Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

B. The etymology of the name Habakkuk is obscure. Some have suggested that it is related to a “fragrant plant,” but the majority suggest that it means to “embrace.” This corresponds with the fact that the prophet eventually “embraces” God faithfulness even though he does not understand God’s purposes and plans.

C. Very little is known about Habakkuk other then what can be drawn from the book. It is clear that he was a prophet (Minor) of Yahweh who had questions regarding God’s faithfulness in light of impending events (Hab 1:1; 3:1).

II. BACKGROUND AND DATE

A. Since there is no other mention of Habakkuk in the Bible, the dating of the book comes from limited internal evidence.

B. The Chaldeans are mentioned in Hab 1:6 and this suggests a timeline somewhere in the seventh century B.C. The Babylonian (Chaldean) Period began approximately in 626 B.C. under Nabopolassar (626–605 B.C.). In 612 B.C., Nabopolassar destroyed the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. By the time Jehoiakim became Judah’s king (609-598 B.C.), Babylon was the uncontested world power. The ungodly Jehoiakim managed to overturn Josiah’s (628-609 B.C.) reforms (2Ki 23:1-8ff) in a short amount of time (Jer. 22:13–19) and opened the floodgates of God’s judgment against Israel (i.e. Babylonian Captivity).

C. In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, Nabopolassar’s son, became successor. He continued successful military campaigns west into Palestine and Egypt. In Nebuchadnezzar’s first year, he invaded Judah and deported thousands to Babylon, including Daniel (Dan 1:1-4).

D. Since Habakkuk prophesied shortly before Babylon’s invasion, the book was most likely written in 607-606 B.C. This would suggest that Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Daniel, and Ezekiel were Habakkuk’s contemporaries.

III. THEME

A. Habakkuk watched the Chaldeans make their unstoppable conquests while at the same time he watched Israel make a swift return back to its evil ways. He questioned God in regard to His silence and lack of divine intervention (Hab 1:2-4). God responded to the prophet that He was sending the Chaldeans to judge Judah (Hab 1:5-11).

B. Habakkuk was only further confused and asked why God was using the unrighteous Chaldeans to judge His righteous people. Why did not God judge the unrighteous Chaldeans instead (Hab 1:12-21)? God answered that He would eventually judge the Chaldeans after they had accomplished His disciplinary purposes (Hab 2:2-20).

C. But Habakkuk still could not make sense of God’s seemingly contradictory responses toward evil. Was not God’s own character and covenant at stake (Hab 1:13)?

D. In the end, Habakkuk realized that the righteous had to trust God and live by faith regardless if they did not understand the purposes of God (Hab 2:4). Furthermore, Habakkuk came to understand that God is not worshipped for His temporal and transitory blessings, but is to be worshipped for His own glory. This is the secret to spiritually living above life’s difficulties and circumstances (Hab 3:17-19).

IV. THEOLOGICAL CONCEPTS

A. A theological concept of the book of Habakkuk reveals to God’s people that God is never unrighteous even though He allows evil or even uses it to accomplish His purposes.

B. God is not the author of evil (Jam 1:13). Originally, Satan was responsible for bringing evil into the world (Is 14:12-13; Ezek 28:15) and man quickly chose sin and evil (Ro 3:23; 5:12). God could have scrapped the whole idea of creation or He could have judged it immediately. But God chose to save mankind. However, in order to do that, sin and evil would have to run their course, bringing consequences and death upon the world. Furthermore, in order to deal with sin, God would have to send His Son to the cross to make atonement for man’s sin. Therefore, God tolerates sin and deals with it accordingly in order accomplish His purposes, especially man’s salvation.

C. Another theological concept form Habakkuk is that God’s people must continue to trust in God even if they do not understand God’s purposes and plans.

D. In the end, God will judge sin, vindicate those who have trusted in Christ, and glorify Himself as the the righteous, holy, sovereign, and all-wise God.

V. THEOLOGICAL INTEREST

A. In Acts 13:14, Paul was invited to speak at a synagogue at Pisidian Antioch. Paul gave a brief summary of Israel’s history leading to the Savior, Jesus Christ (Ac 13:15-23). After exhorting them to put their faith in the resurrected Christ for forgiveness of sins and freedom from the Law, he warned them not to reject Him. Otherwise, the warnings from the prophets might come upon them. Paul quoted Hab 1:5 to illustrate God’s astonishing discipline upon His own people.

B. Hab 2:4 states that “the righteous shall by faith” and is quoted in the NT three times. It is quoted in Heb 10:38 to encourage believers to have a firm faith in the midst of persecution and affliction. Both Rom 1:17 and Gal 3:1 it is quoted to reveal the doctrine of “justification by faith.” Justification is God’s judicial act declaring a believing sinner righteous through Christ’s imputed righteousness.

C. This reinforces Habakkuk’s message that faith is not a one-time act but a way of life for the believer.

1. The true believer, declared righteous by God, will habitually persevere in faith throughout all his life (cf. Col. 1:22, 23; Heb. 3:12–14). He will trust the sovereign God who only does what is right. (MSB)

VI. OUTLINE

LIVING BY FAITH DURING DISASTER

I. HABAKKUK'S PERPLEXITY WITH INJUSTICE (Hab 1:2-11)

A. Habakkuk’s First Complaint (Hab 1:2-4)

1. God’s indifferent to supplication (Hab 1:1-2)

2. God’s insensitivity to sin and suffering (Hab 1:3-4)

B. God's Astonishing Explanation (Hab 1:5-11)

1. God’s intention of discipline (Hab 1:5)

2. God’s instrument of discipline (Hab 1:6-11)

II. HABAKKUK'S PERPLEXITY WITH GOD (Hab 1:12-2:20)

A. Habakkuk’s Second Complaint (Hab 1:12-2:1)

1. God’s employment of a people of iniquity (Hab 1:12-13)

2. God’s endorsement of a people of injustice (Hab 1:14-15)

3. God’s exertion of a people of idolatry (Hab 1:16-17)

4. Habakkuk watches for an answer (Hab 2:1)

B. God's Woeful Explanation (Hab 2:2-20)

1. Warrant to live by faith (2:2-5)

2. Woe for intimidation (2:6-8)

3. Woe for intemperance (2:9-11)

4. Woe for iniquity (2:12-14)

5. Woe for indignity (2:15-17)

6. Woe for idolatry (2:18-20)

III. HABAKKUK'S PIOUS PRAYER (Hab 3:1-19)

A. Profession of God’s Glory and Mercy (Hab 3:1-4)

B. Profession of God’s Power and Wrath (Hab 3:5-12)

C. Profession of God’s Salvation (Hab 3:13-15)

D. Profession of God’s Faithfulness (Hab 3:16-19)

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516