Questions and Answers (1:1-2:5) – Part 1
Note: We encourage you to click the link above and read the section in Habakkuk this post will discuss prior to reading the post.
The first part of Habakkuk comprises a series of questions from Habakkuk followed by God’s answers, which are not the answers that Habakkuk wanted to hear. However, God’s answers fulfill the curses that God warned would come if His chosen people broke the covenant oath that was made between them and God before they crossed the Jordan and went into the Promised Land. (See Deuteronomy 27-28.)
Then in Deuteronomy 29, the people renewed their covenant with God– after knowing what curses would come if they broke the covenant. And in Deuteronomy 29: 24, it is predicted that when all the calamities of the curses fall on the people, they would cry out and ask, “All the nations will ask, ‘Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’” Yet, the people already would know why. Deuteronomy 29:25 tell us, “Then people will answer, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, which He had made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.’“
Now, we find Habakkuk seeking the answers to the questions that Deuteronomy told us the people would ask.
The Superscription: The Oracle of Habakkuk (1:1)
The first verse informs the reader that the book is the oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines oracles as “Communications from God. This term refers to both divine responses to a question asked of God and to pronouncements made by God without His being asked.”[1] While oracles could refer to a prophecy that would occur in the future, they could involve a decision to be made in the present. Snyman adds in Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah: An Introduction and Commentary, “The noun also has the notion of ‘burden’ or ‘load’, suggesting that the oracle is a kind of a burden upon the prophet that must be delivered. The noun can also be rendered as ‘message’, ‘announcement’ or ‘proclamation.’”[2]
Since Habakkuk states that it is the oracle he “saw,” it is generally believed that this oracle was a vision that Habakkuk had. As such, the reader can determine that this oracle was a message received by Habakkuk as God’s revelation to him and should be read as a divine revelation. Miller explains, “The term may indicate seeing with the physical eyes, perceiving, or seeing prophetically— either a literal vision or a prophetic revelation. Here the latter is the idea. God opened Habakkuk’s spiritual eyes to receive a divine message… Habakkuk was a spiritually perceptive person who was in tune with God. For this reason God chose him to receive a message to share with his countrymen.”[3]
Habakkuk’s First Question
First, Habakkuk wants to understand how God could remain silent as His people live in wickedness and sin and why does God not punish the wicked? In verses 2-3, the prophet cries out: “How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates“(HCSB). Perhaps you have even cried out similar cries to the Lord in our day. However, one must be careful about what one asks for.
God replies to Habakkuk’s question by showing him what is coming for Judah, and it will be more than Habakkuk could possibly think or image as the even more wicked Babylonians arrive on the scene to punish Judah. Listen to God’s response to Habakkuk in verses 5-11:
Habakkuk Complains to God (1:2-4)
Habakkuk begins his conversation with God with two questions: How long before God will answer his cries for help and why does God not deliver him from violence? The prophet cries out for help from the sovereign and righteous God, but help does not come, and it does not look like relief is coming any time soon. Snyman explains in Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah: An Introduction and Commentary, “The questions imply that the intolerable situation the prophet describes has been going on for a considerable period of time. On more than one occasion in the past the prophet called to the Lord, but apparently to no avail.”[4] Now the prophet cries out in a sense of urgency that expresses an intensity of dire need.
Habakkuk Complains because God is Silent
As a Levitical priest, Habakkuk would have been able to recall how in times past, God had rescued the innocent from the hands of wicked people and nations. For example, when they were slaves in Egypt, God heard their cry and miraculously rescued them. However now, in Habakkuk’s day, God is silent. So, the prophet also wants to know how long he will have to cry out for God’s help.
Miller notes in Holman Old Testament Commentary, “How long, a phrase that occurs sixty-five times in the Bible, often expresses anguish over God’s perceived delay in bringing justice.”[5]
Thomas writes in Habakkuk: Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary, “Questions like these [“how long” and “why”] in the Old Testament quite often carry with them a rhetorical purpose— they are used to draw God’s attention to the situation so that he might respond out of his goodness.”[6]
Habakkuk’s Frustration and Confusion
From Habakkuk’s questions, the reader can sense the prophet’s frustration and confusion in these questions that are asked of the same God who had previously delivered His people from the Egyptians but is now silent. His questions stem from wondering if God even cares that His people were being mistreated and the wicked were prospering and the nation was overrun with crime. Miller states, “The Hebrew word rendered violence (chamas) may refer to injurious language or harsh treatment but is used specifically of physical violence. Godly people were being harmed by these thugs, and yet God had not intervened to save them.”[7]
Habakkuk Complains because He Witnesses Injustice and God Does Not Stop It
These two questions are followed by two others: Why do you force me to witness injustice and why do you put up with such wrongdoing? The questions imply that God sees exactly what is going on and God does nothing about it. In verse 3 alone, Habakkuk uses six words that described the society in which the prophet lived – injustice, wrongdoing, destruction, violence, conflict, and strife – a society that experiences suffering due to mistreatment. Kaiser points out, “Five times in this brief book Habakkuk decries the overwhelming presence of violence (1:2,3,9; 2:8,17). Noah used the same word to describe the society in his day, which God found necessary to destroy with the flood (Gen. 6:11). The violence was the manifestation of the meaner, baser, and more selfish instincts of the haughty persons against the weaker elements of their culture.”[8]
Habakkuk Concludes that because God does not take action, the Law Lacks Power
Verse 4 begins with “therefore” or “For this reason,” which implies that Habakkuk has made a conclusion and he moves with audacity to complain to God that because of God’s inaction, the law lacks power, justice is never carried out, the wicked intimidate the innocent, and justice is perverted. Thomas states that this does not mean that the law is ineffective but that because of the rebelliousness of God’s people, they refuse to follow the law. He writes:
God’s law was never intended to change the hearts of God’s people, so of course it was impotent to effect such change… Faith is secured not by law but by hearts that are changed by a gracious and loving God, but a God who first loved and who gave the torah as a gift. In this way, God’s law cannot be called a failed project. Rather, hearts of men and women who reject God’s torah are the real problem, which is Habakkuk’s point. [9]
Chisholm uses the term “paralyzed” to explain the powerlessness of the law. He writes, “He pictured the law as “paralyzed.” The term translated “paralyzed” is used elsewhere of a heart or hand growing numb (see Gen.45:26; Ps 77:2). When this happens the affected body part cannot function normally. In the same way, the laws God had established to govern the socioeconomic life of the covenant community were being ignored, causing the law to be incapacitated.”[10]
Habakkuk Feels God is Absent and Unobservant
However, Habakkuk’s issue is not only the violence, destruction, and the powerless law, but that God seems to be absent and unobservant to the violence and the plight of those who suffer because of it. Synman writes, “yhwh is known to be the God of justice, so in the apparent absence of justice, a serious theological question arises: where is hywh, the God of justice?”[11]
Come back tomorrow to hear God’s answer – a answer Habakkuk would not want to hear.
[1] Brand, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1194.
[2] Snyman, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, 55.
[3] Miller, Holman Old Testament Commentary, 60.
[4] Snyman, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, 57.
[5] Miller, Holman Old Testament Commentary, 61.
[6] Thomas, Habakkuk, 63.
[7] Miller, Holman Old Testament Commentary, 61.
[8] Walter C. Kaiser, Mastering the Old Testament: Micah – Malachi (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1992), 153.
[9] Thomas, Habakkuk, 81.
[10] Robert B. Chisholm, Jr. Handbook on the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, Daniel, Minor Prophets (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic,2002), 434-435
[11] Snyman, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah, 58.
One Year Bible Reading Plan: March 19
Download the full one-year Bible reading plan here:
[Download not found]
Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
Praying, Meditating, and Journaling the Psalms:
Choose one of the following Psalms: Psalm 19, 49, 79, 109, or 139.
1: Read the psalm through in its entirety.
2: Take one verse at a time and pray the verse back to God as it applies to your life.
3: Meditate on the verse and ask the Holy Spirit what He is trying to teach you about God, your Christian walk, or about yourself.
4: Journal what you prayed about and the results of your meditation.
5: Move to the next verse. Continue through the entire psalm this way.
6: Write down one verse that stood out the most to you today on a 3X5 card and carry it with you throughout the day. Memorize the verse and hide it in your heart.
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
Week 11: March 13-19
Visit our three retail experiences:
We Recommend:
Clicking the link on our recommended resources will take you to Christianbook Distributors’ website.
| NET, The TEXT Bible, Hardcover, Comfort Print By Thomas Nelson The NET The Text Bible is a new approach to engaging God’s Word, with the attention and in-depth nature of your favorite podcast, as if you’re in such a thought-provoking conversation with a friend that you lose all track of time because you are communicating on a level that piques your interest on multiple subjects and emotions. With a four step Bible study approach: Talk to God; Encounter God and humanity; eXamine your heart; Talk to others, this Bible features study notes, questions and articles all designed to get you to dwell on the biblical stories; to let your heart and mind truly soak in the warmth of God’s wisdom and truth found in the Scriptures. |
Focus on the Text:
- Text-ing the Text: use the 4-step process of Scripture engagement
- Big Q of the Text: big life questions with short answers
- Praying the Text: learn how to start praying God’s Word right back to Him
- Get to Know the Text: provides concise history of a major event or character
- Follow the Thread: navigate the Bible across topics
- Anatomy of the Text: describes parts of speech or important types of literature such as parables or apocalyptic books
- Terms of the Text: what you need to understand about some of the unique words in the Bible
- “Who is God?”: 100 short devotions on the person and character of God
More Features:
- Book introductions
- 8 full-color maps
- Clear and readable 9-point NET Comfort Print
| Spiritual Formation Is…: How to Grow in Jesus with Passion and Confidence – eBook By Rod Dempsey & Dave Earley / B&H Academic Rod Dempsey and Dave Early draw on years of experience as pastors, church planters, professors, and transformed believers to equip readers to grow in their spiritual walk with Christ.Spiritual Formation Is… challenges believers to grow upward, inward, and outward in their spiritual formation by loving God, loving one another, and loving our neighbors. Written in a down-to-earth, approachable style that invites readers to come as they are, Spiritual Formation Is… introduces the principles, philosophy, and practice of sanctification. |
Wellspring Christian Ministries is a proud Affiliate of Christianbook Distributors.
Romans 8:37 – Kneels Before God
Romans 8:37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.” Our victories come when we are on our knees praying.
Scatter Kindness
Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” Kindness never goes out of style. Scatter some wherever you go.
Visit our YouTube Channels for Christian playlists and our short animated devotionals.
Animated Devotionals
Contemporary Christian Music Playlist
Southern Gospel Playlist
Just Hymns
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars
by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars?
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on
- Conversation Starters
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
- Romance Builders
- Relationship Builders
- Personal reflections
- Date ideas
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
Now in the WCM Store! Buy your copy today for only $24.95
paperback edition
Also available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
See our other recent posts:
904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL
Follow us on:
