Reading the Bible together – Habakkuk

April 2020

– The book we are reading this month is the book of Habakkuk, which is the 35th book of the Old Testament.

This will be the 61st book of the Bible we will have read, since commencing this initiative over four years ago in October 2015. (We have actually read Matthew and Joshua twice!) . There are a total of 66 books in the Bible, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Only 5 more to go and we will have read the whole Bible together!

We may not be able to review this book in the usual way during the coronavirus pandemic.  However, this does not stop us from continuing to read the Bible together and to benefit from our own personal study of this book.

Introduction to the Book of Habakkuk

Habakkuk 1:13 – Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

Habakkuk 2:4 – Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 3:16-19 – When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

A Brief Overview

Bible Survey – Habakkuk
Hebrew Name – Chavaquq “Embrace”
Greek Name – Habakkouk (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author – Habakkuk (According to Tradition)
Date – 626 BC Approximately
Theme – The Judgement of the Babylonians
Types and Shadows – In Habakkuk Jesus will judge the oppressors

Summary of The Book of Habakkuk

Overview

• Chapter 1:1-4 – Habakkuk complains about violence and oppression in Judah
• Chapter 1:5-11 – the Chaldeans (Babylonians) will be God’s instruments
• Chapter 1:12-17 – Habakkuk protests about using the Babylonians as the oppressors
• Chapter 2:1-5 – the righteous shall live by faith and the wicked shall perish
• Chapter 2:6-20 – five woes against the oppressors
• Chapter 3:1-19 – God will come to save his people.

There is little known about the man Habakkuk, he began to prophesy around the same time as Jeremiah in the latter part of the seventh century BC. This was a time after the northern kingdom of Israel have fallen, and only the southern kingdom of Judah remained. They had their moments of glory, yet their disobedience was uncurable, and the Babylonians were on the rise.

Outline of the Book of Habakkuk

Habakkuk makes complaints against God and God’s answers to these complaints. Habakkuk exemplifies a great faith and a high conception of God, but he is perplexed because events have not taken the course which he had desired.

The first complaint which he brings is in Habakkuk 1:2-4 and he says that his preaching to the people has not resulted in repentance on their part: God’s answer to this is that he is raising up the Chaldeans to punish the Jews for their disobedience (Habakkuk 1:5-11). This leads Habakkuk to his second complaint – Why would God punish His own people at the hand of a nation which is even more wicked and unholy than that which is being punished? (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1). God then assures Habakkuk that the Chaldeans are not to go without punishment and that unwavering faith on the part of the Jews will ultimately be rewarded (Habakkuk 2:2-4). Habakkuk 2:5-20 contains a condemnation and threat of punishment for aggression, violence, and idolatry. The final chapter of the book is a song of praise of God and His judgment, exemplifying belief in the principle set out in Habakkuk 2:4, “the just shall live by his faith.”

More information can be found HERE

SHORT ILLUSTRATED SUMMARY OF HABAKKUK

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