HABAKKUK. |
Outline of Habakkuk.The prophet Habakkuk lived about the same time as Nahum, Zephaniah and Jeremiah. The Assyrian Nation had now been destroyed but the Babylonians, under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar, were now in control.Jeremiah has prophesied that the Babylonians were about to attack Judah and destroy the city of Jerusalem and the Temple. The nation of Judah would then be taken into exile, this event happened in 606 to 586 B.C. Very little is know about Habakkuk, he seems to know the Old Testament scriptures which suggests that he may have been a priest. He describes himself as "Habakkuk the prophet," Habakkuk 1:1, So may have been a priest who God used as a prophet. The name Habakkuk comes from a Hebrew word meaning "to embrace", however, it can also mean "to wrestle". In the book of Habakkuk we can see both meanings, it starts with questioning, wrestling with, then the actions of God,but ends with submission to the will of God by Habakkuk in all matters. In the beginning we find that Habakkuk is very concerned with what he can see happening around him, he can see the spiritual decline of the Jewish nation and is asking God "why are you not sorting out the problem?" But God does not seem to respond at first to his prayers. |
Possible outline for the book of Habakkuk
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The Prophet is concerned. Why God?Habakkuk apparently has a close relationship with God, he is looking at the way the evil nations nearby are attacking the people of God. "Why do the good people suffer and the evil people gain." This is often a question made by the Christian today, "Lord , why do I suffer yet my neighbour’s, who do not know you, are doing well?" There is nothing in God’s Word that tells us that Believers will have a perfect, safe, life. The exact opposite will happen as the world, who wants nothing to do with the Lord, is therefore against a Believer.It appears the prophet has had these concerns for some time, the words he uses indicates that at the time it was difficult and dangerous to be alive, "how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?" verse 2. Habakkuk knows that the people of Judah are not worshipping the Lord from their heart, the leaders would not obey the Law of God, verse 4, but Habakkuk feels that God can correct this, yet He does not seem to respond. Habakkuk has taken the right action, he has taken the problem, and his concerns, to the Lord. God replies: I am at work.Habakkuk 1:5-11. "Look among the nations and watch. Be utterly astounded!" verse 5. "Habakkuk, I am at work, but you are not going to like what is about to happen under my control. The Chaldeans are my instrument of punishment on my people." God has given Habakkuk a revelation but not an explanation. God does not owe us any explanations,As He always knows the best action.Paul used similar thoughts and words, Acts 13:41, God was about to call the Gentiles into His family, Jew and Greek were to become one in God. God had warned the Jews, through His prophets many times, but they were not listening, now God plans to use the Babylonians to punish Judah. This was not the answer Habakkuk had expected , he was hoping that God would cause a revival of true worship, carry out judgement on their poor leadership and priests. The Chaldeans are more evil than the Jews.Some Bible students think these verses were written later, after Habakkuk had experienced the Babylonian presence, there is no indication of a delay in the writing from the text. Habakkuk had the vision of a fisherman who was using every way to catch the rich collection of "fish". He could see the effect of God sending these people to carry out His punishment on the Jews. This obviously caused Habakkuk terrible distress, the coming destruction and the punishment on the Jews by the use of, what he considered, a more evil nation. Another problem for Habakkuk, that God is so pure, how can He look upon the use of such evil, verses 13-17. Habakkuk knew the attributes of God, His holiness, His purity, His omnipotence (all power), His omniscience (knows all things), verse 12, shows his faith in his Lord but he is questioning the action of God, His Divine nature. Just because he cannot know why God has acting this way. Habakkuk cannot understand so decided’s to wait and watch, to see what will happen. |
God responds, write the vision.Habakkuk now saw himself as a watchman, waiting to take the message of God to the people. It was the job of the watchman to normally to warn the people of coming danger, As children of God we should be "watchmen" warning the world of the coming return of Christ. The words "an appointed time;" is also used in, Trust God,"The just shall live by his faith." The words given by God to Habakkuk now compare to those who have faith in God and to those who reject God. Initially He is referring to the pride of the Babylonians. One of the signs of "pride" in a person is that they are never satisfied, "he is like death, and cannot be satisfied,". The Babylonians wanted the world, more land, more wealth. Following the comments made by God on the violence and corruption of these people, we find that throughout "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.", verse 14 and "The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.", verse 20. Nations may rise and fall but God is still in full and control. The judgement of God. Five distress / troubles.In these verses God lists five sins of the Babylonians which will be punished:-
Following the vision and message from God, Habakkuk now seems to understand that God is and will always be in charge in all that happens in the world, he changes from worry to worship. |
Habakkuk worships and praises God.Habakkuk 3:1-19. Habakkuk prays to God.Habakkuk is now in prayer to the Lord, in the previous chapters he had started in a deep valley of worry, questioned the actions of God, now his thoughts had turned to praise and worship. God had spoken to him and answered his doubts, he now appreciated the power and actions of God, "O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;"; verse 2, "Your will be done" is now his main thought. Prayer is an important part of a Believers spiritual life, but it should not just be a "shopping list " of things you want though God has promised "all your needs." and we can take in the words of God through James in, Hearing the Word of God will also increase our faith, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The prophet is full of reverence and awe at the power of God, as he prays he can see the power of God, verses 3-15, he has realized his weakness and knows that he has to depend upon God, verse 16, Habakkuk has now accepted that God knows best for the situation and the world, it probably was not what he thought should be done but now he accepts, "Your will be done". Habakkuk is also asking God for mercy for his people, he has accepted that they need punishment but asks that the Love of God will show through to them as well. History tells us that God did show mercy, they were protected in Babylon and later returned to their land. verses 3-6: We probably will not get a vision from God like Habakkuk but we should always consider His power and splendor as Habakkuk does in these verses, "His ways are everlasting.", verse 6, "He stood and measured the earth;", verse 6, it was all His and can do what He likes with it. verses 8-15: Habakkuk remembers the acts of God over the years, how the nations had been pushed aside as God delivered His people, this God has control over all things, the mountains, the seas, the sun and the moon, the rivers, armies, He is the God of victory. Habakkuk ends with a great confession of faith,"I might rest in the day of trouble.", verse 16. " Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.", verse 18. "The Lord God is my strength;", verse 19. "He will make me walk on my high hills.", verse 19. |
| The notes on Habakkuk as a PDF file for download. |
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