Habakkuk was unique among the twelve, so-called, ‘minor prophets’ in that his ‘burden’ was directed mainly against God, rather than against the rebellious people of the southern kingdom of Judah and their kings. His prayer life indicates that he had a burning zeal for the Lord’s honour and glory. There were many questions in his heart that he could direct only to God. Some of these questions can take the reader by surprise. We need to learn the lesson that it is only our honest, yet sincere, questioning of God that will lead us to a deeper knowledge of His ways.

Habakkuk’s message for today.

Many of the prophet’s opening words, e.g.,

• violence
• iniquity,
• grievance,
• strife

witness to the timeless message of the Book. We live in an increasingly violent, corrupt and immoral society, which leaves many Christians seeking to find answers to difficult questions, e.g.,

• Why does God allow these things to continue for so long?
• Why do the innocent suffer and the wicked appear to triumph?
• Why do our prayers to God for release from the violence and corruption appear to go unanswered by God?

Habakkuk felt the same. Initially, he believed that God was not listening to his prayers: ‘O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.’, Hab. 1. 2. In a sympathetic and non-judgmental way, God tells him that He had heard and answered his prayer. The difficulty was that Habakkuk was looking in the wrong place for the answer. If he had been more outward looking, he would have seen that God, in His sovereignty, was using the surrounding nations to chasten His rebellious people. We must take care in our prayers not to pre-judge when, how and where God chooses to answer us. He is approachable and will allay our fears if we come to Him, ready to listen and humble enough to bow to what He says.