Habakkuk
(Habakkuk 1:1)
(C3359-3424, 645-580 BC)
His name comes from the Hebrew chabakkuk meaning "embrace".
In his book, Habakkuk only introduces himself as a prophet, a messenger of God, and his message is not addressed to any particular person or group, but is for the knowledge of everybody throughout the ages.
Although nothing is known about the person of Habakkuk, in his prophecy he predicts the arrival of the Babylonians in his days (v. 6), which puts it close to 615 BC, and three years before the capture and destruction of Nineveh by the Babylonians.
His prophecy, according to the introduction given in the first verse, resulted from the burden he felt to publicise a vision he had. From the style of the composition he was probably a Levite instructed in the poetry of the psalms and hymns sung by the choir of the temple.
He had great emotional strength as a poet as well as a prophet, and his hatred of sin constrained him to cry out to God for His righteous judgment (chapter 1:2-4).
Injustice prevailed in the kingdom of Judah, because the righteous were constrained by the wicked, the law was powerless, and God did not seem to care about the suffering of his people (Habakkuk 1:1-4). Habakkuk asks why God allows such things to happen.
God's response brings little comfort to the prophet. He explains that the Babylonian armies are advancing across the world in a campaign of destruction and death. When Habakkuk received this vision, the Babylonians were advancing by way of Assyria to Egypt. It is implied that the nation of Habakkuk, Judah, will be the next to fall.
Habakkuk is shocked by the news, because he wants justice only through punishment of the evildoers in his country. He reminds God of His righteousness and holiness. How could he use the wicked Babylonians to destroy his chosen people? Surely He knows the sins of his people are nothing compared to the wicked Babylonians: “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?” (Habakkuk 1:13). This direct question indicates the great faith of Habakkuk. Only someone very close to God would dare question the doings of the Almighty in such a bold manner (Chapter 1:12-2:1).
God then assures Habakkuk that the Babylonians will prevail, not for being righteous themselves, but as instruments of judgment in His hands (chapter 2:4). Then he expresses five woes against the Babylonians (Chapter 2:9,12,15,19) because God does not admit scoffing and the end of the Babylonians is just as sure as the judgment they will bring upon Judah. Through it all, God will claim His fair character: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Chapter 2:14).
His deep faith led him to write a prayer that is a statement and also hymn of praise to be accompanied by stringed instruments, considered to be a beautiful poem about God's inscrutable ways (chapter 3). It is one of the greatest testimonies of faith found in the Bible.