Categoria: Habakkuk

Finally in chapter 3 Habakkuk no longer questions God but expresses his faith in worship to his great God revealed to him. “I stand in awe of your deeds… renew them today… in wrath remember mercy… God’s glory covers the heavens and his praise filled the earth… his splendour was like the sunrise… he stood and shook the earth… sun and moon stood still in the heavens… you trampled the sea with your horses, churning the great waters… though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines… though there are no sheep in the pen… yet I will rejoice in the Lord… the sovereign Lord is my strength!”

 God now answers that his justice may be apparently delayed but it will come at the right time. “God replied… the revelation awaits the appointed time… though it lingers wait for it… for it will certainly come and not delay… the righteous shall live by faith… woe to him who piles up stolen goods… how long must this go on?… you have plundered many nations and have shed man’s blood… woe to him who builds his realm through unjust gain… for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord… but you will be filled with shame instead of glory… the cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming round to you and disgrace will cover your glory… of what value is an idol?… wood covered with silver and gold yet it cannot speak!… but the Lord is in his holy temple so let all the earth be silent before him”.

The book of Habakkuk is a different prophetic book because it relates a conversation between the prophet and God. Habakkuk questions God about injustice and God’s answers cover topics such as sovereignty and faithfulness. The book was written shortly before the Babylonian invasion of Judah in the 7th century BC.

Habakkuk’s initial complaint is about all the uncontrolled injustice and violence in Judah. “How long O Lord must I cry for help… with violence… but you do not help… why do you tolerate wrong?… the law is paralyzed and justice never prevails”. 

God responds saying that he is at work preparing the Babylonians to administer justice to Judah. “They are a feared and dreaded people… their horses are swifter than leopards… they fly like a vulture… they deride kings… they laugh at fortified cities”. 

Habakkuk is flabbergasted by God putting justice into the hands of the Babylonians. “O Lord, you have appointed them to execute judgement! O Rock, you have ordained them to punish!… why do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”