Christ Current

Habakkuk was a prophet who likely ministered between 612 to 589 BC during the wicked reign of King Jehoiakim, who did evil in the eyes of the Lord. His reign followed a long history of kings who had led Judah into wickedness and rebellion against God. Children were sacrificed to pagan gods, prostitution was corrupting the temple, violence was rampant, and the nation faced many threats of war and political chaos. Wickedness was not only abounding but seemed to continue unchecked. There was no justice to be seen.

This little prophetic book is unique as we see Habakkuk’s questions and wrestling with God, which brings great intrigue to the meaning of his name. Habakkuk is derived from the Hebrew word chabaq (חָבַק) which literally translates “to embrace.” The double consonant of his name, chabaqquq, brings a more intensive form, which can be translated “to wrestle.”

Habakkuk wrestled with God over the wickedness, violence, darkness and corruption around him in the world. We see throughout the prophetic books, the prophets delivering God’s message to the people. But here in Habakkuk, the prophet brings his questions directly to God and we see the dialogue that follows. I think the children of God can deeply relate to his struggle as we wrestle with the evil around us, desire justice and seek to understand God’s ways.

We look around at the world we are living in and see such blatant evil. It seems like the enemy does not even hide it anymore. It’s in plain sight. The questions come. How long, Lord? How long until we see justice for this evil that surrounds us? How long will You tolerate this wickedness? Why does it seem to go unpunished for so long? Where are the consequences?

Don’t these questions sound familiar? Doesn’t this backdrop of the setting of this book seem eerily similar to the times we are living in?

Just as seen in the recently completed Bible Study Series through the Book of Haggai, we see something similar in Habakkuk: the message was timely then and is timely now. God’s Word is timeless and unchained. May His Spirit stir us as we study this little book, may any doubt be transformed into deeper faith, and may we be encouraged to finish this race strong as the book ends with great hope, joy and triumph, which is set before every child of God. Take heart! God is on the throne and there is nothing that can stop His plan of redemption.

Habakkuk’s First Complaint

The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
—Habakkuk 1:1-4

Habakkuk begins with a word that captures the weight of his message and the burden on his heart. The first verse begins with “The prophecy Habakkuk saw.” The Hebrew word for prophecy is massa (מַשָּׂא) which also means “burden.” The weight of the spiritual burden in his dialogue with God is palpable. Habakkuk did not hold back. He had raw and honest questions he brought directly to God. We should imitate this communication and faith. We can bring our honest questions, doubts and struggles directly to God.

Sometimes we try to ignore our doubts or compartmentalize our struggles instead of bringing them before the Lord. Sometimes we may even try to censor our words with God when we pray as though our raw emotions and questions might somehow be too much for Him. But God already knows what is on our minds and hearts. It is not too much for Him. He invites us to come before Him honestly, even when we are confused, discouraged or struggling to understand His ways.

And like Habakkuk, there are times when we cry out to the Lord and wonder if He is listening. We pray, we wait, and yet our circumstances seem unchanged.

How long, Lord?

How long until You answer me? How long until You open that door? How long until You make a way through this impossible situation? How long until You bring healing? How long until You bring justice and vindicate me? How long until You save my family, Lord?

These are not easy questions, but they are honest ones. Habakkuk reminds us that we do not have to hide our anguish or pretend. Our questions and burdens are not too much for God. Jesus made the way for us to approach God directly, so let us take our pleas and questions directly to Him.

We see David did not hold back either. Look what he wrote:

How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
—Psalm 13:1

Sometimes we can fall into the trap that if we feel this way, it’s a failing faith. No, we are humans in a fallen world. Bring these raw feelings, heartfelt pleas and honest questions to God. Let us boldly approach the throne of grace, and let us continue to seek Him, even when it seems He is not moving, clinging to His promises and faithfulness.

So we see Habakkuk bringing his raw heartfelt pleas to God. He looked out at the wicked world around him and was so grieved by the injustice and violence that seemed to carry on unrestricted. Why does justice never prevail? Where are You, God? Why don’t You do something? Let’s not pretend like we’ve never thought some of these questions, not just with what’s happening in the world around us but even in our own circumstances.

Habakkuk was grieved by this evil around him. Don’t we see this in our world today? Sin is normalized, righteousness is weird. Injustice and immorality increase without a word, even the Church remaining silent. Children are being trafficked and exploited. Open borders are being pushed, leading to more violence. Christians around the world face persecution in increasing numbers. Many are asleep to the spiritual urgency of the hour, but the Bride is watching for her Bridegroom crying out, “How long?”

Even as we recognize what Scripture says is coming upon this world, our hearts still cry out for the Lord to intervene, for evil to be judged, and for righteousness to prevail. We still cry out, “How long, Lord?” We see this same cry in Revelation, where the souls of those who had been martyred for the Word of God call out to the Lord:

“How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
—Revelation 6:10

Our cry of “How long, Lord?” is not a sign of unbelief, but the longing of hearts that trust in His promises, grieve over the evil in this world, and ache for those who do not have ears to hear His truth and remain unaware of the urgency of the very hour we are living.

The Law is Paralyzed

We read in verse four that in Habakkuk’s day, the law was paralyzed, justice never prevailed, the wicked hemmed in the righteous causing justice to be perverted. The Hebrew word translated paralyzed also means to grow numb, to become weak, ineffective or ignored. The hemming in of the righteous means to encircle or surround. It is a picture of the worldly pressure and evil that surrounds the righteous. It is the standing for God’s truth when evil surrounds you, even when outnumbered or opposed.

We see similar pressures in our world today. Those who stand firmly on biblical truth are often painted as unreasonable, unloving, unaccepting or intolerant. This is why we see many churches compromising the truth of God’s Word to accommodate the culture to the point that there is nothing distinguishing them from the world.

It was not that God’s Law was weak because it lacked power. The problem was the rebellious people and their refusal of it. God’s Word was sidelined and when God’s Word is sidelined, moral corruption flourishes and justice becomes distorted. Yet, even the Law, though holy and good, could not deliver us from sin’s power. It could only reveal our need for a Savior. Paul explains this in Romans:

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
—Romans 8:3

The Law diagnosed the disease but it could never cure it, which is why Jesus Christ came. He took upon Himself the judgment our sin deserved so that we might be redeemed and reconciled to God.

But Jesus came into this world and was crucified by His own people. And if He were born into our world today, I am convinced it would be the same exact result: the world would crucify the Son of God all over again.

When we consider Habakkuk’s complaint then, do we see this in our world today? Is God’s Word disregarded? Is His Word paralyzed within our schools? Our judicial system? We see children being indoctrinated with ideologies opposed to God’s Word. We see a judicial system in which justice is not served and wrongdoing goes unpunished. We see the infiltration of radical Islam in the United States and the world.

Habakkuk’s cry and the cry of the righteous remnant today is emphasized in Psalm 119:126:

It is time for You to act, O LORD, For they have regarded Your law as void.

The LORD Answers

God brings an unexpected response to Habakkuk’s raw plea.

“Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour; they all come intent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. They mock kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them. Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
—Habakkuk 1:5-11

Habakkuk thought God was silent and looking away yet he received this response. He thought there was no movement, that God was just sitting back and tolerating this evil. But God told him to look and watch and be amazed because He was already raising up the nation of Babylon to come against Judah. The Babylonians were a wicked and cruel people, conquering nation after nation, making a rapid rise to power. This must have been a very sobering response.

Naturally, Habakkuk had some questions about this, but before we get to his response to God, does this remind you of what is coming to this world? We can easily look around at the darkness that seems to be winning, wonder where God is or what He is doing, yet we know how this ends. It’s been written.

We are certainly living in the last days, and Scripture tells us what to expect. Daniel records in 12:1 that “there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence.” Jeremiah records similar in 30:7, saying, “How awful that day will be! No other will be like it.” Jesus spoke of the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:21: “For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.”

This dreadful time is described in the Book of Revelation, a time of tribulation that will come upon the whole world. Just as God raised up the wicked Babylonians as the rod to discipline Judah in Habakkuk’s day, a time is coming when the Antichrist will rise to power. The unbelieving world will face judgment and His people will be tested. God remains sovereign even over these events and will accomplish His purposes through the judgment to come.

The remnant sees the warnings rising, yet the world does not hear. Just as God told Habakkuk to look at the nations and watch, we too are called to watch and discern the times in light of His Word. As we look at the world around us, we clearly see we are living a time of prophetic fulfillment. Sometimes we look and wonder when we will see justice, as Habakkuk did, but as God told him, He is already moving and His judgment is coming at His appointed time. It may seem delayed but it is coming and is not late. As we watch and wait, we must remember that “the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, but He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but wants everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pe 3:9).

With this in mind, let’s see how Habakkuk responded to God’s unexpected answer.

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad. Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy?
—Habakkuk 1:12-17

Habakkuk’s first complaint was that it appeared God was not doing anything about the wickedness surrounding him, but now that God has responded, he returns with questions about what God is doing. Habakkuk first acknowledged God’s holiness. How could an everlasting, holy God use the wicked and cruel people of Babylon? How could God use a more wicked people than Judah to execute judgment? How could God use a sinful pagan nation to chastise His own people? Habakkuk wrestles with the difficult truth that God’s ways don’t always align with our expectations and His purposes can be beyond our understanding.

This was not the response Habakkuk expected. Yes, the people of Judah were sinners who had turned to wickedness, but the Babylonians were barbaric and violent. They committed atrocities without remorse, conquering nations through cruelty. Though God would use this evil nation, they would one day face judgment for their own wickedness. The literal translation of verse eleven says “they will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god.” They would ultimately reap what they had sown—their own destruction.

The Babylonians would be held accountable for their actions even after fulfilling the purpose God had allowed them to serve. Sometimes we may wonder why God allows a wicked leader to rise to power or why He permits events that seem contrary to what we believe is right. We don’t always understand His timing nor His answer to prayer, but our understanding is limited. While our understanding may fluctuate, God’s character does not. He remains faithful and unchanging. He is a just God who does not overlook sin and evil.

Even when judgment comes and the world around us seems chaotic and evil, God’s purposes will not fail. His plan of redemption will be fulfilled, His perfect justice will prevail, and He will never forget His mercy toward His people.

Conclusion

“God, why aren’t You doing anything?” Like Habakkuk, we receive a response. “Are You sure, Lord? Is this really what You intend to do? How can this possibly make sense?” Habakkuk ends his second complaint with a question. We will see God’s response in chapter two.

Habakkuk’s conversation with God reminds us that questions of “how long?” and “why?” are not new. Even before Christ entered this fallen world, God’s people wrestled with the presence of evil, injustice and wickedness. We do the same as we look at the growing evil around us. We may not understand God’s timing, and His answers don’t always make sense. But His character never changes. His promises remain sure and His plan of redemption was established before the foundation of the world.

Like Habakkuk, we too are to look and keep watch and be utterly amazed at our Lord God as we become closer than ever before to His return. We know this world will not remain as it is forever. His Word tells us we can expect to see more shakings and birth pains in this world, reminding us of the urgency of turning to God, sharing truth while there is still time and contending for the faith until the end, no matter the cost.

Could it be that we are witnessing, in our own day, a conversation much like the one between Habakkuk and God? As we look upon the condition of our world and our nation, we may find ourselves asking the same questions. In chapter two, we will see how God responds, revealing more of His purposes, reminding Habakkuk and us that even when the world seems out of control and like darkness is winning, it is He who sits on the throne. Righteousness will prevail, for the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it (Jn 1:5).