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 with summary and commentary.

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'.

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?

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."

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.