Habakkuk

1.       First Impressions

Habakkuk is written during a difficult time where there was a lot of sin in Judah, probably shortly before the exile around 610-605 B.C.  Habakkuk is from the Southern Kingdom and asks God a bunch of hard questions and which God answers, giving Him understanding of who God really is.

The difficulties and questions which Habakkuk is faced with causes Him to question God’s character but we see Him turn to God in praise as He begins to understand the truth and see God’s justice in everything. Different to the other prophets of this time Habakkuk never delivers a message to the people and all the conversation is between him and God.

2.       Theme Tracing

·         What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

One of the most obvious things we can see in Habakkuk is simply that God responds when we earnestly seek Him. God is bigger than that which we see and He is just and good but in His time and not ours. God waits to carry out His plan and He is patient!

He is the righteous judge and rules with wisdom, equality and is sovereign. Yet despite all this He involves Himself in human affairs and cares to bring about that which is right and deserved.

·         What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

The answers God gives Habakkuk just show how He is in control over everything and brings about that which He wants at the right time. This is such a picture of God bringing about His redemptive plan as He reveals little bits of it to people here and there. Habakkuk 2: 20 says, “but the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.” This just shows God’s sovereignty and when reading Habakkuk 2:14 in the light of God’s sovereignty we see a picture of God ultimately wanting his glory and name in all the earth and His capability of doing this through His redemptive plan.