Page 67 - The Minor Prophets - Student textbook

Study Section 12: The Book of Habakkuk

12.1 Connect

God raised up Habakkuk just a few short years before he brought destruction to Judah (the
Southern Kingdom) as a final warning and call to turning from sin to obedience to the Lord.
Habakkuk’s message was basically Judah’s last call to repent. Within 15 years, thousands of
unrepentant Jews would be slaughtered and an equal number would be exiled into other
lands because they would not listen to this prophet.

In the course of his book, Habakkuk raises some interesting questions like, “Does God use evil to
accomplish His purposes?” or “How can I trust God in spite of the circumstances?” His answers relate
to us today as much as they did when they were written. Let’s learn about this book….

12.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe the purpose of the writing of Habakkuk.

2. The student should be able to state the audience to whom the book was written.

3. The student should be able to answer the key questions presented in the lesson.

12.3 The Book of Habakkuk

From https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Habakkuk.html

Author: Habakkuk 1:1 identifies the Book of Habakkuk as an oracle from
the Prophet Habakkuk.

Date of Writing: The Book of Habakkuk was likely written between 610 and 605
B.C.

Purpose of Writing: The prophet Habakkuk decries the sins of Judah but
grapples with the fact that God’s chosen people will suffer at the hands of
enemies even more wicked than they. God answers Habakkuk’s questions,
resulting in continuing faith in God’s wisdom, sovereignty, and salvation.

Key Verses:

Habakkuk 1:2, “How long, Oh Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you,
‘Violence!’ but you do not save.”

Habakkuk 1:5, “Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do
something in your days that you would not believe, even if I told you.”

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