August 20: Habakkuk 1-3

August 20, Habakkuk 1-3

Habakkuk is a very interesting Prophetical book. It is really unique in how it is a prophetic revelation that is not necessarily shared with the recipients, as much as it is a dialogue between God & Habakkuk. What is the theme of this book? God is Sovereign and the righteous will live by faith. It is about the invasion of Judah and the doom of the Chaldeans. It addresses the questions like, Why do bad things happen? Why do the wicked prosper?
Understand this - God will judge the wicked by using the wicked and the wicked will be prosperous at times and punished. 

Habakkuk 1 We are introduced to Habakkuk and what God was revealing to him. God allowed him to see the sins and pains of the world, but yet it seemed to Habakkuk that God was doing nothing about it.  God reminded Habakkuk to look around because God was doing a work so great that even if God told him about it, he would not believe it. God was raising up the Chaldeans to march in and destroy Judah. They were one of the greatest nations and dreaded by all - a very violent group.

Habakkuk inquired/complained to God and questioning why they would be ordained and used for judgement. It seemed to Habakkuk that God was just idly sitting by and being silent as Habakkuk’s people were under so much duress. He could not see the justice of God allowing/doing this. God always has a plan and a purpose - even when it seems out of control and horrible.

Habakkuk was called to be a watchman on the walls…

Habakkuk 2 God answered Habakkuk’s comments. God tells him to write its all down so that those who read it will run. The judgement was coming as Judah was deserving of it. However, “the Righteous shall live by his faith.” This is how we are to live - no exceptions. 

We then read about the ‘woes’ to the Chaldeans. They will also be punished for their wickedness, even though God was using them to fulfill His purposes. They wanted power, sinful, and they will be filled with shame and not glory. They were idol makers and we know how much God hates that… 

“What profit is an idol

    when its maker has shaped it,

    a metal image, a teacher of lies?

For its maker trusts in his own creation

    when he makes speechless idols!

Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake;

    to a silent stone, Arise!

Can this teach?

Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,

    and there is no breath at all in it.

But the Lord is in his holy temple;

    let all the earth keep silence before him.”

All man-made idols are worthless and they are an abomination to God. Rather, God is the one that we are to be going to for insight, life, love, and everything else.

Habakkuk 3 is where Habakkuk replies to God basically wanting another show of His power like He used to do. Habakkuk 3 gives a run down of the God’s powerful works and how He is the one who saves and the power that God has brought historically is intense. Habakkuk has resigned to wait patiently for the day of trouble to come upon Judah’s enemies. The book ends with Habakkuk rejoicing in the Lord and taking joy in Him.

To sum it all up: 

• Can you say this with me? Regardless of the pain and wickedness of this world, I will praise God!!!
• From Halley’s Bible Handbook:
• ‘Faith is the ability to feel so sure of God, that, no matter how ark the day, there is no doubt as to the outcome. For God’s people there is a GLORIOUS FUTURE. It amy be a long way off. But is absolutely Sure. Thus, in the midst of his gloom and despair, Habakkuk was an optimist of the first magnitude.'