About This Book
Habakkuk uniquely records a prophet's dialogue with God, wrestling with theodicy—how a just God can use wicked nations to judge His people and why evil seems to prosper while the righteous suffer. Habakkuk begins by crying out about violence and injustice in Judah. Why does God tolerate wrong? Why does He make Habakkuk look at injustice?
The law is paralyzed, justice never prevails, the wicked hem in the righteous so that justice is perverted. God answers that He is raising up the Babylonians, a ruthless and impetuous people who sweep across the earth seizing dwelling places not their own. They are feared and dreaded, a law unto themselves, guilty people whose own strength is their god. This answer troubles Habakkuk more than the original problem.
He asks how God, whose eyes are too pure to look on evil, can tolerate the treacherous and remain silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous? Babylon treats people like fish to be caught with hooks and nets, sacrificing to their nets because by them they live in luxury. Will they therefore keep emptying their nets, destroying nations without mercy? Habakkuk positions himself as a watchman, waiting to see what God will answer.
God responds that He will indeed judge Babylon—the revelation awaits an appointed time, though it may seem slow, it will surely come. Babylon's pride and greed will be their downfall. God pronounces five woes upon Babylon: for plundering nations, building towns with bloodshed, making neighbors drunk, worshiping idols, and trusting in lifeless images. In contrast, 'the righteous shall live by faith'—a phrase Paul later quotes as foundational to justification.
The book concludes with Habakkuk's prayer, recounting God's mighty acts in history, expressing fear yet faith. Though circumstances are dire—fig trees don't blossom, no grapes on vines, olive crops fail, fields produce no food, flocks are gone—yet Habakkuk will rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in God his Savior. The Sovereign Lord is his strength.