“The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith”
Habakkuk is one of the most applicable books in the Bible. It is common for us to question the evil in the world around us and wonder about the justice of God. Habakkuk had these same questions, and the answer from God may be surprising.
Not much is known about Habakkuk, but one distinguishing characteristic of the book is the poetic language. In fact, chapter three is written as a psalm and includes the arrangement information for it to be sung, so it is clear that Habakkuk is familiar with the liturgical tradition of the music in the temple. Although not much is known about the author, he provides insight into the questions about the problem of evil.
Chapter one opens with Habakkuk crying out to the Lord and asking why the Lord appears to not see the evil and violence surrounding him. He complains that “the law is paralyzed” and “justice goes forth perverted” (1:4). God’s answer is shocking. In fact, He says, “for I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (1:5). He is going to use the Babylonians to punish the injustice found in Judah. An affronted Habakkuk responds to God stating, “why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallow up the man more righteous than he?” (1:13). Although Habakkuk is disturbed by the evil in Judah, he can’t believe that God would use an even more evil civilization to dole out justice.
Chapter two opens with Habakkuk stating that he will wait and watch to see how God will answer his complaint. The Lord then answers that Habakkuk needs to live by faith and trust God. The Babylonians will be punished too, and God knows what He is doing – He has a plan. In fact, the “nations weary themselves for nothing” (2:13). Although these nations believe they are in control, God is really the one in control. There is language in chapter two which is similar to the language of Isaiah 44, describing the vanity and worthlessness of idolatry, and the chapter then ends with the reminder that “the Lord is in His holy temple” (2:20). The response of both the earth (and us) should be for us to keep silent.
Habakkuk’s final prayer in chapter three is that, although he is afraid and in awe, he will wait quietly on the Lord. The last few verses are incredibly beautiful and worth meditating on:
“I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yes, I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation, God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like deer’s, He makes me tread on my high places” (3:16-19).
So, this short book packs quite a punch and should help us understand how to view God and His character. God DOES care about evil and will bring justice – but we may not understand or even like His solution. However, like Habakkuk, we must quietly wait and rejoice in the Lord no matter what our thoughts on His plan. Notice that Habakkuk also consistently takes his complaints to the Lord – the right place to take our complaints as well. We can’t possibly understand God’s overarching plan and how He raises up some nations and disciplines others, but we can live by faith and trust that He is always our strength and salvation.
