Habakkuk

Below you will find my notes on Habakkuk in the form of summary of its contents, life applications, and some of my older notes.

SUMMARY

We know basically nothing about Habakkuk the man, except what we read in the first verse of the book bearing his name. His name was Habakkuk and he was a prophet. The book itself seems to be the public record of a private dialogue between Habakkuk and God. Based on the contents of the dialogue, most scholars agree that this oracle was received around the year 610 B.C., just prior to the Babylonian invasion.

Summary of the Text

The book of Habakkuk consists of 3 parts.

First, Habakkuk laments God’s lack of response to his prayers regarding the depravity of God’s people. Why doesn’t God do something about how wicked His people have become? Why hasn’t God’s law created a just society? God responds with a promise of action. He is going to do something. He’s going to judge His people by raising up the Babylonians to come against them.

Second, Habakkuk laments over the content of that promise! How can God use the Babylonians, a people even more wicked, to judge the people of God? It doesn’t make any sense! Again, God responds to Habakkuk’s complaint. God will judge the Babylonians as well. They will not get away with their wickedness either.

Finally, the book closes with a prayer of Habakkuk. The prayer focuses on faith in God. Habakkuk will wait patiently as God orchestrates ultimate justice.

APPLICATIONS

1.     Have you ever felt like God isn’t answering or even listening to your prayers? Have you ever felt that the world is out of control? That’s what Habakkuk was feeling. And he brought those feelings to God.

2.     Sometimes when we feel like prayer isn’t working, it may actually be that we have selective hearing (won’t recognize the answer), or it may be that we don’t like God’s timing (aren’t willing to wait).

3.     Wicked behavior plants the seeds of its own destruction. Babylon became powerful through corruption and, therefore, their power would soon be broken. Justice would ultimately prevail.

4.     Built into this book is Habakkuk’s recognition that “the law is paralyzed” by wickedness. This insight foreshadows the New Testament teaching that the law isn’t capable of saving us.

5.     The New Testament makes much use of Habakkuk 2:4. It is important that we remain faithful to God no matter the status of our prayer requests (see 2:17-18). God has been and will be faithful to us.

OLDER NOTES

Habakkuk’s Observations (1:2-4)
1. Israel is full of injustice/wrong (1:3)
2. Israel is full of violence/conflict (1:3)
3. The Law is limited (1:4)
4. The Wicked are winning (1:4)

Habakkuk’s 1st Complaint (1:2-4)
1. God doesn’t listen to prayers (1:2)
2. God doesn’t save His people (1:2)
3. God is too tolerant of evil (1:3)

God’s 1st Answer (1:5-11)
1. God has a plan of action (1:5)
2. He will raise up the Babylonians (1:6-11)
* Paul quotes this passage in Acts 13:41

Habakkuk’s 2nd Complaint (1:12-2:1)
1. God’s plan goes against His own holiness! (1:12-13a)
2. God’s plan goes against His own people! (1:13b)
3. God’s plan won’t solve the problem! (1:14-17)
* Habakkuk is ready to argue with God (2:1)

God’s 2nd Answer (2:2-20)
1. God will deal with the Babylonians (2:2-5)
2. The oppressed will become the oppressors (2:6-17)
3. Babylonian idols will do them no good (2:18-20)
* Paul quotes 2:4 in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:37-38

Habakkuk’s Prayer (3:1-19)
1. He knows God is capable of great victory (3:1-15)
2. He will be patient while he waits for justice (3:16-18)
3. He will place his faith in the Lord (3:19)