Today, we continue our journey through the Bible with today’s study of Habakkuk. I pray God shows us what He wants us to learn.
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14.
As we study the Bible alone or in a group setting, there are several questions we can ask ourselves to help us dig deeper. The five questions are:
- What does the scripture say about God?
- Then what does the scripture say about me?
- Does something in this passage challenge me?
- What gives me hope in this passage?
- Is anything unclear to me?
I hope these questions help you as much as they help me.
Book of Habakkuk
- Author: Habakkuk.
- Audience: The people of Judah.
- Date Written: Between 612 and 589 B.C.
- Length: 3 Chapters.
- Keywords: Why?
- Key Verses: Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. (1:3 ESV).
- Key People: Habakkuk and the Babylonians.
Summary of Habakkuk:
Habakkuk is unique because it includes no speech to Israel like some of the other prophets. Instead, it contains a dialogue between the prophet and God. In the first two chapters, Habakkuk argues with God over his ways that appear to the prophets as unjust. Then Habakkuk receives the replies, and he responds with a beautiful confession of faith in the final chapter of the book.
The book of Habakkuk shows us a frustrated prophet, much like Jonah, though Habakkuk uses prayers to vent his frustration to God, but eventually he turns to praising God, rather than trying to run from the Lord as Jonah did.
Sections of the Book:
The book of Habakkuk contains five significant themes, which are:
- First Complaint: Why does evil go unpunished? (1:1-4).
- God’s first answer: The Babylonians will punish Judah (1:5-11).
- Habakkuk’s Second Complaint: How can a just God use wicked Babylonians to punish a people more righteous than themselves? (1:12-2:1).
- The next answer: God will punish the Babylonia, and faith will be rewarded (2:2-20).
- Habakkuk’s Prayer (Chapter 3).
Messages in Habakkuk:
With the threat of war hanging over Judah, faithful people like Habakkuk questioned what God was doing. Habakkuk’s prayer of faith for God’s people in the face of such destruction still stands today as a remarkable witness of true faith and undying hope.
As I read through Habakkuk, I kept thinking about how it relates to us today. How often, I want to question God about all the injustice in the world and why He does nothing about it. But Habakkuk’s prayer in chapter three brings me back to waiting on the timing of the Lord. His timing is perfect.
Final thoughts:
And like so many other books in the Bible, we see God’s character on display in this book. They are:
- Glorious – 2:14.
- Wrathful – 3:2.
Although Habakkuk never mentions Christ’s name, he rejoices in the saving ministry of Jesus as the “God of my salvation.” Habakkuk also foreshadows how Christ will save His people of the time and for all of us.
All Lessons from the Bible
Each book of the Bible contains lessons for us to learn and historical information. We must study God’s Word to see what to do and what not to do in life. Paul reminds us of the importance of the words within the text in 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3:14-17; “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Prayer
Please grant me the understanding and knowledge of You and Your word. As I open my Bible to read the scriptures, it gives me wisdom and discernment. And even as I sit and listen to the pastor, preacher or apostle reveal what Your Holy Book is speaking into my life, help me see and understand. Help me know Jesus Christ and how He lived His life so I can follow in His precious footsteps.
Grace and Peace to you,
Yvonne M. Morgan is a Christian #author, #blogger, and #speaker. #BibleGatewayPartner
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
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