The Prophet Habakkuk: An Overview Recoiling, Reflection, Reviving, Rejoicing.

{A list of topics studied in 2019, 2020 and 2021, was posted on September 7, 2022. A list of topics studied in 2022, was posted January 24, 2023. These indices can be found by going to the archive tab and clicking on the appropriate day, month & year.}

We might characterize Habakkuk's ministry as living between revival and disaster. This lesson is based upon Pastor Alvis Sunday School lesson preached July 30, 2023. 

In addition to Pastor Alvis's outline, I have added my own notes. I hope that the overview is a blessing to you. I know those who are able to watch Pastor Alvis preach this message, will also be blessed.

The prophet Habakkuk ministered between the revival enjoyed under King Josiah's reign, and Israel's deportation by the Assyrians, for 70 years of captivity. 

He preached during the same timeframe that Jeremiah ministered in Jerusalem. 

God sent His prophets early each morning, warning His people about impending judgment if they refused to repent. They did not repent and suffered the consequences of rebelling against Jehovah. 

The 70 years of captivity involved the northern tribe, usually called Israel, composed of 10 tribes that rebelled after Solomon died. The tribe of Judah fell 130 years after the northern kingdom fell. 

The Assyrians collapsed suddenly and both Egypt and the Babylonians fought for supremacy. The land of Israel and Judah lay between Egypt and the Babylonian empire. 

Thus, the people of God were caught between two powerful warring factions, and this created many problems.

The Book of Habakkuk is not really a prophecy to any specific group of people. Rather, it is more like Jehovah speaking to His prophet and Habakkuk replying to his God. 

A burden from Jehovah means judgment is coming. 

Habakkuk 1:1  The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

The word "burden" describes weighty judgment from Jehovah that was coming through the revelation from God to His prophet.

For his part, Habakkuk did not understand the magnitude of the problems facing God's people. However, he genuinely wanted to understand so that he could pray rightly for his people. 

Habakkuk's faith was tested. Obadiah prophesied about the Edomites, Nahum addressed the Assyrian threat and Habakkuk's concern was the Babylonians.

Darkness fills the land when the law of God is not upheld.

Habakkuk 1:2-4  O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3)  Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4)  Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. 

Habakkuk prayed for the land of Judah and the holy city of Jerusalem. The prophets of Jehovah analyzed the type of evil that needed the required national repentance. Then, they began praying to God, for He was the only one who could help. 

Habakkuk was burdened for his own people because he saw much injustice and cruel behavior among his own people. Wickedness generated much sorrow of heart that weighed the people down. 

As often happens, the wealthy, and politically well connected ones, perverted judgment and oppressed the poor, because they could not defend themselves. 

The text implies that Habakkuk had preached against these sins but his message went unheeded.

The law of God is slacked. They paid no attention to God's holy standard. It's moral vigor, its restraining and correcting power, was not executed. 

Righteous judgment from Jehovah was not proclaimed so that poor people complained in vain about the grievous oppression by the wicked. 

The idea of "wrong judgment" proceeding, is of judges taking bribes from rich people to make unjust rulings. 

Depravity prevailed in the land of Judah even though Habakkuk preached against it.

God's answer was letting a more wicked nation conquer Judah. 

Habakkuk 1:5-7  Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6)  For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 7)  They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 

Jehovah answered Habakkuk's prayer. He told His troubled prophet that a very wicked nation, would be used by God to chastise the Jewish people, for their gross idolatry and immorality. 

The text refers to the "Chaldeans" which were a people who merged with the Babylonians. 

When you read of the Chaldeans in scripture, they are usually referring to the Babylonians. 

These people were just as fierce and warlike as the Assyrians were. Their "god" represented their ability to swiftly conquer and devastate a people (See Habakkuk 1:8-11). 

How could Holy Jehovah allow a vile, wicked people to punish Judah?

Habakkuk 1:12-13  Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. 13)  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? 

Habakkuk prayed again in response to the vision he received from Jehovah. God said "I will work a work in your days which ye shall not believe." The prophet of God is astounded at what was revealed to him. 

Habakkuk struggled with how God is going to judge His people for their own depraved ways. 

He proceeded to tell God what he knew to be true of Him. Jehovah is the eternal, holy God. Habakkuk grasped that God ordained the Babylonians to be His instrument of judgment. 

The prophet also knew the holiness and righteousness of God, that no sinner will ever stand in His presence. He will judge all sinners for their sins. 

Jehovah ordained them for judgment. He has raised up the Chaldeans to correct and punish the Jews living in Judah. 

But He did not give them a commission to completely destroy the people of God. One day, Jehovah would restore them. 

Habakkuk speaks in the name of his people. God was “the Holy One of Israel,” against whom the Babylonians set themselves (See Isaiah 37:23).

Yet, even though Habakkuk knew that Judah deserved punishment for their evil ways, it shocked him to think that God would use a more wicked people as the Babylonians to accomplish this. 

God is omniscient and we are not. 

Habakkuk 2:1  I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 

Habakkuk knew that Jehovah would reply to his prayer and questions. He also knew that his own knowledge was severely incomplete while his God is Omniscient. 

Therefore, the prophet understood that God would correct any wrong thoughts that he had, due to incomplete knowledge. 

What God says He will do, will come to pass. 

Habakkuk 2:2-4  And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3)  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4)  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. 

There is some sublime spiritual truth in this passage. 

First, notice that Jehovah answered Habakkuk's prayer promptly. What a joy it is to know that our God hears our prayers. He cares about us and He will answer our prayers, according to what He knows is best for each of us. 

Second, notice that God emphasized that His judgment is easily understood, and that it will occur at the specific moment He has ordained. 

Here we are in 2023, still waiting for the return of Jesus Christ, and the beginning of sorrows to start (See Matthew 24:8). 

We can rest assured, knowing that God is not slack concerning His promises. Rather, He is patient, allowing time for all people to hear the gospel because He wants all people to be saved (See 2 Peter 3:9).

Therefore, how shall the Christian live when moral corruption and evil threatens to destroy our nation? 

We are to live by faith. We must pray earnestly and fervently to Jesus Christ, just as Habakkuk did. 

We must pray what we know to be true of God, knowing that He will always do that which is right. 

We must pray pleading the sure promises of God. 

We must pray for our rulers and our nation, to be humbled and to turn with repentant faith to Christ. The just shall live by faith. 

We are to manage our frustrations by living faithfully for our glorious God. He will ultimately judge all the wicked people. 

Habakkuk's prayer for revival in the midst of depravity. 

Habakkuk 3:1  A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.  O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. 

God's faithful prophet turned to pray with a better understanding after hearing from Jehovah. 

He admitted that he was afraid for the impending judgment. He feared for the hardness of the peoples heart, in failing to heed warnings from God. 

Yet, Habakkuk prayed that Jehovah would revive His people as they went through judgment. 

Isaiah 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

The word "revive" means to impart spiritual life to a soul that was dead toward God. It means to revive and reenergize, the soul of one who has become weary in well doing. 

He wanted his people to repent and return to the God of their fathers. If it took judgment followed by 70 years of Babylonian captivity to accomplish this, then Habakkuk was satisfied. 

God would be glorified when His people were humbled and repentant. 

Rejoice in Jehovah no matter how bad things seem to be.

Habakkuk 3:17-19  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18)  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19)  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. 

The prophet ends his book with an expression of praise for Jehovah Elohim. 

The idea of fig trees without any fruit, olive trees with no olives, flocks or herds that dwindle down to nothing, pictures the world waxing worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:13).

Even in the face of such human misery and moral depravity, Habakkuk expressed his faith. "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD." 

Jehovah will grant him strength to persevere. God will help him speak His truth in love to a people who need to hear it and heed it. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Every generation faces a time when the holy standards of God's law are slacked. The issue is how Christian's respond to a culture drowning in depravity.  

Habakkuk shows us what we must do. We must proclaim the Word of God, and we must pray for God to intervene.

We must live by faith. We pray to the Lord, and we seek His power to live according to His Holy Word. We seek to be His faithful witnesses. 

How long will injustice prevail? Until the Babylonians came to destroy Judah and take them into captivity. 

How long will immorality and injustice prevail in America or any other nation? Until God sends judgment upon us.

How is it right to use a more wicked people to judge a sinning nation? Because all humanity will be justly judged for evil works. Only Holy God can render perfect justice. 

How shall Christians respond when facing turmoil oppression, persecution or troubles? 

By living by faith. The just (those who are rightly related to God through faith in Christ) shall live by faith.

Living by faith means praying to the living God of heaven who promises to hear our prayers. 

Living by faith means reading and studying God's word so that we can know and love Him better. 

Living by faith means being His faithful witnesses who share His truth in love with lost people around us. 

Living by faith means telling others about sin, judgment, condemnation and how God judged our sins in His own Son, Jesus Christ, so that we might be saved by faith in Him. 

Living by faith means having hearts that are able to worship God and praise Him, no matter how hard life is for us on this earth.

Bob