The Perplexed Prophet: An Overview of Habakkuk

by Graeme Hutchinson (N. Ireland)

PAPER 2

In the opening chapter of the prophecy, Habakkuk desired to express the burden that was upon his heart. To his credit, he approached the right Person - the Lord! We may sub-divide the chapter into three:

The Anxiety of Habakkuk

In 1.1-4 we learn of what troubled the prophet. Although the succeeding verses will indicate that the burden was heavy for Habakkuk, it is also important to appreciate that such emotional concerns went with the job! For example, other OT prophets that spoke of burdens include Isaiah (Isa.13.1); Nahum (Nah.1.1); Zechariah (Zech.9.1, 12.1) and Malachi (Mal.1.1). Clearly the role of these prophets was to convey a very weighty message, often embracing warnings of judgment and appeals for repentance. Is this not the same for us today, as we carry forth the message of the gospel? May the sight of such a burden have the same impact upon us as it did upon Habakkuk - drawing us into the sanctuary and prompting earnest prayer and supplication.

As we read these opening verses of the prophecy, it is obvious that the concerns of Habakkuk came in three directions:

Habakkuk was saddened at the iniquity of the nation. On two occasions in the opening verses of ch.1, Habakkuk uses a word to sum up the condition of the nation - ‘Violence,’ v2,3. Clearly things were bad, for this word reminds us of the days of Noah: ‘… the earth was filled with violence,’ Gen.6.11. Moreover, the people were neglecting the law, v4, unlike in the earlier days of king Josiah where the law was revered, 2Chron.34.14,19, and kept 2Chron.34.31. Obviously the extent of sin within an individual or nation can be judged by how far removed they are from the Word of God. For the believer, we ought to follow the example of the Psalmist: ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee,’ Ps.119.11.

Habakkuk was saddened at the injustice of the righteous. In Habakkuk 1.4b, the prophet spoke of how the righteous were being compassed (Strong 3803 - besieged or hemmed in) by the wicked. Those who sought to live acceptably before the Lord were finding their path fraught with difficulty and opposition. For us today, such problems should not take us unawares, for the Lord has already given us clear warning: ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation,’ Jn.16.33.

Therefore, to be forearmed! As the Apostle Paul could speak to the saints at Corinth, this age is not for reigning, 1Cor.4.9, but rather for service and opposition, 1Cor.4.10-13.

Habakkuk was saddened at the apparent inactivity of the Lord. Coupled with the concerns already outlined, an added burden for Habakkuk was that his prayers seemingly fell on closed ears, v2. The Psalmist in Ps.13.1-4 expressed a similar concern: ‘How long wilt thou forget me … How long wilt thou hide thy face from me.’ Many believers today feel the same anxiety, when they wonder why God remains silent to their prayers. However, the answer to this surely comes from the central tenet of the prophecy, namely that we ought to exercise faith, Heb.2.4; Ps.13.5. Accepting that God's will is perfect, Rom.12.2 and that our present circumstances, no matter how difficult, are the best that God has for us at the moment. This is the point that the prophet eventually reaches in Hab.3.17-18.

The Answer for Habakkuk

In 1.5-11 the Lord replied to the concern of Habakkuk that his prayers were being unanswered. One wonders whether the reply was even more burdensome than the earlier concerns expressed in v1-4. The nation of Babylon was to be used as the rod to punish Judah! In this section we may observe the following:

In 1.5-6 we have the invasion of Babylon (Chaldeans). Even the Lord anticipated the way that Habakkuk would respond to the news of Babylon being used to punish Judah: ‘I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe,’ v5. Judah was amongst those dwelling places that Babylon would possess by invasion, and this was the beloved nation of Habakkuk. Truly, ‘how unsearchable are His (God's) judgments and His ways past finding out,’ Rom.11.33. The apostle Paul in Acts 13.41 later quoted Hab.1.5, where again it is used as a word of warning.

In 1.7-11 we have the description of Babylon. The way in which the Lord described the nation of Babylon makes for sober reading. Verses 7a and 8 show that they were aggressive. Some of the descriptive terms include terrible, dreadful, and fierce as the evening wolves. Verses 7b and 11 illustrate that they were arrogant: ‘their dignity shall proceed of themselves’ and to them, their strength was their god. Verses 9 and 10 remind us that they were able - gathering prisoners (or captivity) as the sand, and treating other kings in a contemptible way.

However, as we contemplate this nation that was to invade Judah, it would remind us of two things. Firstly, the rebellion of Judah must have been very great to warrant such punishment. Secondly, the righteousness of God is equally great. As Habakkuk states himself in a different context, God is ‘of purer eyes than to behold evil,’ 1.13, and thus sin within Judah had to be punished. Surely this ought to promote a godly life in each of His children today, as we remember just how holy is our God, 1Pet.1.14-16.

The Appeal from Habakkuk

These were difficult times for Habakkuk. His nation had followed a path of sin and rebellion, and now he was informed that they were to be invaded by Babylon. From 1.12 to 2.1, the prophet begins to reason with God. The reasoning takes a threefold approach:

In 1.12-14 he speaks of the God that is Wonderful. As with any true prophet, Habakkuk begins to reason with God on the basis of His character. In these verses we have presented some very precious truths relating to God. Firstly, we note that He is the Everlasting One. Here the prophet uses similar language to that found in Mic.5.2 — One who has no beginning, and who will have no end. As Rev.1.8 states, ‘I am Alpha and Omega.’ He is also the Holy One, a phrase particularly common within the prophecy of Isaiah (see, for example, Isa.1.4; 5.19,24; 12.6). The holiness, in the light of Prov.5.21 — ‘for the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings’ — it is important for us to walk circumspectly, Eph. 5.15. He is also the Sovereign One, Babylon had been established by God to fulfil His own sovereign purpose, albeit unknown to the Babylonians! This One is also our God, He is in complete control and nothing happens to His children without His knowledge and permission, Matt.10.29-31. Finally, the prophet spoke of God as the Mighty One, (Strong 6697 - rock or refuge). This is the same term that is used in Deut.32.4: ‘He is the Rock, His work is perfect.’ This is One who is deserving of continual remembrance, Deut.32.18; One we can go for shelter and security.

Therefore, on the basis of God's character, Habakkuk found it difficult to understand how (and why) God would use a nation like Babylon to punish Judah. The inhabitants of Judah were just like the fish of the sea, v14, vulnerable and open to attack from the Babylonians. However, perhaps Habakkuk was forgetting that to which he had borne testimony, namely that God is sovereign. Often we too have to bow and accept that whilst His ways are not our ways, Isa.55.8-9, He is in control.

In 1.15-17 he speaks of the nation that was wicked. Just as the fisherman take the fish from the sea, the Babylonian Empire was able to trawl through the nations and take captive those they desired. They were also dealing treacherously with their prey, v13, and they worshipped that which had brought them success, v16. Why was God allowing his to happen, enquired Habakkuk! As we now shall observe, the only place where God's servants can understand such complex matters is when they are alone, in the sanctuary, Ps.73.17.

In 2.1 he speaks of the prophet that waited. Such was the confidence that the prophet had in God, he went to the watchtower to await and see how God would respond to his arguments. Perhaps patience is one of the most difficult of all virtues, however, it is numbered amongst those qualities mentioned in 2Pet.1.5-8. Morever, as the prophet Isaiah could state in Isa.64.4: ‘the Lord worketh for him that waiteth upon Him’ (RV). Although it forms part of the next section of the prophecy, 2.2 illustrates that God again responded to the concerns of His prophet: ‘And the Lord answered me …’. May we take comfort from the fact that we too can approach the throne of grace with confidence, Heb.4.16, conscious that the Lord will respond to our fears. Often, however, we are called to wait!

—to be continued (D.V.)