Habakkuk

Habakkuk

Finding the Context:

The book of Habakkuk was written to the people of Judah right before they entered captivity (1:6-11) and was written by the prophet Habakkuk (1:1; 3:1). Judah has been sinning and Habakkuk hates it (1:2-4). Yet, he does not understand why the Babylonians are ones chosen to bring the punishment seeing as they are just as wicked as the people of Judah (1:12-17).  The main idea that is conveyed in the book of Habakkuk is that God is sovereign and even though it may not be apparent at present, He will eventually bring justice (2:2,3). Waiting on the Lord is emphasized in this small book. God commands Habakkuk to wait for Him to act out His justice because it will eventually come (2:3). You see Habakkuk singing at the end of the book that he will wait quietly for the coming day of the Lord (3:16). Even though it does not seem like God is acting with justice, He chooses to wait on God’s timing and God’s justice.

Theme Tracing:

1.     What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

You see from Habakkuk that God is a God who answers His people. Habakkuk is crying out to the Lord in 1:2 and God replies in 1:5. Habakkuk then makes another statement in 1:12-2:1 and God answers him again in chapter 2. God is not incapable of handing our challenging questions. Not only does God answer His people, but He is not afraid of answering their most challenging questions. Habakkuk brought his difficult questions to the Lord and the Lord was faithful to answer Him. Even when Habakkuk didn’t understand God’s justice, he still chose to come to the Lord with His questions and God was faithful to provide Him with a response. 

2.     What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

The book of Habakkuk reveals that the Lord is the One who comes with salvation. Habakkuk reminds the people that God came with salvation at the Red Sea (3:8). He then closes the book with proclaiming that He will be rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in the God of his salvation (3:18).

Application Questions:

1.     Personal Application

I love how Habakkuk chooses to rejoice and be joyful in God at the end of this book despite the fact that He doesn’t see what he wants to see. (1:17-19). Even though everything seems to be gone and lost, He still chooses to rejoice in the Lord. He knows that the Lord is the one who gives him the strength to do this. Instead of focusing on the bad that he sees, He chooses to focus on the fact that God is His salvation and strength and the Lord is the one who helps him through difficult situations. He is fully confidant in who the Lord is. I want this kind of faith in my life. No matter what I see, what I don’t see and no matter how hard life may be, I want to keep my eyes fixed on who Christ is. I want to choose to be joyful in the Lord even when life doesn’t go the way that I would like because no matter how bad life may look, God is still just and He is still good. May my eyes always be locked with His.