Testimonies

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Because God is a God who does not want any to perish but all to come into everlasting life, He raises up those who will call upon His name and cry out both for and against those who are blatantly wicked. Habakkuk was such a man. He not only cried out for justice and mercy to prevail, but he saw it in his day and in his time.

Habakkuk was a man of great faith, prayer and praise. In his short book of the Old Testament the prophet asked questions, got answers, and ends the book with great tribute to the One and only who deserves our adoration, the Lord Himself.

Who is this man? What questions was he so bold to ask? How did the Lord respond to him? And finally, how does Habakkuk relate to me personally? These questions will help us take to heart how to live our lives as believers in our day. Our cries are important to the One who hears and examining how Habakkuk responded will show us how to properly relate to Him.

Just who was this prophet from Judah, Habakkuk? The name Habakkuk in the Hebrew comes from the verb habaq, which means “embrace.” And so his name most likely means, “One who embraces” or “One who clings” (1). I imagine Habakkuk, during his time of great despair only had the Lord to cling to. Through our times of trouble we must cling in desperation to the only One who can give us life, the Lord Himself. He will always show Himself strong on our behalf.

Habakkuk is to be believed by some Rabbis as the“...prophet [who] was the son of the Shunamite woman that was at first miraculously given and afterwards raised to life, by Elisha” (2). However, according to Habakkuk 1:1, and 3:1, he was a professional prophet in the land of Judah in the approximate year 607 BC. Habakkuk wrote in a poetic style except for the verses 1:1, 2:6a and 3:1(3). And it is worthy of noting Habakkuk 2:4b, 4 “...but the righteous will live by their faith” is quoted in the New Testament three times (Romans 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Heb 10:37-38) (4).

Interestingly, “we may note that the Dead Sea Scrolls include a commentary on the first two chapters of Habakkuk. This shows how the community at Qumran [training ground of John the Baptist] applied the words of Habakkuk to their own day” (5). Nonetheless, little known about him personally, but he was a man who was bold enough to ask questions of God, and more importantly, he received answers! Have you ever asked God questions like, “How long oh Lord?” Habakkuk did! He was a man, who in my opinion was like Moses and David before him, a man after God’s own heart; seeing the injustices before him and not letting them be, but wrestled with God through prayer.

The first question asked by Habakkuk is a question with a complaint attached to it, “How long shall I cry for help? Aren’t you listening to ME?”(Paraphrase mine). Habakkuk had seen a lot in his day, corruption, thievery, murder, crimes, and hypocrisy. He was through with it! Enough! As much as he cries, he is frustrated because the Lord is not acting on his behalf—not taking care of business as far as Habakkuk, the professional prophet, is concerned! I laugh as I write this out because isn’t it like us to want things to happen NOW? Not only for this man of God who lived years, thousands of years, ago, but for us today as well. Human nature has not changed a bit.

In addition, not only is he complaining to God about the wicked, he also is complaining that God is slow, or that He cannot hear nor save (vs.2, 3). Habakkuk must have been amazed when the Lord spoke out concerning these questions, and or complaints, which he was crying out to the Lord about.

Another question he asks is, “Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth” (1:3-4). But the problem is Habakkuk forgets he is talking to God the Almighty when he says that He sees the corruption of the law and the judges acting unjustly. Like us sometimes his focus is off, and instead of having the eternal perspective, instead of focusing on the truth and the power of the Word of God; his focus is on the people’s corruption which causes him to feel helpless. Whenever I fix my eyes on things of this world, even if they are good, I find myself being anxious and helpless as Habakkuk is feeling. But, halleluiah, feeling is not Fact! When I set my sights on Jesus great faith arises in me, because as Paul proclaims, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” (Phil. 4:13)
Now it’s God’s turn to answer, and the Lord shows the prophet that He is listening to him; God is not deaf to his cries as once believed. This is when God speaks... “Don’t forget Habakkuk, I WILL WORK IN YOUR DAY!” (Paraphrase mine). God is great and mighty and He chose to work in the day of his prophet, and He also chooses to work in our day as well. We are not to be discouraged! But we are to look up and see God perform His glory in our time, in our day and on our behalf.

God’s answer causes Habakkuk to rethink his complaint. “Trouble,” he thinks because he lambasted his people and God brings up the fact that He will use this heathen nation of Babylon as a tool, a paddle, in the hands of the Lord. Habakkuk now asks for mercy on his wicked nation, reminding God of His eternal covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: “We shall not die” (verse 12). The prophet sees Babylon, the chosen vessel for the destruction of his people, a worse evil. He cries out to the Lord to remind Him saying, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.” But God will judge Babylon, and destroy her after He uses her as a correcting rod for Judah. Just like today, God has His hand in the nation’s affairs for His use and purpose Lord. God allows the wicked to correct us when we are in sin and He delights in our correction. His mercy triumphs over judgment as He sent His Son Jesus to the cross as our final sacrifice, atonement and appropriation for our wickedness. We, like Habakkuk can praise His name and stand in awe as we see, with hind sight, the plans for our glorious future unfold. Let us keep our focus on the eternal greatness and plans of God and not get caught up in the wickedness of our day.

For Habakkuk the glorious finish of his message points to the One who is worthy of all our praise and thanksgiving, the Lord Himself. In 3:13 he proclaims: “You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed.” Even in the midst of trials and tribulations Habakkuk knew were his hope came from. He no longer looked at the circumstances closing in on him. With a touch from the Lord, the prophet changes his vision from the temporal to the eternal. Then in 3:17-19 he proclaims with such certainty and adoration to the One who is worthy of all of his praise:

17Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

This beautiful closing of Habakkuk can remind us of the blessed assurance we have in the Lord. His generous, loving faithfulness gives us peace and rest in the midst of any storm.

In wrapping up, how does this prophet of praise relate to me? I have had times of such great desperation where all I could do is cling to God. He alone was my comfort and my salvation. As a child I grew up in an alcoholic and abusive home. This caused for great turmoil in our family. When I was just 4 years old, there were days where I would hide out from my father and cry out to the Lord, “Why Lord?” I always felt His comfort and peace fill my soul. I would cling ever so tightly to Him.

Later, I had times where I would not only flee from my father, but some of my siblings as well. They would viciously attack me and cause me great both physical and emotional pain. Once we were at the beach looking over the jetty at the end of the pier when I felt a push from behind by my sister and I landed into a deep hole with no way out. Miraculously, the Lord had a man pull me to my feet and save me from drowning. Not only was I blamed, but I was expected to act like nothing happened and to forget about it. I thought, as the prophet did, that God was not listening to my cries and pleas for help. Not only has the Lord heard my cries to restored my family and I from the years of pain, He became my Father after the death of my biological one.

As an adult I have been very successful at selling real estate. When it came time for me to become a mother, I had a career change. I quit my close to six figure income to stay home and raise our son Jonathan. This was a great leap of faith for us, but the Scripture I held on to was Habakkuk 3:17-19. We had times of plenty and we have had times on want, but the Lord has always, ALWAYS, come through for us and provided for all of our needs. During these times of want, the Lord has been my strength and He has enabled me to walk in high places for His glory.

When my son Matthew was born two weeks later he became deathly ill with a high fever. The Lord surrounded me with His peace and hope when even the doctors were stumped in how to diagnose his illness. After much prodding and pricking of his tiny body, we would have been completely afraid if it wasn’t for the Lord, His Word, and others praying for us. We stayed two weeks in CHOC Hospital and left there with Matthew healed all to the glory of God!

The Lord has been so faithful in my life. Like a good Father, He has allowed me to ask questions, complain, and cry out to Him. I have seen Him be strong in my day and answer my prayers and the prayers of others. He has been patient, kind; slow to anger and abounding in love. What a great and mighty God we serve. I will cling to Him all the days of my life and I will dwell in His house forever, together will all of the saints. This is the God in whom we serve. The One, who like with Habakkuk, hears us and answers us when we call.

Endnote Page
1. Nelson, p.997
2. Henry, Mathew, Habakkuk Commentary, Nelson Electronic Bible Library
3. Clark, p. 65
4. Ibid.p.65
5. Ibid. p.65

Bibliography
Clark, David J., Hatton, Howard A., A Handbook On The Books Of Nahum, Habakkuk, And Zephaniah, (United Bible Societies) 1989.
Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.
Mc Gee, J. Vernon, Nahum & Habakkuk, (Pasadena, CA: Thru The Bible Books) 1982, c1979.
The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982

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