Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:1; Habakkuk 1:2–4; Habakkuk 1:5–11; Habakkuk 1:12–17; Habakkuk 2:1–4; Habakkuk 2:12; Habakkuk 2:20; Habakkuk 3:1–3; Habakkuk 3:16; Habakkuk 3:18–19; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38)

The prophet who questioned, watched and rejoiced

Habakkuk the prophet, who cried to the LORD about violence, heard that the LORD was raising up the Chaldeans, answered with a second complaint, stood upon his watch, was told that the righteous shall live by his faith, and closed the book with a prayer in which he trembled and yet rejoiced.

The book opens: “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see” (Habakkuk 1:1). It is made of the prophet's words to the LORD and the LORD's words to him. He begins: “O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save” (Habakkuk 1:2). The LORD answers, “Lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation” (Habakkuk 1:6), and the prophet answers back with a second complaint (Habakkuk 1:12-17).

Then he says, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me” (Habakkuk 2:1). The LORD tells him to write the vision, which “will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:3), and says, “the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Woes follow (Habakkuk 2:5-20), and the chapter ends with the LORD in his holy temple.

The last chapter is “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet” (Habakkuk 3:1). In it he describes God coming from Teman, says “my body trembled” (Habakkuk 3:16), and ends: “Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18). The words of Habakkuk 2:4 are quoted in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38, none of which names him: “But the righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).

Strengths

• Brought his complaint to the LORD
• Watching for the LORD's answer
• Pleading that in wrath the LORD remember mercy
• Yet I will joy in the God of my salvation

Themes

• Complaint and answer
• Waiting on the vision
• The righteous live by faith
• The LORD's coming
• Rejoicing in trouble

The first complaint (Habakkuk 1:1–4)

The prophet cries to the LORD about violence, saying he will not hear or save, and that the law is slacked and justice goes forth perverted.

The first complaint

The book is called “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see” (Habakkuk 1:1). He speaks first, and to the LORD: “O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save” (Habakkuk 1:2).

“Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up. Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted” (Habakkuk 1:3-4).

The LORD raises up the Chaldeans (Habakkuk 1:5–11)

The LORD answers that he is working a work in their days: he is raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation that marches through the earth.

The second complaint (Habakkuk 1:12–17)

The prophet appeals to the LORD as from everlasting and of purer eyes than to behold evil, and asks why he holds his peace when the wicked swallows up the more righteous.

The second complaint

“Art not thou from everlasting, O Jehovah my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Jehovah, thou hast ordained him for judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast established him for correction” (Habakkuk 1:12).

“Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he” (Habakkuk 1:13). He ends with a question: “Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?” (Habakkuk 1:17).

The watch and the vision (Habakkuk 2:1–4)

He stands upon his watch to see what the LORD will speak; the LORD tells him to write the vision, which will surely come, and says the righteous shall live by his faith.

The watch and the vision

“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1).

“And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

“Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).

The woes (Habakkuk 2:5–20)

Woes are spoken against one who increases what is not his and builds a town with blood, and the chapter ends with the LORD in his holy temple.

The prayer and the LORD's coming (Habakkuk 3:1–15)

The third chapter is a prayer of the prophet: he is afraid, asks the LORD to revive his work and remember mercy, and tells of God coming from Teman.

The prayer and the LORD's coming

The chapter is headed “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to Shigionoth” (Habakkuk 3:1). He begins: “O Jehovah, I have heard the report of thee, and am afraid: O Jehovah, revive thy work in the midst of the years; In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).

“God came from Teman, And the Holy One from mount Paran. [Selah. His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of his praise” (Habakkuk 3:3). “He stood, and measured the earth; He beheld, and drove asunder the nations” (Habakkuk 3:6).

“Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, For the salvation of thine anointed” (Habakkuk 3:13). “Thou didst tread the sea with thy horses, The heap of mighty waters” (Habakkuk 3:15).

Trembling, waiting and rejoicing (Habakkuk 3:16–19)

His body trembles and he must wait quietly for the day of trouble, yet he will rejoice in the LORD though fig-tree, vines, olive and flock fail.

Trembling, waiting and rejoicing

“I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble in my place; Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us” (Habakkuk 3:16).

“For though the fig-tree shall not flourish, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

“Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength; And he maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, And will make me to walk upon my high places” (Habakkuk 3:19). Scripture records nothing more of the prophet.

The LORD (Habakkuk 1:2; Habakkuk 2:2; Habakkuk 3:2)

The prophet addresses him, and the LORD answers him and tells him to write the vision.

The Chaldeans (Habakkuk 1:5–11; Habakkuk 1:12–17; Habakkuk 3:16)

The LORD says he is raising up this bitter and hasty nation; the prophet asks why the LORD holds his peace while they swallow up the more righteous.

Major sections

• Habakkuk 1:1–17
• Habakkuk 2:1–20
• Habakkuk 3:1–19

More illuminations · Harbinger's Lamp