HABAKKUK
Author:
The prophet Habakkuk is not mentioned in any other place in the Bible, so all we know about him is in this writing of his.
Date:
Habakkuk probably wrote a short time before the armies of Babylon invaded Judah, during the reign of either Josiah or Jehoiakim. The Babylonians invaded in 605 BC.
Theme:
Faith in God overcoming doubt about the wisdom of His ways. The question which troubled the prophet’s mind was this: Why would God use the cruel and wicked Babylonians to punish His own people Judah? The answer God gave was: “The righteous will live by his faith” (Hab 2:4), words referred to three times in the New Testament (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38-39).
Contents:
The prophet is alarmed at the evil conditions in Judah
in his days 1:1-4
God’s answer: He is bringing the Babylonians
to punish His people 1:5-11
The question of the prophet: Why should God
use the wicked Babylonians for this? 1:12-17
God’s purpose was soon to be fulfilled 2:1-4
Punishment on the proud and wicked whether
Babylonians or His own people 2:5-20
A psalm of praise 3:1-19
God’s compassion, God’s glory 3:1-6
God’s fierce anger against the nations 3:7-15
The prophet’s faith and joy in God,
no matter what may happen 3:16-19