Ralph Porter

© 2002

Author and Date

    Habakkuk's background is not known.

    It is assumed by some that he may have been a Levite.

    The use of music in worship was the responsibility of the priest.

    The most common view is that the book was written about 606 or 607 B.C., after the

        death of Josiah, and during the subsequent moral decline.

Background

    The book was written shortly before the fall of Judah, probably during the reign of

        Jehoiakim.

    The period was noted primarily for the decline which followed the death of Josiah and

        eventually led to Judah's destruction.

    The Chaldeans seem to have been well known already.

    The fall of Assyria (612 B.C.) probably occurred prior to writing the book, and possibly

        even the battle of Carchemish (605 B.C.).

    Written against backdrop of sin, injustice, and idolatry.

Purpose and Theme

    God is going to use the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonia) to discipline Judah for sin, and then

        judge the Chaldeans because the same sins and worse are in them.

    It deals with some of the basic issues raised by God's people when they suffer at the

        hands of the prosperous wicked.

    God is in control of history and will at His established time recompense men according

        to their pattern of conduct.

    The book's purpose seems to be dual:

        To the unfaithful it is a message of warning concerning coming judgment, to call

            God's people to repentance.

        To those who have been faithful to God and have suffered from the injustice of the

            wicked it's a word to encourage them to trust God and to remain faithful. God

            knows their affliction and will repay justly in the end.

What lessons do we learn from our study of this book?

    • About God?

    • About the unrighteous?

    • About ourselves?

The righteous live by faith                                                                         Ralph Porter

Ralph Porter

AUTHOR

    Habakkuk's background is not known.

    It is assumed by some that he may have been a Levite.

    This would account for some elements of the psalm contained in chapter 3.

    The use of music in worship was the responsibility of the priest.

DATE

    The most common view is that the book was written about 606 or 607 B.C., after the

        death of Josiah and during the subsequent moral decline.

BACKGROUND

    The book was written shortly before the fall of Judah, probably during the reign of

        Jehoiakim.

    The period was noted primarily for the decline which followed the death of Josiah and

        eventually led to Judah's destruction.

    The Chaldeans seem to have been well known already.

    The fall of Assyria (612 B.C.) probably occurred prior to writing the book.

    Possibly even the battle of Carchemesh (605 B.C.) has occurred.

    Against backdrop of sin, injustice, and idolatry.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    The message of the book is that God is going to use the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonia) to

        discipline Judah for sin, and then judge the Chaldeans because the same sins and

        worse are in them.

    It deals with some of the basic issues raised by God's people when they suffer at the

        hands of the prosperous wicked.

    God is in control of history and will at His established time recompense men according

        to their pattern of conduct.

    The book's purpose seems to be dual:

        To the unfaithful:

            Message of warning concerning coming judgment, to call God's people to

                repentance.

         To those who have been faithful to God and have suffered from the injustice of the

            wicked:

                Word to encourage them to trust God and to remain faithful.

                God knows their affliction and will repay justly in the end.

ORGANIZATION

    The book's structure is divided into three parts:

    It starts and ends with Habakkuk's deliberation concerning his dilemma.

        Why does God allow the wicked to continue prospering, while the just suffer (1)?

        Habakkuk's complaint is silenced by God's answer that He is about to repay the

            wicked for their evil deeds.

    Announcement that judgment is coming (2).

        Though startled by some of the details of God's plan, Habakkuk's complaint is silenced

            by God's answer.

    He responds with a psalm of praise to God for His plan (3).

DEBATE WITH GOD   1:1-17

    Introduction   1:1

        Name:   Habakkuk

        Office:   Prophet

        Content:   "Burden"

        Method of revelation:   vision

    Habakkuk's first problem   1:2-11

        The book begins with Habakkuk's basic complaint.

        His complaint   1:2-4

            He is disturbed because as he looks out over the land of Judah, he observes that the

                wicked prosper and the righteous are persecuted.

            God seems to be silent and unconcerned GOD IS INDIFFERENT

                • To his cries

                • To the lack of justice

            He can't understand how a righteous God can permit such injustice among His

                people.

                • "How long?"

                • "Why?"

                God's failure to answer   1:2

                God's failure to judge the wicked   1:3-4

        God's answer   1:5-11

            God's activity   1:5

                God's answer: "I AM WORKING"

                He is doing something about it.

                Judgment of Israel for perversion of justice

            God's instrument   1:6-11

                He is sending the Chaldeans who will conquer Judah.

                They will serve to judge the wicked.

    Habakkuk's second problem   1:12-17   THE INSTRUMENT

        As a result of the answer to his first question, a second is raised.

        Habakkuk is troubled by God's use of the Chaldeans.

        He asks how a righteous God can use a more evil nation to correct Judah, His own

            people.

            Pleads God's holiness

                He is eternal

                He is holy

                He is not looking on evil

            How can a holy God use the wicked to judge the more righteous?

ANSWER FROM GOD   2:1-20

    God's answer:

        Write the vision

        Make it plain

        Its appointed time will come!

    He will also judge the Chaldeans, after they have performed His will against Judah.

    He does not defend their deeds but He uses them and then judges them for their own

        evil deeds.

    God will judge the one who is puffed up and preserve alive the one who walks by faith

        (2:1-4).

    Clarity of judgment   2:1-2

        "What He will speak with me"   2:1

    Certainty of judgment   2:3

    Comfort from judgment   2:4

        "The 'puffed-up' one" => Judgment   2:4a

        Puffed up to be judged   2:4a

        Righteous to live by faith   2:4b

    Criteria for judgment   2:5-20

        The basis for God's just judgment of any people is revealed.

        He who lives in unrighteousness will be destroyed by God, whether he be Jew or

            Babylonian.

        FIVE WOES:

            Not clear to what he is referring.

            All relate to their violent treatment of the nations-especially Israel

            1)    Judgment for pride   2:5-8

                    The remnant will plunder you

                    Violence will be repaid

            2)    Judgment for covetousness   2:9-11

                        The stones and beams will cry out

            3)    Judgment for violence   2:12-14

                        The cities will be destroyed

            4)    Judgment for immorality   2:15-17

                        Judgment for bringing shame on a neighbor

                        Repayment of same shame

            5)    Judgment for idolatry   2:18-20

                        Unanswering gods not home!

                        Contrasted with the true God who is in His holy temple

                        The whole earth keeps silence before Him deserves reverence

PRAISE TO GOD   3:1-19

    Having received the answer to his questions, Habakkuk prays that God will start His

        program and accomplish His purposes.

    He is satisfied that God is going to correct the unjust situation in a just manner, and thus

        offers praise to God because of His dealings with Israel.

    Though he regrets the time of judgment, he rejoices in the knowledge that God is able to

        restore the nation and deliver him.

    "What I will answer"   2:1b

    "The righteous" => His confidence   2:4b

    Petition for fulfillment of plan   3:1-2

        Prayer for Him to get started with the plan            3:1          Introduction

        Prayer for Him not to forget about His mercy!       3:2          1st person

                                                                                           3:3-7      God--3rd person

    Praise because of God's intervention   3:3-15           3:8-15    God--2nd person

                                                                                                                 3:16-18  1st person

        God's intervention in the affairs of His people        3:19       God--3rd person

            Greatness of God

                Working

                Wrathful

                Merciful

                Glorious

                Bright

                Powerful

                Judging

                Producing salvation for His people

                Intervening

            Resultant fear (=> 3:16)

    Praise based on trust in God   3:16-19

        Habakkuk's fear and faith   3:16

        Habakkuk's praise and confidence   3:17-19

            The Lord is

                his source of salvation

                his strength

            The Lord causes him to walk in high places.

What lessons do we learn from our study of this book?

    • About God?

            He is in control even when we don't understand what He is doing

            He isn't bothered by our doubts nor by our honest questioning

            He will recompense justly

    • About the unrighteous?

            They may appear to win now

            In the end they will pay for their injustice

    • About ourselves?

            We don't have to be afraid to come to God with the hard questions

            If all we go by is what we see, we may miss something important

            It is more important to trust God than to have all the answers!