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Habakkuk chapters 1 to 3
June 24, 2007
Habakkuk - from a Hebrew root meaning to "embrace," denoting a "favorite" (namely, of God)
and a "struggler" (for his country's good).He was a prophet, visionary, writer, perhaps minister of
music and author writes the only book in the OT to outline a dialogue he had with God regarding his
perplexing questions. We are given the inside look at his dilemma regarding life as he sees it. He allows
us to open the camera lens to view where he is, what he is thinking, his countenance, and his prayer life.
As we listen to his passionate plea to God for answers we are given a brief encounter with him as a
person, the depth of his struggle and we come away filled with awe at how he truly understood “the just
shall live by his faith”.
PRINCIPLES: God hears and answers the perplexing questions and prayers of the righteous; God is our
refuge in times of distress.
AIM: A believer can come to God with their questions and expect answers because this brings God
delight, in times of distress one can live by their faith.
DAY ONE: Background of Habakkuk
We know from Nahum that the Assyrian kingdom fell to the Babylonians in 612 BC. This was to be a
lesson to the southern kingdom of Judah. To reinforce that lesson, God sent an abundance of prophets to
them to warn them of a similar fate should they not change. Amongst them was Habakkuk, a prophet in
the time of Josiah who passed from the scene in 609 BC at the battle of Megiddo. Habakkuk, along with
Jeremiah, Nahum, Zephaniah saw and wrote about the sins of Judah and the need for repentance.
1.
SEEK AND FIND: Read the book of Habakkuk. One phrase should ring a bell as it was used 3
times by the Apostle Paul. Can you find it and then can you find where he used it in his writings?
Hab 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just
shall live by faith.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by
faith.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in
him.
DAY TWO: Habakkuk’s view of life: Habakkuk 1:1-4
2. How does Habakkuk see life in vs 1 and 2? How does God see it in 2:2&3 and what does God want
him to do with what he has seen? In vs. 1 Habakkuk plainly says it is a burden (its original nuance was
that of a burdensome message, that is, one with ominous content.) In this we see the heart of Habakkuk
for before him he sees life as difficult and the weight of the people’s sin is heavy upon his heart.
David Prior writes: “the prophet emphasizes that this is not a message that he dreamed up himself.” That
thought is confirmed in chapter 2 where God plainly says it is a vision or God’s message from Him and
his prophet is to write it down, much like Daniel, so others can read it. Habakkuk’s obedience is our
reward.
3. Habakkuk wears his heart on his sleeve. Read verses 2-4. What does the phrase “how long” mean?
Personalize vs 2-4 for your own prayer time. It appears that Habakkuk had been praying about these
problems for some time. Habakkuk was saying, I am at my wits end! God give me some answers so I may
tolerate and live in this decadent society and with their ways. He notes the ‘violence’ about him, a key
word in this book. He uses it 6 times (KJV), 4 (NetBible – 2 violent) alone to speak of what is before him.
Hab 1:2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and
thou wilt not save!
Habakkuk chapters 1 to 3
June 24, 2007
Hab 1:3 Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence
are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Hab 1:9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather
the captivity as the sand.
Hab 2:8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because
of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Hab 2:17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid,
because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
3a.What things is he crying to or asking God about? Compare your list with what Habakkuk saw in the
time he lived. Is life any different?
How long shall I cry … and…thou not hear
I call out violence … and thou not save
Why do you force me to witness injustice
Why do you put up with wrongdoing
The law lacks power and … justice is never carried out .. justice is perverted.
How similar this list is to today. At times we cry out and it seems that God does not hear us. It seems that
we see violence all around us and we hear about it on the evening news. We hear of men who have taken
the oath of office to be men of integrity and they are found out to be liars. We hear of the Islamist
fundamentalists who decry God and Jehovah and take the lives of Christians merely because they are
Christians. We pray and say much of the same things as Habakkuk said…how long will you tolerate this
sin God? There is no justice! And where there is “justice” it is perverted…. seeing how a young gal guilty
of DUI is given a simple sentence that she can do on her head all because she has the name and money to
buy her way out of her troubles. We too come to God and say why are you not paying attention to what is
going on or are you paying attention? What we fail to realize is that God’s patience is far greater than ours
and He knows what is going on even if we think He does not.
4. How would you describe Habakkuk’s attitude throughout the book? Does it change and if so where?
Habakkuk goes from being frustrated and perplexed, charging with God with being slow about handling
problems to a change in his attitude when he says in 2:1 “I shall answer when I am reproved. Or as the
NetBible has it: I can know how I should answer when he counters my argument.
It appears that Habakkuk expects to be corrected by God and he is prepared to accept that. Or it could
mean as the NetBible has it , that Habakkuk merely wants to be prepared to answer God when God
answers him.
In the KJV the word reproved is used which means: H8433
‫ּתוכחת ּתוכחה‬
to-kay-khaw', to-kakh'-ath From H3198; chastisement; figuratively (by words) correction, refutation,
proof (even in defence): - argument, X chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, X be (often)
reproved.
Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
Habakkuk chapters 1 to 3
June 24, 2007
DAY THREE: God’s Response: Habakkuk 1:5-11
5. Read vs. 5a in the NetBible and the footnote. As Habakkuk lived with a myopic view of life, often we
do as well. God challenged Habakkuk to see and understand what? God wanted Habakkuk and us as well,
to see beyond our small sphere of influence to the world about us. God knows and he sees the nations of
the world struggling and wants Habakkuk to see that this is not just a problem in Jerusalem but it is a
problem that the entire world is facing. By this God is saying, I know and I see and I will be working….
even if you do not see it! As a Jew, Habakkuk felt that God could not nor would allow what he was
seeing before him for they were the ‘chosen people’. But, God is saying, you may be My choice, but you
have perverted My ways and you are therefore no different than the heathens about you.
The NetBible footnote says: n Or “look among the nations and observe.” The imperatival forms in v. 5 are
plural, indicating that the Lord’s message is for the whole nation, not just the prophet.
6. Read vs. 5-11, then describe the Chaldeans/Babylonians. What three descriptive terms does God reveal
about them in vs. 10? To what do they attribute their success? God begins by telling Habakkuk that he is
actively working even now—even though Habakkuk does not see it. He will bring a nation that is
fearsome to their city to punish the sin of the Judahites.
God describes the Babylonians: a bitter and hasty nation; --- they are impetuous and ruthless, greedy
They are terrible and dreadful: frightening and terrifying
They are fierce, swift and swoop down as an eagle – renowned for their speed and agility, that they do not
miss a target because their eyesight is so superior. God is saying to Habakkuk, these Babylonians will be
swift in taking their target and they will not miss.
Their purpose is to violently take control of all nations – which the Babylonians ‘worshiped’ as a false
god. To them violence was a way of life. Seeing success offered them more incentive to use violence to
take more and more nations. However, God will hold them accountable for this in the end. See vs. 11 for
this.
The Babylonians are ‘scoffers’ ‘scorners’ ‘deriders’
Hab 1:10 They mock kings and laugh at rulers. They laugh at every fortified city;
Scoffers: A primitive root; to disparage, that is, ridicule: - mock, scoff, scorn.
Scorners: a laughing stock: - scorn.
Deriders: A primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication to play: - deride, have in
derision, laugh, make merry, mock (-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport.
In addition to all of these descriptions God says: Hab 1:11 They sweep by like the wind and pass on. (in
their haste to achieve the entire world as their dominion they hurriedly and with violence take on any
and all who stand in their path.)
Note: what God observes and shares with Habakkuk about them. They consider themselves a
part of the godhead and thus invincible. Vs. 11 continues: But the one who considers himself a god will
be held guilty."
7. Judah had a disease called sin that was in need of medical attention called repentance. God had
reminded them in Deut. 28 of this disastrous disease’s consequences. Read Deut. 28 to see the warning
and 2 Kings 23/24 to see the consequences as a result of their hardened hearts.
In Deut. 28, God spoke to the Israelites warning them of impending disaster should they not follow His
way: Deu 28:25 "The LORD will allow you to be struck down before your enemies; you will attack them
from one direction but flee from them in seven directions and will become an object of terror to all the
kingdoms of the earth.
In 2 Kings we see the disastrous results of an idolater king who refused to follow the ways of God:
Habakkuk chapters 1 to 3
June 24, 2007
2Ki 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old ….he reigned three months
2Ki 23:32 He did evil in the sight of the LORD as his ancestors had done.
2Ki 23:33 Pharaoh Necho imprisoned him in Riblah in the land of Hamath and prevented him from
ruling in Jerusalem.
2Ki 23:34 Pharaoh Necho made Josiah's son Eliakim king in Josiah's place, and changed his name to
Jehoiakim. He took Jehoahaz to Egypt, where he died.
2Ki 24:1 During Jehoiakim's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked.
2Ki 24:2 The LORD sent against him Babylonian,….. he sent them to destroy Judah, as he had warned he
would do through his servants the prophets.
In addition, Jeremiah wrote about this as well:
Jer 14:16 The people to whom they are prophesying will die through war and famine. Their bodies will be
thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem and there will be no one to bury them. This will happen to
the men and their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out on them the destruction
they deserve."
Jehoiakim was an evil, idolatrous king who revered no one. He had a prophet killed after sending a
delegation to Egypt to find him and in chapter 36 we read his lack of any reverence regarding the
Word of the Lord: Jer 36:27 The LORD spoke to Jeremiah after Jehoiakim had burned the scroll
containing what Jeremiah had spoken and Baruch had written down.
The final result was that Jer 22:18 So the LORD has this to say about Josiah's son, King Jehoiakim of
Judah: People will not mourn for him,.
So Habakkuk heard that God is patient only so long and then He sends in His choice of discipline, in this
case the Babylonians.
DAY FOUR: Habakkuk’s Second Complaint: Habakkuk 1:12-2:1.
8. After hearing God’s plan, how does Habakkuk respond in 1:12? When you hear disturbing and often
devastating news do you respond in this way? If not , why not? Habakkuk revered God. He first noted that
God is eternal. Then he noted that the Lord is “my” God, thus personalizing his relationship with Him.
Thirdly, Habakkuk noted that he understood what God was about to do.
9. What is Habakkuk’s next perplexing complaint and seeming contradiction of God’s ways? Hab 1:1217. How do Is 55:8&9 and Jer. 29:11 fit in here? Habakkuk begins to talk again with God about His
seemingly contradictory ways. Do I not know that You cannot look upon evil? How then can you look
upon the Babylonians and see their evil ways and not end their reign of terror? More importantly, we are
your chosen people, are we not more righteous than they? What Habakkuk failed to do is to see that sin is
sin, and all are found guilty before God. Humans fail in this area: We can compare ourselves to each other
all day long but we have all missed the mark which is the Holy standard of God Himself. Paul wrote:
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
The only comparison we should be making is to God Himself not to other men. Isaiah wrote that we as
humans do not understand God because His ways are higher than ours and His thoughts are higher than
ours. Jeremiah reminds us that God’s view is this: 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have
plans to give you a future filled with hope.
But first God would have to refine and prune His people so that end could be accomplished. And it
proved valuable for since that time, no Jew has been an idolater. Just as in the desert, the Israelites became
sick of the quail they would become sick of idols.
10. Habakkuk did not understand God’s ways, however he made a three point decision (Hab 2:1) so he
could hear God. What is your mode of operation when you least understand? How do you respond in
times that are perplexing? Habakkuk’s decision included: I will, that is he made a personal decision, not
Habakkuk chapters 1 to 3
June 24, 2007
one imposed by any outside influence nor by God, but it was his decision. He then said I will stand upon
my watch; set me upon the tower, much like a soldier on watch duty… alone except for the sounds of the
night. Habakkuk’s purpose is to watch and to see how God would answer his perplexing questions. In
that decision, he made a mind decision to be alert to hearing the voice of God. In this time of being alone,
he could hear the voice of God more clearly much as a sentry on duty. At the end of his book, Habakkuk
writes: He will make my feet like hinds’ feet and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Hannah
Hurnand wrote a book/allegory by that title. In this book, Little Much Afraid fears the enemy and she
only wants to be with the Good Shepherd. To do that she must climb as the roe upon the jagged rocks to
reach the pinnacle where she will be able to have a high view of God. But, along the way she faces
danger, and ‘the enemy’ who only disappears when she calls upon the Good Shepherd. This is much like
Habakkuk. He would be like the sentry awaiting the call of God and he must climb the watchtower so that
he will not miss the voice or the high view of God when He answers.
11. What does Habakkuk’s example teach us about perseverance? Read through Ps. 119 and underline the
phrase “according to thy….”. Place this alongside Habakkuk and answer how he could persevere.
Habakkuk teaches us much about steadfastness and perseverance in times of distress. He did not walk
away from the news that God has shared about the Babylonians but instead went back to God to question
how He could use such a wicked nation to judge his people. David Prior writes: “Resolve and
determination are essential to the watchman’s work. Watching and waiting involve not only time but
perseverance”. The word perseverance means: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state,
etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. The Psalmist in his writing of Psalm 119
demonstrates what this means. He continued to go back to God and remind Him of His promises, His
character, His way of dealing with man, His path to life.
Psa 119:65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. OR just as You
promised…
Psa 119:76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy
servant. The psalmist drew upon what he knew: this is Your way, it is Your character.
Psa 119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. The Word is that
which gives hope in times of distress.
Psa 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
We are held secure under His everlasting arms….they hold us up in times when all else seems to fail.
Psa 119:149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, …We can cry to the Lord… hear
my voice…which is exactly what Habakkuk was doing. He could pray and cry because he knew that he
would be heard, it was God’s way, His promise to hear – it is part of His character to hear His
children’s cries.
Psa 119:156 Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments…..revive me,
as you typically do …through Your Word and as I ponder your ways in your dealing with mankind
Psa 119:169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.
…This sounds like Habakkuk! This was what he was crying to the Lord…help me to understand what
is going on, what is happening and why.
Habakkuk is a lesson in meditation and action. He meditated upon God’s Word, he took action…he stood
waiting, he stationed himself to hear, he watched for God’s answer. Essentially, he pursued a course of
action amidst difficult news. We can learn much from this prophet about how to handle ‘waiting’ and
from the psalmist how to pursue our waiting.
Habakkuk chapters 1 to 3
June 24, 2007
DAY FIVE: God reveals Man’s sin. Habakkuk 2:2-20.
12. Sometimes we charge God with being unfair or delinquent in His justice. Read chapter 2 to find the 5
woes that God charged the Babylonians. What is their fate according to Habakkuk 2 and Psalm 2?
Vs. 6: woe to him that increaseth that which is not his: the sin of greed—their fate would be loss of all
material possessions… gone in a single night of carousing
Vs. 9: woe to him that covetheth: sin of coveting … fate: each leader would last but a short time: vs.
11..Nebuchadnezzar’s son reigned only 2 yrs and then assassinated; NergalShar-Ussar.. ruled only 4 yrs.
and was murdered; His son was murdered 9 months later; Belshazzar – the empire fell in a single night
and he in disgrace.
Vs. 12: woe to him that buildeth a town with blood: sin of murder..,fate: taken over by Cyrus the
Mede/Persian
Vs. 15: woe to him that giveth his neighbor drink and makes him drunken: sin of debauchery… fate: it
was this sin that cost Belshazzar his empire.. drinking with abandon and the hand of God called him to
account…Daniel 5:30 “in that night, Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was slain”.
Vs. 19: woe to him that says to the wood.. awake and to the dumb stone; arise…sin of idolatry. … fate:
end of idolatry by the hand of God… in sharp contrast the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge
of the glory of the Lord…God is in His holy temple.. let all the earth keep silence.
13. What do you learn about God in the midst of the ‘woes’? God may allow these but He will call to
accounting each one because He is holy and as Habakkuk said, is of purer eyes than to behold evil and
cannot look upon iniquity. Justice must be served. In contrast to each woe is God’s purity, righteousness
and holiness. Many may in his greed take from another because underlying it is the sin of coveting which
is played out in murder…’what is mine is mine and yours as well’ philosophy. To achieve what he
desires he must fill his neighbor with drink so that he is unable to defend himself. The end is that he uses
what he coveted to build idols that can neither talk, arise, or in any way answer prayer. But.. God is holy,
He is eternal, the entire earth is filled with His glory … thus man is without excuse.. Rom 1:20 For since
the creation of the world his invisible attributes — his eternal power and divine nature — have been
clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.
DAY SIX: Habakkuk’s prayer: Hab. 3:1-19
14. What is Habakkuk’s view of God after this dialogue? After this, Habakkuk says “I have
heard”…showing us that the Lord did respond. He continues on “I was afraid” or “I am awed, LORD, by
what you accomplished.” Habakkuk continues by rehearsing God’s divine appearances in the times past
and His saving grace towards His own. Because of all of this, he is able to say…though all seems lost, life
is permanently disrupted, and the land desecrated “yet” I will rejoice. Why? Because he could take
comfort in knowing that God is in control, and He is his salvation (his deliverance, safety). God is his
strength and in Him alone will he be revived and be able to climb like the mountain goat on the craggy
cliffs to greater heights.
APPLICATION TIME:
15. What has Habakkuk taught you about how to live in times of distress and with perplexing problems?
For this author I have personally learned what it means to ‘live by my faith’. Though the dark storm
clouds seem to surround me and hover over me with no release and at times there seems to be no answer
to life’s circumstances, I can know that even in that time I can rejoice for He alone is my salvation and
my strength therefore I can rejoice knowing that He is in control and knows all about what is going on.
My position is to stand, station and watch…persevere in seeking answers. Jesus said to seek and find and
Habakkuk chapters 1 to 3
June 24, 2007
surely this is what Habakkuk teaches in this short book. Paul wrote to the Corinthians to be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. We are to not look back but forward to what God
will surely do. The hard part is the enemy’s words to wring our hands, complain, give up, get busy and do
but God is saying through Habakkuk, stand firm in your watch so that you do not miss My answer and My
plan.
16. . In 2:4, God said, “the just shall live by his faith”. In 3:17 and 18 Habakkuk writes “though… yet”.
What principle has Habakkuk learned? Habakkuk has learned that it is his faith that helps him to
persevere, to remain steadfast. He has also learned that no matter what happens, his “job” is to rejoice in
knowing that God is in control of each and every facet of our lives. He had begun this discourse with
these words “how long…” but now he has learned that even though it may not happen immediately it will
surely happen… “in his days”. Therefore, he is to not be impatient but to wait and watch for God to do the
work that He has planned to do for God said “I am already doing a work though if I told you would not,
could not believe it” for it was a plan that was diametrically opposed to the what Habakkuk perceived as
His righteous character.
17.Connect: Hab 2:4; 3:17&18, Phil 4:11, and 2 Peter 1:5-9. What practical lessons can you and will you
implement because of what these verses teach you? As part of the vision God showed Habakkuk was this
powerful statement “the just shall live by his faith” – that is the foundational principle. Without faith,
James writes, our works are as dead. Therefore building upon this foundational principle we are to take
stock of our circumstances, and then rejoice in knowing what Paul wrote…”in whatever circumstance I
find myself … I am content”…Are we content with where God has placed us? Or do we seek change that
is not of His will but of ours because we desire a release from our circumstance? Are we using Peter’s
wise counsel to add to our faith so that we are about the Master’s business and not our own. Do we seek
our own convenience or do we seek to obey Him?
The questions we must ask: are we content in our circumstances or do we plead with God and plead that
others plead with God to change our circumstance? Do we say I ‘try; but it is hard’ when God does not
answer? Maybe we need to start rejoicing in where we are because we have not achieved that state of
contentment. Content: contented with one's lot, with one's means…. I have learned to be content in any
circumstance…. That is the key… Paul learned… God put him in “contentment 101” to learn this very
needy lesson. Therefore Paul like Habakkuk could say…”although the circumstance is difficult and may
become even more so..yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation”.
Clarke writes: For I have learned - I am so satisfied with the wise providence and goodness of God,
that I know whatever he determines is the best; and therefore I am perfectly contented that he should
govern the world in that way which seems best to his godly wisdom. How true is the proverb, A contented
mind is a continual feast! What do we get by murmuring and complaining?
Barnes writes: A contented mind is an invaluable blessing, and is one of the fruits of religion in the
soul. It arises from the belief that God is right in all his ways …..and this author might add… God ‘s timing
is perfect as well.
Part of the way we can achieve this is to take time to ponder the names of God. For example God is El
Shaddai.. our sufficiency… He is Adonai…Lord and Master, He is El Elyon..God Most High… He is El
Roi…the God who sees and therefore He knows. Knowing the names of God builds our faith because we
come to know God more intimately by meditating upon His attributes, His character.
Will God have to put you in the “contentment 101” so that you learn this very wise principle?
Will you allow God to have His timetable for His answer and stay busy doing the last thing that God told
you to do?
Will you stand, station, watch for His response or are you busy doing and talking to keep busy rather than
sitting quietly to see Him work?
Will you choose to rejoice in whatever circumstance He has placed you at this particular time?
Habakkuk chapters 1 to 3
June 24, 2007
And finally there is one more lesson to learn from the book and person of Habakkuk. He teaches us the
principle that Paul said later: 1Co 10:13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God
is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also
provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it. God always prepares the way for us to endure or
to escape the trial before us. Habakkuk heard the word of the Lord and thus he was prepared and he said:
I long for the day of distress to come upon the people who attack us. He was prepared, he didn’t want to
go through it but he knew it was God’s plan…Hab 2:3 For the message is a witness to what is decreed; it
gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out.
Just as Habakkuk was prepared, and Paul confirms that God will be faithful in our time, it is our
responsibility to not only be prepared but also to stand, station, watch – listen for God’s voice…saying
Isa 30:21 …"This is the correct way, walk in it," whether you are heading to the right or the left.
God prepares His people…he prepared Habakkuk, He prepared the people of Jerusalem and the southern
kingdom by sending his prophets to warn them of impending danger ahead and God has sent His word
to us so that we might be prepared as well. Will we take the time to dig into God’s word to learn what is
ahead, will we listen when He says…are we watching or will we fall asleep and upon awakening see what
we would have known had we taken the time to be in silence before Him. There is a hymn, “I am His and
He is Mine” in which there is a line: “While He whispers in my ear, I am His and He is Mine”. We can
only hear the whisper of God’s voice if we stand, station, watch intently and in silence.