INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK 

Habakkuk’s name means “wrestler or to embrace”. He wrestles with God over all the sin and violence he sees across the land. He questions God concerning why He is allowing this great evil. Habakkuk loves God and knows that God is holy and hates evil. So why is He allowing this? Habakkuk speaks out about this and God answers him.

There is very little known about Habakkuk. He was the last of the prophets writing to the southern kingdom before the Babylonian captivity. Some say he prophesied toward the end of the reign of Josiah, king of Judah. Others say it was during the reign of Jehoiakim. It was during the rise of the Chaldeans (1:6). God was to raise the Chaldeans up to come and punish Israel for their sins. This was a problem with Habakkuk. Why use a wicked nation to punish Israel? They were worse than Israel in their wickedness. So the first two chapters is about Habakkuk talking to God and God answering him. He complains; God replies and reveals His plan. Habakkuk then goes to his “watch tower”, (2:1) to wait and look over the world. He then utters five woes in chapter two. He tells of the woe of dishonesty (2:6); covetousness (2:7); building a town with blood (2:12); bad desires and appetites in a wild way (2:15); and idolatry (2:18-20). He becomes content with God’s plan and utters a prayer of praise. It is like a psalm or song of praise. He is trusting God to take care of all he does, not what he seen or understands. God is in CONTROL, no matter how things look. God has a DIVINE PLAN; trust Him by faith.

So we see Habakkuk asking, Chapter 1; Habakkuk waiting, Chapter 2 and then Habakkuk praising his God.

Today, it is very easy to look out at the world and all that is happening and wonder where God is in all of this. Just trust Him, wait upon Him, because He has a plan. Read Revelation 22; all ends well.

Be sure and see these great verses in the book of Habakkuk. 1:5 “. . . for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.” Victory of Revival. 2:14 “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Victory of Missions. 3:2 “… O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” Victory of Prayer.