Habbakuk

Imagine – A society where wickedness and injustice is predominant … where social injustice, immorality, corruption, and hypocrisy rule the culture. The people worship idols – entertainment, money, possessions, themselves. Pride/haughtiness of spirit is commonplace in the hearts of the people. People revel in excess/overindulgence – possessions, entertainment, alcohol, drugs – and are never satisfied. Corruption runs rampant in government and religion – Judges and government officials are paid off to look the other way or settle a legal matter in an individual’s favor; preachers preach to make money not because they were called by God to speak truth. Violent acts are committed on a daily basis and yet those in control of society does little to punish the perpetrators. In fact, the society celebrates violence – entertainment/religion/culture. Sexual immorality is commonplace. It is not hidden but viewed in the light of day for everyone to see – entertainment/religion/culture. The wealthy oppress the poor. The wealthy loan money to the poor at extremely high interest. The poor are unable to repay the loan and basically becomes a slave to the wealthy. The poor man loses his house, his possessions, his job, and many instances his family. Businesses use unethical schemes to increase their profits. Meanwhile, those who follow the path of righteousness and justice are constantly persecuted by those who dominate the society/culture. The wicked and unjust view the righteous and just as being intolerant/judgmental. They are wet blankets, joy killers, religious zealots who seek to deny the majority their freedom to live, worship, and make a dollar however they choose. The wicked and unjust have nothing but contempt and ridicule for the righteous and just.

Is it hard to imagine such a society?

What is it like for a righteous and just person to live in such a society? Torment/anguish/distress.

What question(s) would a righteous and just person living in such a society have for God? Where are You? Why do You allow the innocent to suffer and the wicked to prosper? Why do bad people have it so good and good people have it so bad? Why haven’t You done something to resolve this inequity? When will You release Your vengeance upon the wicked and unjust?

The scenario I described to you existed in the Book of Habakkuk. The questions posed are asked by the prophet Habakkuk.

Background on Habakkuk -

Where – Southern Kingdom of Judah
When – Approximately 609-597 B.C.
Background – Unrighteousness and injustice prevailed in Judah during Habakkuk’s day. Idolatry/hypocrisy - The people worshipped other gods as well as God. Pride was prevalent in the hearts of the people – We are God’s chosen people. He would never allow anything bad happen to us. Corruption in government and religion – Bribery commonplace; prophets prophesy for money. Merchants regularly cheating their customers. Widespread social injustice – wealthy oppressing the poor. Sexual immorality is commonplace. The wicked and unjust view the righteous and just as being intolerant/judgmental. They are wet blankets, joy killers, religious zealots who seek to deny the majority their freedom to live, worship, and make a dollar however they choose. The wicked and unjust have nothing but contempt and ridicule for the righteous and just. Essentially, in Judah during Habakkuk’s day the wicked enjoy the good life while the righteous suffer.

What is it like for a righteous and just person such as Habakkuk to live in such a society? Torment/anguish/distress.

What question(s) would a righteous and just person living in such a society have for God? Where are You? Why do You allow the innocent to suffer and the wicked to prosper? Why do bad people have it so good and good people have it so bad? Why haven’t You done something to resolve this inequity? When will You release Your vengeance upon the wicked and unjust?

Read Habakkuk 1:1-4

What is Habakkuk’s reaction to all the wickedness and injustice that he is seeing?
Where are You? Why do You allow the innocent to suffer and the wicked to prosper? Why do bad people have it so good and good people have it so bad? Why haven’t You done something to resolve this inequity? When will You release Your vengeance upon the wicked and unjust?

A perplexed Habakkuk complained to God why He was doing nothing to punish the wicked in Judah.

Read Habakkuk 1:5-6

What is God’s response to Habakkuk’s complaint? I am raising up the Chaldeans to be my instrument of punishment against the wicked and unjust in Judah. Who are the Chaldeans? They are probably better known as the Babylonians. In Habakkuk’s day, the Babylonian empire was the most powerful and feared empire in the Middle East. God provides a description of the might and power of the Babylonians in verses 7-11. Let’s see what Habakkuk thinks of God’s response.

Read Habakkuk 1:12-13

Was God’s response to Habakkuk’s complaint what he expected? No. He probably expected God to inflict a natural disaster upon Judah – famine, locusts. Or punish the wicked and unjust with a plague of some kind. Anything but sending a foreign power to destroy Judah. Especially one that was wicked and depraved as Babylonia.

What was Habakkuk’s response to God’s answer to his complaint? Let me get this straight God. You are going to use an evil, ungodly people to discipline the wicked and unjust people of Judah who despite being wicked and unjust are still Your Chosen People which makes Judah more righteous than the Chaldeans. How can you a holy God who is to pure to even look at evil, who is so just that you cannot show favor to evil, how can You use the evil, ungodly Chaldeans to be Your instrument of discipline against Your people?

Read Habakkuk 2:1-4, 8, 15-16

Verse 1 – What was Habakkuk doing? Waiting to hear from God regarding his second complaint. He expected to be chastised by God. Thinking of how to respond to God’s chastisement.

Verses 4, 8, 15-16 – the “proud one” refers to the Chaldeans. Basically, God tells Habakkuk the fact that the Chaldeans will be His instrument of punishment does not mean He looks upon them with favor. On the contrary, the Chaldeans will eventually know God’s wrath for all the evil they have done – their idolatry, their pride, the death and destruction they have inflicted on others, the wealth they have stolen from other nations. God is saying to Habakkuk, “Don’t worry. My standard of holiness has not changed just because I am going to use the wicked Chaldeans to punish the wicked in Judah. The Chaldeans will one day know my wrath.”

Read Habakkuk 3:1-2, 16-19 (vs. 3-15: beautiful and frightening imagery of God)

Does God’s response in chapter 2 improve Habakkuk’s spirits/make him feel better about God’s plan to punish Judah with the Chaldeans? No. Verse 1 – Shigionoth – a highly emotional poem. It was to be read with great fear/anxiety/supplication in one’s voice.

What does Habakkuk mean when he pleads to God “in wrath remember mercy?” God, do not be too harsh in your discipline. Temper your wrath with mercy/compassion.

Vs. 16 – physical evidence of Habakkuk’s fear/anxiety at the knowledge of how God will discipline. He will question no more how God will carry this out. God has answered his complaints. Even though Habakkuk does not understand God’s method for disciplining the wicked and unjust in Judah, even though it also meant the righteous and just would experience God’s discipline as well, Habakkuk continued to put his faith in God. Why? Habakkuk knew that the God who disciplines is also the God who saves … the God who brings wrath is also the God who shows mercy … the God who instills fear is also the God who instills courage.

Application:
1) Twice Habakkuk questioned/complained to God and twice God responded in a way that Habakkuk did not expect Him to or want Him to. Although he still could not fully grasp why God would discipline Judah through the Chaldeans, Habakkuk remained faithful to God. It is just like God to do what we do not expect Him to do or how we want him to do it. Ex. Abraham, Jericho, Gideon, David, Jonah, Christ’s birth and death.

If God did everything the way we wanted Him to … if God answered our prayers the way we want Him to answer them … then He would not be God, we would.

2) Habakkuk knew that tribulation was headed his way. He was afraid of what the future held for him and his people. Rather than allow fear to overwhelm his faith, Habakkuk’s faith overwhelmed his fear. Today, there is a lot of fear and anxiety in our country. Economy, wars, a new president. Do not allow fear to overwhelm your faith. Let your prayer be that of Habakkuk’s in chapter 3 especially verses 17-19.