Page 115 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

Genre/Form: Dialogue Cycles (Most prophets speak to the people about God, but Habakkuk speaks to
God about the people)

Theme: Trusting God… regardless of the circumstances

Message: Even amidst divine silence and perceived injustice, God’s people can trust His sovereign
purposes!

Where’s Your Justice? (1:2-4) The prophet Habakkuk protests divine silence in the face of increasing
injustice. He cries out to God for help but receives no answer. Amidst widespread wickedness among
God’s people (violence, iniquity, wrong, destruction, strife, injustice), Habakkuk doesn’t understand why
God hasn’t intervened. His law is powerless to govern, and the wicked are hedging in righteous,
perverting justice. Habakkuk clearly believes that God is sovereign, making him look at such evil. But
since God seems to be silent, he wonders whether God is unconcerned!

Justice Coming on Judah! (1:5-11) Habakkuk asked why YHWH makes him look at injustice. YHWH tells
him to look for coming justice… in an unbelievable manner! YHWH is about to raise up the Babylonians
as His instrument of judgment. As bitter, hasty thieves, dreaded, fearsome, lawless, fierce, violent,
mocking their enemies and worshiping their strength, Babylon’s similarity to Judah’s own behavior
(violence and injustice) highlights the fitting nature of God’s coming punishment!

Is That Really Just? (1:12-2:1) Habakkuk praises God’s eternal nature (You won’t die NIV, NET) but asks
how just God could look at evil, use unjust instrument. He highlights the self-worship, self-indulgent
nature of Babylonians, asking whether God will perpetuate such wickedness. He looks on, anxiously
awaiting God’s answer to his complaint.

Justice Coming on Babylon! (2:2-20) YHWH commands Habakkuk to write down the vision, confirming
that justice, though delayed, is surely coming on Babylon as well. But in contrast to exhaustion of the
evil ones (not upright), God will reward the faithful deeds (action) of the righteous by preserving them
through the coming judgment. Faith in God produces faithful actions (2:4, cf. Heb. 10:38). In a series of
five woes, God promises that Babylon will also be judged, “The cup will come around to you.” He
highlights their stealing (6-8), exploitation (9-11), violence (12-14), debauchery (15-17), idolatry (18-20).
In contrast to the worthless, speechless idol, “YHWH is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silent
before Him”

I’ll Quietly Wait… (3:1-19) Shifting from dialogue (question/answer) to a praise psalm, Habakkuk
recounts the past victories of YHWH over His enemies, particularly in the exodus and conquest
narratives, asking Him to mercifully act on behalf of His people again (1-15). Though terrified of God’s
coming judgment, Habakkuk quietly waits for His promised justice (16). Admitting that things will get
worse before better, Habakkuk expresses his trust in YHWH. Even if everything is taken away, Habakkuk
will still trust in YHWH (17-19). “Just as deer travel through difficult terrain without stumbling, Habakkuk
would endure hardships of the coming invasion sustained by his trust in sovereign Lord” (Chisholm,
197).

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