The Minor Prophets: Habakkuk Is God truly faithful?

Lesson 8 1 April 2012

Introduction to Habakkuk
Habakkuks name means: Embrace or Join together He is believed to be a watchman in Jerusalem Time period of service: After the Battle of Carchemish Key Event: The chaos that followed the death of Josiah (cf. 2 Chronicles 36 and 2 Kings 24) Theme: Gods faithfulness to His people
ca. 600 BC 722 BC 609 BC 605 BC 586 BC 536 BC 400 BC

Fall of King Josiah Samaria dies

The Battle of Carchemish

Habakkuks prophesy

Fall of Return to Jerusalem Jerusalem

The End of the Old Testament

Habakkuk 1:1- 11
Habakkuks First Complaint vs. 2 4: Why does God allow evil to continue?
He prayed for revival that has not taken place He is concerned about the lack of justice in the city the evil hedges in the righteous

vs. 5 11 God responds

God does not allow evil to flourish among His people forever Gods answer is always unexpected God is bringing the Babylonians to chasten His people They will not be stopped God will use them even though they ascribe their success to their gods

Habakkuk 1:13 2:5

Habakkuks 2nd Complaint
vs. 1:12 2:1 Is God truly faithful?
He acknowledges Gods supremacy; but he is perplexed How can God use someone more evil to judge evil? How can God use unbelievers to chastise believers? He will wait for an answer

vs. 2:2 2:5 Gods answer

First, Habakkuk was instructed to record the answer so that it would be available for all Second, the prophesy would be fulfilled and not turned back The arrogant wont believe The faithful will believe and live by that belief (vs. 4) The unbeliever will turn away and seek to hide himself in material gain

Habakkuk 2:6 2:20

A Taunt Song Against the Unbeliever
vs. 2: 6 8 The unbeliever lives on borrowed dreams
He who dies with the most toys wins He becomes a slave to the creditor

vs. 2: 9 11 The unbeliever uses evil for gain

He builds his house on high, believing no disaster can overtake him He tells others that they can gain by using his methods

vs. 2: 12 14: The unbeliever builds by using violence

Violence and striving to build yourself up will only result in tearing you down For the world will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD

vs. 2: 15 17: The constant search for pleasure vs. 2: 18 20: The final result: Idolatry

Habakkuk 3
Habakkuks Prayer
vs. 3:1 2: He acknowledges Gods awesomeness vs. 3: 3 15 He acknowledges Gods acts in history
God was the law giver though the people failed the law All the nations are in His hands and He led the people to conquer the land Gods purpose was the salvation of His people through His Anointed

vs. 16: The Prophet acknowledges his fear vs. 17 19: The Song of Victory
Habakkuk lists everything that would seem to say that God had abandoned the land vs. 18: The high point of Habakkuks faith vs. 19: Habakkuk rests in the promise of salvation

References
The TANAKH. The Book of Habakkuk pp. 10631069 The NIV. The Book of Habakkuk The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order. The Prophecies of Habakkuk pp. 994 - 999 Bill T. and Beyer, Brian E. Encountering the Old Testament pp. 458 - 459 Boice, James Montgomery. The Minor Prophets vol. 2 pp. 389 - 434 Unger, Merrill F. Ungers Commentary on the Old Testament pp. 1895-1917