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Introduction to Habakkuk
The book of Habakkuk examines injustice from the experience of a righteous person crying out to God for a remedy. God responds to the prophet: Be patient, observant, and steady in your faith, for my judgment will happen at the appointed time. God’s response allows Habakkuk to rejoice in God’s saving power—even while struggling with a question that every generation asks: Why is evil allowed to thrive? The answer is profound yet difficult: Trust God because He is both powerful and just.
Background
The opening verse identifies the book as the oracle of the prophet Habakkuk. His name seems to come from the Hebrew word for “embrace.” Habakkuk might have been a Levite and even a priest, since the end of the book contains musical instruction, typically associated with Levites (Hab 3:19). A dual role as prophet and priest was not necessarily uncommon: The prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah also served as priests.
The book of Habakkuk was written during a time when the Chaldeans were gaining significant power. The Chaldeans were a Semitic people living in southeastern Babylonia (modern-day Iraq) after migrating from Aram (modern-day Syria). The Old Testament sometimes uses the term “Chaldeans” to refer to the Babylonians (e.g., Gen 11:28; Job 1:17; Ezek 23:14). The Hebrew text of Habakkuk does the same; consequently, some English translations use the term “Babylonians.” Habakkuk probably was written in the late seventh century BC—when the Babylonians were beginning to overtake the Assyrians as the major power in the ancient Near East.
Structure
The book includes an oracle (Hab 1:1–2:20) and a hymn-like prayer (Hab 3:1–19). Within the oracle, two sections follow a similar order of events—Habakkuk puts forth a complaint, to which Yahweh then offers an explanation. In Habakkuk’s first complaint, he asks why the wicked go unpunished (Hab 1:1–4). God responds: The Babylonians (or Chaldeans) will be an instrument in His plan to judge Judah for its sin (Hab 1:5–11). Before Yahweh restores His relationship with His people, they must repent of the evil actions separating them from Him. Yahweh intends to use a foreign power to cause His people to change.
In his second complaint, Habakkuk asks how God can use a wicked nation like Babylon to carry out His judgment on Judah (Hab 1:12–2:1). God responds that while Babylon will bring about his judgment on Judah, He will also judge Babylon (Hab 2:2–20). The implication is that God also disapproves of the Babylonians’ wickedness, but in the short term He will use them to carry out His purposes. In the long term, Babylon also will be held accountable. In the book’s closing prayer, Habakkuk declares his faith in Yahweh, even in the face of future calamity (Hab 3:1–19). He realizes that his perspective is more limited than God’s and trusts that God’s ways are good.
Outline
• Habakkuk’s first complaint (Hab 1:1–4)
• God’s first answer (Hab 1:5–11)
• Habakkuk’s second complaint (Hab 1:12–2:1)
• God’s second answer (Hab 2:2–20)
• Habakkuk’s prayer (Hab 3:1–19)
Themes
Habakkuk contends with two main questions: why God permits evil to flourish (Hab 1:1–4), and how, if God is righteous, a wicked nation could function as the means of judgment (Hab 1:12–2:1). Habakkuk also protests that the righteous—himself included—are suffering punishment alongside those who deserve such judgment.
Yahweh answers by declaring that the righteous shall live by faith (Hab 2:4)—in other words, the prophet will have to trust that God knows what He is doing. Centuries later, New Testament writers like the Apostle Paul quote this verse to show that faith is the only path to righteousness (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38). Within the book of Habakkuk, Yahweh clarifies why He is just in bringing calamity via the Babylonians (Hab 2:6–20). The end of the book signals that Habakkuk finds God’s answer sufficient: In the closing verses, he praises God (Hab 3:1–19).
We still find ourselves in Habakkuk’s predicament—we wrestle with God as we try to understand the presence of evil in the world. We are easily and quickly discouraged. Habakkuk reminds us to shift our questions from the evil surrounding us and instead focus on the ways of God. We might not always understand how God works, but if we truly seek Him, we will learn the same thing Habakkuk did: God is just, faithful, and worthy to be praised. We can always cry out to God, knowing that He is good. It takes patience to see Yahweh’s plans come to fruition, but ultimately He will prevail.
Source: John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar, Faithlife Study Bible, (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016).
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ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
