Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2 Kings 24:1-7

Habakkuk is another prophet of whom we know nothing.  He does not name the kings during whose reigns he prophesied.  We don’t know his home town or occupation.  His name means “embrace” and his message is one where he needs an embrace from God as he has a heavy burden (v1) to unload on God’s people.

We can surmise that Habakkuk prophesied in the reign of Jehoiakim, and was a contemporary of Jeremiah.  This comes from Hab. 1:2-4 where the description of sin is not one of idolatry but rather of unrestrained (the law is powerless, v4) wickedness, violence and injustice.  This sounds like life under Jehoiakim according to 2 Kings 24:3-4, when the sins of Manasseh were a way of life.

Speaking of Jeremiah, the message of Habakkuk is similar to that of Jeremiah in Jer. 12.  Jeremiah cried out to the Lord, why do the wicked prosper (12:4) and the Lord’s answer was, I will forsake my heritage (12:5-13).  These true prophets are grieved for the Lord’s glory when they see the wickedness of His people.  God’s answer is one that is not easy to hear because it involved great suffering.  

In light of this I believe that the prophets are not just writing about their own misgivings about the judgment to come.  They are writing concerning the attitude of the people as a whole.  There was a sense among the people in Jeremiah’s day that no matter how wicked they were, God could and would never destroy the city and the temple that bore His Name.  The message of the false prophets of the day was, peace, peace (Jer. 6:14; 8:11; Ezek. 13:10) when there was no peace.  

Here is the outline of Habakkuk.

·        1:1-4: The prophet asks, How long Lord will you put up with Judah’s sin?

·        1:5-11: God’s answer, Not much longer; I will use the Babylonians.

·        1:12-17: The prophet counters, Lord, you can’t; they will destroy your people!

·        2:1-20: God answers, I can, and will; just trust Me!

·        3:1-19: The prophet responds, I do and will trust you no matter what comes!

The opening verses tell us something of the attitude of the righteous as well as the lives of the wicked.  Habakkuk is burdened about this message.  The righteous are never happy about judgment.  It is a heavy thought that our adulterous or thieving or lying neighbors will someday experience God’s wrath.  And certainly we take no joy in the thought of loved ones who reject our every attempt to share the good news of life in Christ.  We are burdened with this.

But at the same time, the righteous are burdened that God is not being honored as God.  The cry is how long!  This longing for God to receive His proper honor and glory is even greater than the sorrow we have for those around us.  Let us understand that God is also not a God who delights in the death of the wicked.  His longsuffering with wicked men is evidence of His mercy (2 Pet. 3:9).  Let us redeem the time He gives us; judgment will come in His time.