Introduction to the Prophecy of Habakkuk
Chapter 1 verse 1
In his book, Habakkuk introduces himself as only a prophet, a messenger of God: his message is not directed specifically to a person or group, but is for the information of everybody through the ages.
He says he "saw" this message: one would expect him to have "heard" the message, but to say he "saw" he shows us that there is another dimension to the prophecy. The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of "opening one´s eyes", and the Old Testament prophets were also called "seers." Upon receiving the prophecy of God, Habakkuk "saw" what was happening around him, and also what God revealed to him that was to come later.
If we are to discern correctly what is happening in our world, we must "see" things in the light of Scripture. It is the only way to find God's answer to our perplexity.
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 him close to 615 BC, and three years before the capture of Nineveh by the Babylonians.
The book is in dialogue form, in which the prophet makes two complaints (1:2-4 and 12-17), receives the shocking answer to the first (1:5-11), and after a wait (2: 1-4), God reveals the solution of the second (2:5-20). In the middle (2:14) we will find the final solution. The prophet concludes with a prayer, which is a confession and a hymn of praise to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
Both complaints are applicable across the ages: Habakkuk obviously had great faith that God was sovereign and controlled the entire course of history, but the state of his world was causing perplexity, because ungodliness and injustice prevailed everywhere. In general, it was not too different from what we see today, twenty-six centuries later. There is much to learn from the responses the complaints received from God.
It may seem that God is not in control of the unfolding of history, but He is sovereign and omniscient, and has perfect purposes for all eternity. His Word reveals His purposes that relate to us humans, but does not go into all the details on how they will be achieved. The prophecy of Habakkuk gives us a general outline, supplemented by other prophecies, both in the Old and New Testaments.
R David Jones
The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.
Habbakuk chapter 1, verse 1