As a mouthpiece of God, the prophet's message originated from God, not himself. His job was to speak, not to question. Habakkuk is unique within the prophetic books in that Habakkuk was allowed the opportunity to question God and hear His answers. This dialogue provides an insight into the workings of God and the need for man to trust Him even when he doesn't completely understand.

Questions/Answers

Habakkuk's first question (1:2-4) was a cry for justice, "How long shall I cry and You will not hear?" Habakkuk did not understand why the righteous were being oppressed by the wicked within Judah and God was, seemingly, doing nothing. God responded (1:5-11) by saying that He was indeed at work bringing the Chaldeans to destroy the wicked of Judah. This was to happen in the days of Habakkuk.

Habakkuk may have understood the facts of the answer, but struggled to harmonize this answer with the goodness and justice of God (1:12-2:1). The wicked in Judah needed to be destroyed, but how could God use a nation that was even more wicked to accomplish His purpose?

God's response was clear and powerful (2:2-20). After the Chaldeans accomplished His purpose, God would then destroy them for their arrogance and immorality. This nation was not doing the will of God as a humble servant, but as an unknowing pawn in the workings of God.

This answer must have produced an avalanche of questions in the mind of Habakkuk. Why the Chaldeans? How would God be able to accomplish His purpose through this arrogant, unwitting nation who worshipped false gods? How could He allow them to think that their gods were giving them the victory? Surely there were better, less complicated choices. But the question session was over.

The Key

God's response gave Habakkuk, and us, the key to accepting God's answers even when we don't fully comprehend.

"The just shall live by his faith" (2:4). This verse is quoted three times in the New Testament. A man is made just by the grace of God through his faith (Romans 1:17). This justification is not through a system of Law but of faith (Galatians 3:11). And this faith is not a one-time action, but a lifetime of endurance (Hebrews 10:38). The application for Habakkuk was that he was going to have to endure the destruction of his homeland. God did not rescue him from his suffering. Jerusalem's destruction is described in vivid details in Lamentations (please read especially 4:1-17). God's will was for this devastation to occur. Habakkuk, if he was a "just" one of God, had to trust God even when the walls of his homeland came tumbling down. His trust was not a simple acceptance of God's will. As he faced numerous choices throughout this turmoil, he would have to trust God enough to continue to obey Him. With physical death surrounding him, perhaps even encompassing him - by faith he could live spiritually. "The just shall live by his faith" becomes (1) an exhortation to "faith" no matter the circumstance, (2) a criteria to determine who is "just" and (3) the way to "live."

God's answer ends with, "the LORD is in His holy temple" (2:20). Whatever happens on this earth we must never forget who God is and where He is. He sees all, knows all and is active in the lives of His people. No one can threaten Him, challenge Him or even approach Him unless He allows. He has told us all we need to know. All the earth is to "keep silence before Him" - this includes you and me.

Resolve

To Habakkuk's credit, he knew when to stop and be "silent." His questions turned to prayer in chapter 3. He described the greatness of the glory of God (3:3-9), noted the reverent reaction of the creation to God (3:9-11) and recounted the work of God in the history of man (3:12-15). He then described his resolve (3:16-19). His earthly life was about to become tortured. The destruction would affect the vegetation and livestock as well as man. What would he do? "I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Why? Because "the LORD God is my strength."

Although not recorded for us, Habakkuk went through his own turmoil and physical death. What would he say to us today? What lessons did he learn, not only from the answers God gave but also through the experience of trusting God through adversity?

How many of us will face adversity in this life? How many times will it come from the hand of the Devil because of his hatred of all good things? How many times will it come from the hand of God as He disciplines His children? We will not always know the difference. We will not always understand why. But in the pleasant times and the painful, the just shall live by faith.

- Biblical Insights, August 2012