EXPLORE IT - Habakkuk Introduction

Over the next five weeks we will be looking into the Old Testament book of Habakkuk.  Little is known about the author Habakkuk, but much is speculated about him.  His name has Babylonian influence and possibly refers to a kind of plant or fruit tree.  Habakkuk is not found anywhere else in Scripture, but in later Jewish tradition, in the apocryphal ‘Daniel, Bel and the Snake,’ Habakkuk reportedly brings Daniel food while he is in the lions’ den (apocryphal books and stories are widely circulated accounts of happenings during biblical times, but their authenticity is doubtful, so these accounts are not included in the Canon of Scripture).  The parentage of Habakkuk is not given, but the musical notation at the beginning of Habakkuk 3 ("A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.") suggests that he was a Levite.

While we are uncertain as to who Habakkuk is, his character is clear.  He is a dedicated follower of God who submits himself to God’s will.  But, like Job, Habakkuk takes his concerns directly to God.  Though, Habakkuk’s questions are very different.  Habakkuk’s concerns relate to why the wicked are not punished, why judgment does not fall upon those who treat the righteous unfairly.  Through this questioning, Habakkuk’s faith is not shaken, he remains focused on God’s awesome power and continues to be aware of God’s care for him.

We are encouraged by Habakkuk’s writings that it is acceptable for us to question God as well, to question Him when we do not understand why our life has taken the turn it has, to question Him when we are uncertain why the world is the way it is, etc.  The fallacy comes when we refuse to trust God no matter His response.

We must continue to trust and follow God no matter where He leads, no matter what His response is to our questions, and especially when it seems He is silent.

Blessings,
Pastor Amy