PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

                                                         HABAKKUK – “Embrace”

                                                             Habakkuk, the Man

Although Habakkuk, by inspiration, is known as “The Prophet” (1:1 -among the 12, only Haggai, Zechariah also begin by naming themselves as prophets), he equally could be called, “The Philosopher,” “The Poet,” and “The Psalmist.”  This unique prophet also has been called “the freethinker among the prophets,” and “the father of Israel’s religious doubt.”  Nothing is known about him other than what is written in this book, although there are doubtful traditions.  His occupation is unknown, but possibly he was a fisherman (1:14-17) or sentinel (2:1).

In my opinion, Habakkuk is one of the greatest men of faith mentioned in the Bible.  This is so for four reasons.  First, his faith was honest enough to express his doubts to God (1:2-4; 1:13-17).  Second, his faith was humble enough to wait for rebuke (2:1).  Third, his faith was hardy enough to wait for God’s time-table, and suffer patiently (3:16-19).  Fourth, his faith was historical in that he was the first to record “the righteous shall live by faith,” the great texts of Paul in Romans and Galatians (and possibly Hebrews, see below).  All this means his faith is hortative in that all must realize and take strength in the eternal truth that God spoke to encourage Habakkuk, that is, “the righteous shall live by faith (2:4).”

Some believe the significance of Habakkuk’s name, embrace, ties in with his prophecy.  Either he embraced Jehovah by faith, or embraced his God to wrestle as he doubted.

 

                                                Habakkuk, Historical Background

Kings of Judah:  Josiah (640-609); Jehoahaz/Shallum (609); Jehoiakim/Eliakim (609-597).

Contemporary Prophets:  Zephaniah (630-625); Jeremiah (626-586); Nahum (625-612); Huldah (622)

World Empires:  In 625 B.C., Babylon declared its independence from Assyria.  Assyria’s capital, Ninevah, was destroyed by the Chaldeans/Babylonians in 612 B.C.  Babylon destroyed the remaining Assyrian army in 609 B.C. at Haran.   In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar defeated Necho of Egypt at Carchmish, leaving it as the undisputed world empire.

 

                                                            Habakkuk, the Book

Date: 625/612-606 B.C.

Outline:

1:1 – Introduction.

1:2-4 – Habakkuk’s First Problem – Why God Does Not Punish Judah/God’s Supposed Indifference.

1:5-11 – God’s First Answer & Description of Chaldeans.

1:12-17 – Habakkuk’s Second Problem  – God using evil men to punish those more righteous – & Description of Chaldeans.

2:1 – Habakkuk waits for an answer/reproof.

2:2-20 – God’s Second Answer.

2:6-8 (First Woe)

2:9-11 (Second Woe)

2:12-14 (Third Woe)

2:15-17 (Fourth Woe)

 

2:18-20 (Fifth Woe)

3:1-19 – Habakkuk’s Prayer/Song

3:1-2 (Petition)

3:3-7 (God’s Terrifying Approach)

3:8-12 (Why is Jehovah Coming?)

3:13-15 (Salvation for His People)

3:16-19 (Confidence in Jehovah)

Ways of Dividing Book:

First Question and Answer (1:1-11)

Second Question and Answer (1:12-20)

Prayer and Song (3:1-19)

 

First Waiting Period (ch.1)

 Second Waiting Period (ch.2)

 Third Waiting Period (ch.3)

[Although all sources checked did not list “the Waiting Period” method, the book itself is divided into chapters according to these three periods of waiting.]

Theme:

God’s destruction of Judah using Chaldea, and their subsequent destruction as well.  Or “Wait for God”

Permanent Lessons:

• Divine Discipline is a reality.
• We must always wait for God.
• Evil is self-destructive.
• Innocent sometimes suffer with guilty.
• Faith is the substance of life.
• Ultimate justice not always present.

 

                                                 Reasons For Pain And Suffering

• Sin and its Punishment
• Sin and its Consequences
• Temptation
• Bad Luck
• Protective Warning
• Natural Law

                                           The Righteous/Just Shall Live By Faith

Hab.2:4 – “Behold, as for the proud one, His would is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.”

Rom.1:16-17 – ¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  ¹⁷For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Gal.3:11 – “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”

Heb.10:38 – But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in Him.

                                                                     Questions

1.         Did God condemn Habakkuk for asking questions?

2.         How can religious doubt be useful?

3.         While Habakkuk doubted, did He ever condemn God?

4.         What does it mean, “the righteous shall live by faith?”

5.         Is there any difference in accepting something and understanding it?

6.         What are some reasons for pain and suffering?

Tags: Introduction

This entry was posted by PHall on Thursday, September 17th, 2009 at 7:18 am and is filed under Habakkuk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.