Study From the Book of Habakkuk,2

                                 Study From the Book of Habakkuk,2*

     From part one,  we conclude that Habakkuk was known as a confused prophet. He asked questions to God because he was confused and puzzled of what had been going on in his life and the lives of people of Judah. First he asked why God kept silent and did not punish the people of Judah for their sins, and when he saw the Babylonians invaded Judah, he wondered why God allowed this cruel and pagan nation to punish God’s people so harshly. He then at the end he gave up questioning, believing God is sovereign God, He is in control. Habakkuk at the end decided to cling firmly to God, regardless of what happened to him or to his nation.

Principle 1 (1:3): “Why do You show me inequity, and cause me to see trouble.”   

Lesson 1: When we focus on the sins and trouble around us, we quickly grow discouraged, anxious and confused. God does not want us to look away but to look toward Him and then do what we can address the evil.

Principle 2 (1:13); “Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he.”

 Lesson 2: We might prefer a world where God instantly judges every wrong, but that is not the world we have (nor would any of us long survive in it). Yet in His time, He will certainly judge all evil and reward all good.

Principle 3: (2:2) “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”

Lesson 3: God answered Habakkuk in a vision, but He told him to write down what he heard from Him. The same principle God told Jeremiah, “Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.” (Jer. 30:2).  He also instructed Israel’s kings to copy His Word (Deut.17:18). Why? It is simple: we remember what we write. 

Adopted from Charles Stanley’s Life Principles Bible, Thomas Nelson Publication 1982