Habakkuk penned the book of the Bible that bears his name. This book, Habakkuk, is one of the 12 minor prophets.
Habakkuk stands out as unique among the writers of the minor prophets. His book, though short, records his conversations with God, asking important questions about justice. So who was this man who spoke to God so boldly?
What Do We Know about Habakkuk?
Not much is known about the man Habakkuk himself. We know that his name means “embrace” or “embraced,” though scholars differ on which of these is correct.
Some have postulated that Habakkuk is the son given to the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. This stems from the fact that in 2 Kings 4:16, Elisha’s words to the woman may be translated as, “you shall embrace a son,” and Habakkuk’s name means “embrace.” Rabbinical tradition backs up this claim. If true, it would mean that Habakkuk was the son given to an older woman who took the prophet, Elisha, in and provided for him. This son was a miraculous gift from the Lord because of her kindness. You can find the full story in 2 Kings 4:8-37.
However, we have no concrete evidence that this is the case. Instead, all we truly know about Habakkuk is that he was a prophet and a poet. From the last line of Habakkuk 3:19, it appears he may also have played stringed instruments. From his writings, we can tell that he was bold in addressing queries to the Lord, which indicates he must have had a strong relationship with Him.
Where Is Habakkuk in the Bible?
Habakkuk is found in the 12 minor prophets in the Old Testament. In the Hebrew Bible, the minor prophets are considered the eighth book of the section known as the Nevi’im, or Prophets. They are called the minor prophets because of their short length.
Habakkuk is grouped with Obadiah, Nahum, and Zephaniah, who all prophesied around the time of the destruction of Judah. However, they each wrote and prophesied about different aspects. Reading all four gives a more complete picture.
When Did Habakkuk Prophecy?
Habakkuk prophesied about the Babylonians and the destruction of Jerusalem, which places him in the timeline where the Babylonians had become a conquering nation but had not yet threatened Judah. Thus, scholars believe he prophesied in the 600s B.C.
This places Habakkuk as a contemporary of Jeremiah. It also means that he probably lived toward the end of Josiah’s reign or at the beginning of Jehoiakim’s reign.
Many scholars place Habakkuk’s prophecies around 605 B.C. since this is the date of the battle of Carchemish, in which Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon defeated Egypt and Assyria. Carchemish stood out as a major victory, marking the growing supremacy of Babylon in the region.
However, in Habakkuk 1:5-6, the Lord states, “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.”
The fact that God says it is amazing and unbelievable seems to imply that Babylon had not yet seriously threatened Judah. Because of this, some scholars place the book of Habakkuk earlier. Habakkuk could have been written any time from the rise of neo-Babylonia through Nabopolassar over Assyria in 626 B.C. through 20 years later, toward the battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C.
The fact that Babylon would cause Judah’s downfall may also have been surprising because, for the first time in many years, Assyria and Egypt were weak, giving Judah newfound independence from foreign powers. Unfortunately, King Josiah set out to meet Necho II of Egypt’s army at Megiddo before the battle of Carchemish, apparently against the will of God and was ultimately slain. His successor Jehoiakim was a puppet king.
What Is Habakkuk Known For?
The book of Habakkuk, at only three chapters, is perfect for reading in one sitting.
Habakkuk addresses questions about why God allows injustice. Unlike some prophets that were sent to prophesy against Israel, Judah, or other nations, the book of Habakkuk records a conversation between Habakkuk and God. From this, we see an interesting glimpse into God dialoguing with a follower who has questions. By reading Habakkuk, we find answers as well.
The book of Habakkuk begins, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted” (Habakkuk 1:1-4).
In response to Habakkuk’s plea about the wickedness of Judah, God sends a shocking message: the Babylonians will bring retribution.
This appears to horrify Habakkuk even more. “You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”(Habakkuk 1:12-13).
Habakkuk questions how God could use wicked Babylonia to punish Judah. Even though he had been complaining about Judah, Judah was significantly better than the Babylonians in Habakkuk’s eyes. How was this fair?
The Lord responds by assuring Habakkuk that Babylon will also face punishment for their actions. In Habakkuk 2, God rattles off woes for the evil Babylonians, while declaring, “But the righteous person will live by his faithfulness” (Habakkuk 2:4). Evil Babylon will not prosper for long.
In response to this, Habakkuk pens a prayer in the form of a song praising the Lord. The whole of Habakkuk 3 records Habakkuk’s song, with instructions for playing.
What Can We Learn from Habakkuk?
Many of us may resonate with Habakkuk’s distraught cries for answers. When it seems that the wicked prosper while the righteous are oppressed when it seems that we are surrounded by destruction and violence and “justice never prevails” (Habakkuk 1:4), we may cry out to God, wondering why He does not answer.
Though we may not hear a prophecy from the Lord in the same way Habakkuk did, we can take comfort from this book. Here, we read that God has a plan, even when we can’t see it. God’s plan may be far beyond what we imagine. “Watch—and be utterly amazed,” God says in Habakkuk 1:5. The Lord will not suffer injustice forever.
From Habakkuk, we also learn a notable lesson in Habakkuk 2:1. Even though Habakkuk is confused and distraught, he says, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint” (Habakkuk 2:1). Habakkuk waited for the Lord’s reply, alert for the answer God would provide. Instead of simply yelling at God, he asked questions and then waited for answers. He had faith that God did in fact have a reason.
Finally, we see the response that the Lord brings when His plans are revealed. Habakkuk breaks out into a prayerful song in Habakkuk 3, praising the Lord. A book that begins with Habakkuk’s search for justice ends with praise and awe. Though Habakkuk couldn’t have understood everything God said or all of His plans, knowing even a fraction of God’s ways brought to worship. We can trust that His plans are good beyond our imagination.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Malvestida-Magazine
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