HABAKKUK

Habakkuk lived in Judah just before its demise at the hands of the Babylonians. He was a philosopher- prophet who struggled with the great questions of life. But his struggle was not academic--he cared about his people. He wrestled with God in prayer. He first com- plained to God for allowing sin to go rampant and unchecked in Israel (Judah). God answered and told him the shocking news that God would use the ruth- less and evil Babylonians as his rod of punishment. This raised an even bigger question. As bad as Israel was, they were better than the Babylonians. How could God allow the evil Babylonians to conquer people more righteous than themselves? Through his struggle in prayer, he met God. He found God's answers and accepted God's sovereignty. He concludes his book with a confession of his faith in God.

He probably lived to see the beginning of the fulfillment of his prophecy, for the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem in 597 BC. In the time of great distress, he and his people needed to meet God afresh and confess their faith in him.

1:1-4--1st complaint 2:2-20-God's answer

1:5-11--God's answer 3:1-19--Habakkuk's

1:12-2:1--2nd complaint confession of faith

1. Why do you tolerate wrong? (1-4)

When Habakkuk saw the violence and injustice that was rampant in Judah, he cried out to God. It seemed that the law was paralyzed and justice never prevailed. How could a holy and righteous God tolerate such lawlessness and such perversion of justice?

2. God's answer (5-11)

God's answer is shocking. Indeed, he would not tolerate the violence and corruption that had engulfed Judah. He would punish his people so that they might repent and be saved. The shocking thing was that he would use as his instrument of judgment the Babylon- ians, a people far more evil than the Jews. They were ruthless and impetuous. They were feared and dreaded by all people. They were a law to themselves, and they promoted their own honor. They were guilty men whose own strength was their god. God was going to use these people to destroy Jerusalem.

Application: Lord, we also live in violent and corrupt times. Raise up godly men who care and who struggle with you. Turn our nation back to you.
One Word: God punishes in order to save