. He concludes his part with 'I will stand my watch... to see what He will say to me'. Timothy Keller describes Habakkuk as extraordinarily honest and incredibly faithful.

The following passage from verse 2 till 20 reveals God's plan to deal with the injustice, corruption, violence, selfishness and idolatry. Wickedness would not go unpunished.

Chapter 3 brings Habakkuk's focus to the greatness of God. He practically breaks into song as he declares the past works of God's hand for His people. He asks that God move and work in that same great way in his day. Finally Habakkuk declares,

Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

God, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer's;

he makes me tread on my high places.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV)

Even if all chaos breaks out, Habakkuk chooses to rejoice in God, the God of his salvation. The God who moves and works in ways higher than ours and has a great plan in place, beyond our comprehension.

I found that recently, reading the book of Habakkuk, in light of the state of the world and especially the situation in Afghanistan, his questions and wondering were so relevant to our time. It really emphasised the timelessness of the Bible but also the repetitive nature of humans. Additionally, it was a beautiful reminder than despite our silliness as sinful humans, God still comes in, time and again with mercy to save us from ourselves. I'm so thankful for a God who loves us that much.

Discussion Questions:

- How have you experienced God's goodness in the past, that you could draw on for strength and perspective in the future?

- Do you find it easy to trust God's Word? Why or why not? How do you think you could grow in your trust?

Read the book of Habakkuk.

- What verses stand out to you?

- What do you learn about God's character in this book?

- What does this passage reveal about people?

- What response does this book prompt in your heart?

I'd love to read some of your responses in the comments below.

N.