Habakkuk

God will Judge all Injustice

God has Chosen to Judge Wicked Men at the hand of Wicked Men.

God will Judge the Wicked

Habakkuk anticipates and receives God's answer: God will judge the wicked and correct all injustices according to His "appointed Time", not according to ours.

How can God use the Wicked?

Habakkuk first proclaims his faith in the everlasting covenant of his Everlasting god, declaring that Israel will not be annihilated, but that Babylon is merely God's Tool to discipline (not destroy) Israel for her sin.

Background

Habakkuk prophesied to the sole surviving kingdom of Judah during the death throes of a nation.

In the Present Sovereign Reign, God is the Omnipotent Ruler on the Throne and the Earth must be Silent before Him.

"For Habakkuk, the message was clear. Stop Complaining! Stop doubting! God is not indifferent to sin. He is not insensitive to suffering. ....He is in control! IN His perfect time. Yahweh will accomplish His divine purpose Habakkuk was to stand in humble silence". - for us the message is just as clear. There is a time to silence our questions and Trust our God!!!!!

Author

Habakkuk (embrace) - he was the final prophet called to the Southern Kingdom before its fall to Babylon. He was not only a prophet, but also a Levitical chorister in the Temple Choir

The Joy of Habakkuk

Once we have truly been in the Presence of God, we can truly learn to have Joy in the Lord in any circumstances!!!! This is certainly one of the greatest passages of hope in the entire Bible! - As was the case with Job, once we truly see God in His Glory, all of our questions will be replaced with total Trust in His power, His wisdom, and His Love!

Importance and Distinctives

Style: in addition to being a prophet, Habakkuk was one of the Levitical Choristers (Singers) and wrote in a style more akin to the poetical wisdom literature than the prophets. In fact, the final verse reveals this book was actually a song. - Habakkuk sees one of the greatest manifestations of God's glory in Scripture, thus turning his doubts to shouts. - Habakkuk is the author of the treat theological declaration, "The just shall live by his Faith" - Habakkuk was the Final prophet given to Judah before the Babylonian Captivity just as Micah (who ministered to both kingdoms) had been the final prophet given to Israel before the Assyrian captivity.

Subtitle

The Doubting Thomas of the Old Testament

Main Content

The Sign, The Cries, and The Whys, as Uttered by the Doubting Thomas of the Old Testament. It is a book of the deepest doubt! His doubts centered around 2 painful problems. -How could God allow the sins of Israel go unpunished? God then tells him Judah would indeed be punished by the Babylonians. -How then, he asks, could God justify allowing a godless nation to punish Judah, which at least believed in God and had some good men left? -- Habakkuk looks around at the sin of his nation and the cruelty of wicked oppressors and asks the age old question. "Why does God allow the righteous to suffer and the sinners to prosper?" Justice, His timing, and His Glory.

Key Word

Why?