5 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Habakkuk
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The Bible is one unified account of God’s redemptive history, yet He used forty men to compose its sixty-six books. The message of the Scriptures is consistent, with Jesus Christ as the center of it all and as the culmination of history. Thirty-nine books encompass the Old Testament while twenty-seven books are found in the New Testament.
The Old Testament consists of:
1. Historical Narratives (which include the Law) - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles
2. Wisdom Literature/Poetry - Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
3. Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
We’re going to look at the prophet, Habakkuk, and the lessons God teaches us through his book.
What Was a Prophet’s Role in the Bible?
Easton and Smith’s Bible dictionaries tell us a prophet “proclaimed the message given to him, as the ‘seer’ beheld the vision of God.” Smith’s Bible Dictionary adds, “Their most essential characteristic is that they were instruments of revealing Gods will to man, as in other ways, so specially by predicting future events, and in particular foretelling the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ and the redemption effected by him.” So important was their role in God’s economy, the Lord commanded a false prophet be put to death (Deuteronomy 13).
In the Old Testament, the prophetic books are divided into the major and minor prophets, not because of any prophet’s lesser importance, but simply because of the length of the prophet’s writings. God used each prophet He called for His particular time and purposes.
What Was Habakkuk’s Role as One of God’s Prophets?
We know Habakkuk was a prophet of God because:
1. Habakkuk introduces himself as a prophet at the very outset and in another chapter of his book, “The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw” (Habakkuk 1:1; 3:1). A distinct call from God caused Habakkuk to become a prophet, and he served as God’s spokesman (whether to the people at the time or through the written Word of the Bible).
2. The prophecies he recorded all came to fruition. The Babylonian invasion indeed happened (1:6) and Habakkuk probably lived to see the initial stages of the prophecy’s fulfillment when Babylon forces attacked Jerusalem in 597.
3. Habakkuk’s words, “the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) were quoted as authoritative in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:37-39.
Habakkuk may have been trained in the Law of Moses in a prophetic “school” (1 Samuel 19:20; 2 Kings 4:38) or he may have been a priest as evidenced by the ending psalm and its accompanying statement, “For the choir director, on my stringed instruments” (3:19).
The book of Habakkuk was most likely written about 640–615 B.C., right before Assyria fell and Babylon (Chaldea) ascended to power. Assyria was God’s chosen instrument to punish Israel, and He chose Babylon to punish both Assyria and the southern kingdom of Judah (probably in 586 B.C.)
Habakkuk’s book is unusual in that (1) the prophet does not directly address the people. Instead, it’s an ongoing conversation between Habakkuk and God, and (2) the prophetic book includes a doxology.
The main theme of Habakkuk is God’s divine intervention using a wicked nation, despite man’s confusion. Yet God judges all nations, including those whose wicked deeds serve Him. God is to be worshipped for who he is.
5 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Habakkuk
1. The Bookends of Habakkuk
Habakkuk begins his book by complaining (Habakkuk 1:2-4) and ends by praising God in song (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
The Lord hears our complaints and answers them with object remembrances from His Word, His faithfulness to us in our past, and in His promises for our futures. He provides clear paths to bring glory to Him. Go ahead and complain, but complain with the right “heartitude,” that you are heartbroken because God’s name is being sullied by rebellious, disobedient people. God wants to answer our sincere requests which are according to His will. Rejoice in Him when He does.
2. God’s Ways Are Often Mysterious
Habakkuk asked the Lord why He made him “look at iniquity” as he accused the Lord of “idly [looking] at wrong” (Habakkuk 1:3).
To us, God’s ways are often mysterious, and yet His timing is perfect and He always exacts vengeance on the wicked even though we don’t always see it. We often try to take control and assume retribution is ours to dispense. Wait for the Lord and in His perfect justice (Isaiah 40:31; Habakkuk 2:1).
3. Habakkuk Was an Intercessor
“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1).
We are to stand watch as did Habakkuk. The Apostle Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). While not all our prayers will be intercessory, we will indeed include prayers of intervention for the sake of others.
4. The Wicked Will Not Go Unpunished
Habakkuk understands the why of God’s punishment of His disobedient people, but he doesn’t understand why God would use such a wicked nation as a tool of His judgment. He said, “So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted” (Habakkuk 1:4, cf. v12). Yet read how the Lord responded, “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (Habakkuk 1:5).
We cannot control the actions of the wicked, but God can, and He uses the wicked for His glory and our good. Look at what God did throughout the Scriptures and know He will not let the wicked go unpunished (Proverbs 11:21; Jeremiah 25:29). It’s a truth as relevant today as it was then.
5. The Righteous Will Live by Faith
“The righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).
In the face of a rebellious and disobedient people (Judah), Habakkuk is a righteous man by the grace of God. He trusts God, even when he complains, because he knows God’s goodness (Habakkuk 3:18-19).
God will humble prideful people. No peoples or nations are so shadowy the Lord cannot see them or their acts of unrighteousness. God’s grace penetrates the hardest hearts and He affirms the life only He can bring.
6. God’s Plans Are Better
The name Habakkuk means one who embraces. By the time we reach the end of his oracle, we see a man who clung to God and His character and promises, no matter what evil looked to befall his nation. Habakkuk wrote, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer’s; He makes me tread on my high places” (Habakkuk 3:18-19).
No matter what the world foists upon us, God is greater and His plans are far above any human consideration. God truly has the whole world in His mighty, unfailing hands.
God’s appointed prophets spoke to all people, from kings to paupers (Daniel 2:21), and because of all His wondrous acts, every person in history will know He is the LORD (He tells us this over 2400 times in the Bible).
God made sure His Word remains for us so we can:
- Learn about God and history.
- Use His Word to equip the saints (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Learn how to bring glory to Him through trust and obedience.
- Love Him more.
As we face the many trials and objections life on this earth brings, we need to remember the Word of the Lord always supersedes the word of man.
Other resources to continue your study of the book of Habakkuk:
The Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah by O. Palmer Robertson
Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah by David W. Baker
Embracing Joy by Jean Wilund
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/RyanJLane
