Habakkuk: Where Faith and Experience Intersect

Habakkuk- January 2024

Wednesday Nights at MFBC

Introduction to Habakkuk

Intro: [AGS]: Have you ever felt like someone good was being punished by someone of lesser good or evil? Have you ever asked and wondered, “God, why is this happening this way?” or maybe “God, why are doing this?” [TS]: These questions seem to be the questions on the mind of the Prophet Habakkuk. The beginning of the book seems to communicate a troubled faith of Habakkuk, but the end of the book seems to communicate a triumphant faith of Habakkuk, whereby confidence and trust are renewed in the just and righteous character of God. [RS]: There are different things we experience in life that cause us to relate differently to God through different seasons- personally, corporately as a church, as a family, as a society, etc. Maybe you have experienced what Habakkuk is experiencing. Reading this book provides insight into his working through and wrestling with God regarding this. I think you and I will be encouraged as we study this together see how Habakkuk’s troubled faith leads to a triumphant faith.

What are important introductory aspects we should know about Habakkuk?

For introductory purposes, it is important that we understand the following important aspects about this book, Habakkuk:

The theme; the groups involved; the key verse; the background surrounding the prophecy; the structure of the prophecy/book.

Let us examine these aspects, now:

The themes:

There are a few themes evident throughout the prophet’s work:

Faith

Experience

Wickedness

Justice

A theme statement or summary for Habakkuk is as follows:

A troubled faith steadied by continual trust in God leads to triumphant faith.

The groups involved:

Judah

Chaldeans (the Babylonians)

The background:

The overarching background of this prophet’s record is the constant struggle of good, evil, and the dealings of God with both. Of particular interest, the prophet Habakkuk is interested in, intrigued by, and confused with how God is punishing Judah’s wickedness.

Habakkuk was active during the final days of the Assyrian Empire, and it is understood by most that he witnessed the fall of the Assyrian Empire and the rise of the Babylonian Empire.

During his time, Judah was “morally and spiritually corrupt, worshipping Baal on the high places, offering its children to Molech, dedicating horses to the sun god, and allowing the temple to fall into ruin.” [1]

During his time, King Josiah reigned for a while (640-609BC), helping Judah see brief revival. King Josiah was killed in 609BC.

Additionally, he witnessed these events:

Destruction of Nineveh by Babylon in 612BC

the Battle of Haran in 609 (where King Josiah died, confronting Pharoh Neco attempting to keep Egypt out)

Final defeat of Assyrians at the Battle of Carchemish (605BC)

Babylonian invasion in 605, 597, and 586.

The date of writing for Habakkuk, though without certainty, seems likely between 609-605BC.

The key verse:

Habakkuk 2:4 “4 Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith.”

This verse refers to the pride of the nation of Babylon with specific reference to its king while calling righteous people into greater faith and waiting, trusting, and anticipating God’s good plan to unfold. Dependency on God is key.

The structure:

The structure and nature are different than the typical prophet in the following ways:

Habakkuk never addresses the nation, Judah, directly.

Habakkuk has discourse with God directly in his vision.

Habakkuk is almost like reading a personal journal.

Generally, the structure of Habakkuk is simple to follow:

Question One [1:2-4]

Response One [1:5-11]

Question Two [1:12-2:1]

Response Two [2:2-20]

Habakkuk’s Praise [3:1-19]

Two questions guide the discourse between Habakkuk and God:

“Why do you let me see injustice and you not do anything about it?” [1:3]

“Why do you use a more wicked people to punish a less wicked people?” [2:13] (Perhaps the motivation here is how more than why.)

Reflective Questions:

[1] As we embark on this journey, ask yourself this question: “Have I ever wrestled with the questioning of why or how God is doing something?”

[2] Even still, perhaps like Habakkuk- you are struggling with anxiously awaiting God to act- ask yourself, “If God does not act like I expect him to or when I expect him to, will I still trust him?”

Bibliography:

[1] Paul D. Wegner, “Habakkuk” in ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).

[2] Joe Sprinkle, “Habakkuk,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017).

[3] E. B. Pusey, Notes on the Old Testament: The Minor Prophets: Micah to Malachi, vol. 2 (New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1885).

[4] Eric Redmond, William Curtis, and Ken Fentress, Exalting Jesus in Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016).

[5] David W. Baker, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 27, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988).