THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK

In conversation with God, Habakkuk struggles with two important questions:

1.    How long can God justify apparent indifference to the apparent rule of wickedness and violence in Judah?

God responds that he is not indifferent.  He is raising up the Chaldeans (Babylonians) to execute his judgment.

2.    How can a holy God employ such an impure and godless agent?

God can use godless agents according to his purpose to bring judgment upon unfaithful people.  In time, he will bring judgment upon all of the godless.

God’s overall answer is expressed in two wonderful promises from the book of Habakkuk:

1.    THE JUST WILL LIFE BY FAITH

(Hab 2:3-4 NIV)  For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. {4} See, he [the evil man] is puffed up; his desires are not upright– but the righteous will live by his faith–

Fig Tree

2.    I WILL WAIT PATIENTLY . . . THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH

(Hab 3:16-19 NIV)  I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. {17} Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, {18} yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. {19} The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

[Thank you to Mark A. Copeland for some of these ideas.]

TLT