Habakkuk: revival now

Revival Now

Habakkuk: a study guide

1.1. Before you start ...

Note: justice and righteousness are similar words.

1. What is justice? Is justice the same as equality? Is there equality of resources? Is there a just reward for our work? Honestly? Accountable? Do you break the law?
2. In your own opinion, how would the world be if it were just?
3. If you were God, what would you do to establish justice in society today?
4. What are the causes of violence in the world today? What should we do to alleviate the injustice and violence that we face?
5. Where in the Bible is there a quest for Justice?
6. Can it be a sin to seek justice?
7. When we are looking for our own righteousness, do we minimize what Jesus did?
8. Can we think we are too good to be judged by God?
9. If God is just, and I behave well, do I deserve a reward?
10. Can God use unbelieving people, wicked or evil to accomplish His purposes?
11. ¿Does God work in nature and politics to achieve his goals with humans?
12. What is justice? How is a society that works for justice?

Read Habakkuk 1:1-4.
What is Habakkuk's complaint? Do we have this same complaint today ?

Historical Context
1.2. Historical Background
Name: We are not certain as to the meaning of his name. The most likely is "hug", but can also be the name of an Assyrian plant called, "hambakuku".

1.3. Kings of Judah and chronology
Abraham 2000,

Moses 1500,

David 1000,

Death of Solomon and the division of the kingdom 922

The fall of Israel 722

Isaiah, 740-690,

The fall of Judah 587 BC

Habakkuk was written shortly before the Babylonian conquest of Judea. No one imagined that the Chaldeans or Babylonians would be a world power before 612 BC.
Babylonia was a province of the Assyrian empire. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, where Jonah preached in 782 BC. Babylonia achieved their independence by defeating Nineveh in 612 BC. After the defeat of Nineveh they continued to expand and defeated Egypt at the battle of Carchemish in 605 A.C. In the same year Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem for the first time.

Judea was a good king, Josiah (640-609 BC), Jehoahaz (3 months in 609) and Jehoiakim (609-598 BC) were kings which did what was evil in the eyes of Jehovah. It is unknown who was the king when Habakkuk wrote his book.

Habakkuk presents the rise of the Chaldeans as a surprise. This probably indicates a date before the death of Josiah. But it also indicates a bad government which may indicate that Josiah had died. It appears that the book of Habakkuk could have been written as late as before the battle of Carchemish in 605 BC.

1.4. Babylonian Conquest
The Babylonian conquest was a series of wars and insurrections between 606 and 586. The result of this conquest was the destruction of Judea and Jerusalem and the exile of the Jewish people.

1.5. The task of a prophet
1. The prophet is a spokesman, who must say what someone else has said.
2. The prophet could not contradict what had already been declared by God for the other prophets. It had to be consistent with previous revelation. The people were called to judge the prop(and kill) that were not congruent with the revelation (Deuteronomy 13).
3. What the prophet says must happen, without exception (Deuteronomy 18).
4. The prophet speaks of Jesus (Luke 24:24-26 and 44-52).

Habakkuk meets all these standards of prophecy. If one reviews the quotations and allusions to other books, Habakkuk did his homework diligently (see the sheets handed out for this workshop.)

1.6. Habakkuk: a mini Bible
Habakkuk is one of many books, which summarizes the entire message of the Bible. It defines sin, salvation by faith, the trial of God and the hope of salvation.

It describes the overall purpose of God's plan: "You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed" 3:13a (see Ephesians 1:9-10).


1.7. Literary style
Like the other prophets of the Old Testament, Habakkuk wrote his book in Hebrew poetry. This means that he writes parallels.

He also writes a kind of dialogue or drama with questions for God and God's answers. God speaks twice and Habakkuk speaks 3 times. This would be very effective in a performance of the book to a large audience.

Habakkuk 2:9-17 describes five woes on the wicked. These woes are similar to those of other prophets: twenty one times in Isaiah 5, twelve times in Jeremiah, eight times in Ezekiel, also in Hosea, Amos, Micah, Nahum, and Zachariah.

Habakkuk 3 is a prayer for mercy. This is a change in the literary genre.

What would happen if God didn’t act?
What if God didn’t hate sin so much?


2.1. The complaint of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:1-4)
How long? How long will God tolerate injustice and violence?

Habakkuk lived in an unjust society. See the ethical and religious situation that causes Habakkuk to launch a complaint to God about the injustice around him. . He complains of the destruction, violence, strife, and contention.

So the law is paralyzed,

and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

so justice goes forth perverted. (1:4)

Dialogue 1:
What is Habakkuk`s attitude toward God when he asks these questions?
Do we have the same complaints today?

2. 2. God`s answer (Habakkuk 1:5-11)

God says, I am not passive against injustices in this world. “I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” The Chaldeans will establish His justice among his people, a nation far more violent, corrupt and idolatrous than Judea.

2.3.The second complaint of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:12-17)

God's answer takes Habakkuk to question God Himself. “Are you not from everlasting, …my HOLY One?”

“ why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?”

Habakkuk`s concept is that God has nothing to do with suffering. And he thinks he is innocent or not so bad that God would punish him.

Dialogue 2: Indicate the charges against God in Habakkuk chapter one. How are these claims resolved in the rest of the book?

Do we think God Is unfair?

It is also important to note that Habakkuk does not call people to repentance like other prophets.

2.4.The prophet will wait for a response from God (Habakkuk 2:1)
.”.... To see what I will answer concerning my complaint.” Could it be that God is being challenged?

2.5. God`s second answer (Habakkuk 2:2-5)

God responds to Habakkuk said, "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie.”

Then God explains why his people are wrong. "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4)

That is, when we do not trust in God we are puffed up. We can see that we are not just because we are proud. In other words we would say, "You can do it," "by faith I can do it.", we have a "high self-esteem ", "I'm better than they.”, "our church is the best". These statements and many more indicate we are self-sufficient, autonomous and able to make the best decisions. All these statements deny our dependence on God.

In contrast, what God wants is to always trust Him for everything."... The just shall live by faith "(Habakkuk 2:4b). In other words, what God wants is not that we do things, but to trust Him. If we believe in ourselves we are 'self-idolatrous' and we are rejecting God. We think we have rights because we are 'good', when only God is good (Mark 10:18). Our pride shows that we do not trust in God. We are guilty.

The culture of pride

(Definition-- Pride).1. m. Arrogance, vanity, excessive self-esteem, which is sometimes masked by noble birth, virtuous causes. (Royal Spanish Academy © All rights reserved).

Today almost no one thinks that pride is harmful. We live in a culture of pride. This culture of pride is nothing new. It was partly the reason that Satan made Eve to sin in the garden, "be like God."

We are manipulated by pride. We try to create a pride for all.

Pride has many synonyms. Self-esteem, educated, Alfa, Presbyterians, Methodists, Mercedes, Toyota, BMW, Rolex, play Golf, Live at Summit, I went to Paris, I am Bear, a Dolphin, a Chief ….

Note: Galatians presents a positive side of pride.

“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load (Galatians 6:3-5 ESV).

2.5. The five ayes against the proud (Habakkuk 2:6-20; see Isaiah 5:8-30)

When we are proud we can do many atrocities against other humans. The five ayes shows signs of situations we see every day. Then God reveals the consequences or the judgments of God.

2.6. The fruits of pride

Each case is an example of how our pride allows us to walk over others. The natural consequence is to think that we are entitled to what we want.

2.6.1. Habakkuk 2:6-8 Woe to him who increases what is not his!

But we deserve it, right? And the rest, of course, do not deserve it.

2.6.2. Habakkuk 2:9-11 Woe to him who obtained illegal profits for his home to set his nest on high!
But the goal is worth any means ... is not it?

2.6.3. Habakkuk 2:12-13 Woe to him who builds a town with blood!
Others lives are worthless.

2.6.4. Habakkuk 2:15-17 Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor! Woe to you that mixing your poison to get drunk so you can look on their nakedness!
We make our neighbors look stupid and laugh at them for our own amusement.

2.6.5. Habakkuk 2:18-19 Woe to him who says to wood, "Awake" or the dumb stone, "Arise!"
We are idolaters because we give importance to the material rather than spiritual.

2.7. God's conclusion

"But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." (Habakkuk 2:20).
This is God's answer to Habakkuk's complaints. No one can question His justice. All have been shown to be sinners. God has shown him five situations where all are guilty. No one is innocent so they cannot say that God is unfair.

Habakkuk 2:14 also states that God continually sets up His justice on earth. … “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge (of justice) of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” We must recognize that we have an idea of ​​justice so isolated from reality.

Dialogue 3: How does God's answer solves the problem of injustice that Habakkuk had planted in the first verses?

What do you think? Are the woes against all the proud men, or against the Chaldeans or against Judah?

Two interpretations of the five ayes
A. McGrath and D. Stuart took the woes as a statement against the Chaldeans. This interpretation suggests that God will do punish them but not the Hebrews.
B. However this interpretation does not explain the change in attitude when we arrive at the third chapter. For here we find a radically different attitude. Habakkuk sees God's actions are fair. He sees God's actions are correct and righteous. If the woes are only against the Chaldeans, there is no reason for the change of attitude in Habakkuk.

3.1. The prayer of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:1-19)

“The prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionot” (Habakkuk 3:1)

The term shigionoth seems to be a musical term. It is the plural form. The singular is used in Psalm 7:1 and it may refer to the style of music. If you will observe the musical terms: shigionoth in verse 1, stringed instruments in verse 19, and Selah in verses 3, 9, and 13, it is obvious this chapter is a psalm or poem written by Habakkuk to celebrate his new understanding of what God has taught him. Exell comments, "The Bible contains many grand songs and odes. But this song of Habakkuk stands in peerless splendour amongst them all." (www.hurtingchristian.org Habakkuk Ponders God`s Majesty)

This marks a change in literary genre. AND a marked change in attitude.

Habakkuk's prayer/song is filled with quotes from other books in the Old Testament.

3.2.. The call for prayer (Habakkuk 3:1-2)

He is seeing that God has the power to carry out His stated intentions in Chapter 1.

Habakkuk realizes that God is right, His countrymen are guilty of thinking of themselves first. Even God is secondary. They are so selfish in their thinking, others have no value. They worship themselves and their own desires. God is right to show their anger against these men (see Romans 1:18).

Habakkuk calls for God to revive his work. Is this the revival we want?

O LORD, I have heard the report of you,
and your work, O LORD, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk then requests, "In wrath, remember to have compassion" (Habakkuk 3:2).

3.3. God comes (Habakkuk 3:3-7)

"God came from Teman" and comes with all his might. God is willing to use all his power to achieve their purposes.

"His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his power. Selah. His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power "(Habakkuk 3:3 b-4).

Habakkuk indicates that you cannot see all of God`s power, he has veiled it. . We only see reflections of it. When we see this world is simple to think that God is behind everything. Surprisingly, the "scientists" cannot see the power of God.

3.4. The wrath of God (Habakkuk 3:8-15)

Many times we think God is not active in the world today.

We believe that in this life we just receive the natural consequences for what we have done. But according to Habakkuk the wrath and judgment of God comes in this life also as Romans 1:18-32 also said. God is not passive in the face of injustice or pride. God destroys his enemies. No one can lift her head to him.

3.5. Faith of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:16-19)
What should be the attitude of men toward God and His wrath? Habakkuk's final response is a model for us.

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the e produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord: I will take joy in the God of my salvation God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer`s; he makes me tread on my high places." (Habakkuk 3:17-19).


Habakkuk doubted God and His righteousness but eventually comes to a complete trust in God, despite the prospect of the future is slavery, exile and poverty.

Dialogue 4: How has your attitude toward God changed since the first of Habakkuk to the end of the book?

Note well: Habakkuk begins with pride in his book and ends with faith. At first start demanding their rights before God and in the end this trusted God even though he will lose all their possessions. Habakkuk sees pride as a sin and the opposition of man to God. The basic attitude of sin makes man think more of himself than others. When we despise others for being better than others we are easy to dismiss others as evidenced by 5 ayes.

3.6 Habakkuk 3 is written to be sung.

What is the evidence for this?

4.1. Habakkuk in the New Testament
The New Testament quotes "the just shall live by faith" (2:4) three times: in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:l l, and Hebrews 10:38.To explain these verses is necessary to understand the full context of Habakkuk, that is, Paul is quoting the whole book and not just the phase.

4.1.1 Romans 1:17
Paul takes Habakkuk for the topic of Romans. Insert the entire book of Habakkuk with this little quote. Salvation is not a matter of pride in what we do.

More Romans 1:18-32 presents God's wrath, which we saw in Habakkuk, as something to remedy that man be at peace with God. (Romans 5:1). This is significant if Romans is a commentary on Habakkuk.

4.1.2 Galatians 3:11
Paul takes Habakkuk to show that faith is not by works but by faith.

4.1.3 Hebrews 10:38

Hebrews shows that it is important to believe in God.

4.1.4 Revelation 6:10
And is there an echo in Revelation with ... O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?

4.1.5 The sentence of Habakkuk on Judah is finalized by Jesus. “Your house has been left desolate.

4.2. Habakkuk and Christ
The book of Habakkuk destroys all other paths to salvation and shows that only Jesus can be our savior. God intends to save his people and his 'anointed', i.e. “His Christ”. (Habakkuk 3:13a).

The book is a prelude to the New Testament teaching of justification by faith (trust) and not justification by our obedience (loyalty) to the law.

5.1. Conclusion
Pride - faith is the test of orthodoxy of Habakkuk. Anything that does not come from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

6.1. Bibliography:

1. David W. Baker, "Habakkuk" in New Bible Commentary, Century XXI, IVP.
2. Matthew Henry, "Habakkuk" in Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary, CLIE.
3. "Habakkuk" in New Bible Dictionary, IVP. “certainty”, ”certainty”.
4. Martin Lloyd Jones, from fear to faith, Internet.
5. Douglas Stuart and Gordon Fee, "Habakkuk," in How to read the Bible book by book, Zondervan.
6. Alister McGrath, The NIV Bible companion, Vida.