June 1, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Habakkuk? Here’s today’s reading:
Habakkuk 1 (NIV)
1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.
Habakkuk’s Complaint
2 How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
Next: Habakkuk 2
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Back: Nahum 3
This Post Has 10 Comments
Habakkuk sounds like he is where many of us find ourselves, frustrated by the evil around us and asking God for help. When god tells Habakkuk that He will intervene and He would use the Babylonians to bring judgement on Judah this only seemed to further frustrate Habakkuk. Why would God use the evil to accomplish His work?
There are two typical pitfalls of thinking that Habakkuk and we fall prey to…1.God looks at all sin and so as frustrated as we may get with others sin we are sinful as well so if we deserve forgiveness doesn’t everyone and 2. we don’t understand God’s ways but His ways are perfect and right so we must trust His plan even when (maybe especially when) it isn’t they way we think it should happen.
Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk 1 Sorry folks, I can’t really get my brain wrapped around this chapter. I think Habakkuk starts by wondering why God isn’t intervening in the situation, 1:1-4, but then foretells to the Gentiles an unbelievable event will occur. Nothing in this chapter about Israel, though perhaps implied by reference to the law. The Chaldeans will come and wage war.
The way we mistreat each other, and turn the law upside down, may the Chaldeans not come to America! -gy
Habakkuk 1 he was a prophet his struggle was seeing all of the destructive behaviors around him and why God allowed it, God is in control and God told Habakkuk that he would be amazed by the acts God would do.
I really like the book of Habakkuk due to the back and forth that occurs between he and God. How gracious our God is to address our concerns and care about the things that we deal with. Things start off with Habakkuk addressing the evil in Judah and how the wicked are getting away with taking advantage of the righteous and He says, effectively, God why are you doing anything. God’s response is, oh but I am doing something about it, I recognize it is happening and I am raising uptake Babylonians to deal with Judah. And then God lauds Babylonian military prowess. Habakkuk then shakes his head and says, wait a minute…you are a holy and righteous God, how can you use a people like that to discipline your people. We might be bad, but they are worse. You have got to be wrong on this one God, so I am going to stand and watch for you answer explaining it to me.
Once again, what a compassionate God to meet us where we are and even explain Himself to us!
Habakkuk 1
Habbakuk asks God a question and God replies. Not sure that Habbakuk likes the answer.
Reminds me of many of David’s Psalms asking God “How long?”
Habakkuk name means ” strong embrace of God ” or love`s embrace or he that embraces ”. He was a prophet of Judah and of the tribe of Levi and of the temple singers. [ Hab 3;19] He is referred to as the last prophet before the destruction of Jerusalem[ Hab 3;11. Also Rabbinical tradition makes him the son of Shunammite woman whom Elisha restored to life. [ 2 Kings 4;16] Take this part with a grain of salt. He prophesied the coming of the Babylonians upon Judah. This invasion took place in 606BC and also in 597BC and 586BC. This information is from [ All the Men in the Bible ]. Also he is considered a contemporary to Jeremiah the prophet. [ Holman Bible Dictionary ]. As usual I like to have information on each book I study. Hope it helps everyone. As I read earlier he lived during the time of King Josiah when there had been religious revival. The people were learning the law but there was also much sin. The hearts need to change. This book explores the question of why and whether God permits evil to exist unpunished. Also Habakkuk raises another question. It is How can the holy God use a wicked people as a tool/ [ The Teacher`s Commentary ]. We in our limited thinking can`t quite understand that but God`s ways are not our ways. But throughout scripture this is what God has done. He has used nations to show His power and greatness to Israel and the whole world. And He still does today. We may not understand it but His will is done in His own time and not our time. This includes when people come to Christ.
And in His own way as well…..
The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. they sweep past like the wind and go on—guilty people, whose own strength is their god. Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? But God says “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.
It is so hard to see the evil wicked ways of this world and observe innocent people being treated with brutality. It helps to understand that God is in control, he has a perfect plan, and he will overcome evil. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9