Habakkuk 0 (Introduction)
7/27/24 4:25 PM
Solitary Man
solitaryman.substack.com/
20240721
Introduction
The word Habakkuk means ‘embrace’, or even ‘strong embrace’. This man was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah. He calls himself the prophet, a title applied only to himself, Haggai, and Zechariah. Habakkuk may of felt that he needed to mention his calling, as his style of writing is not in the genre of ‘thus saith the Lord’, but rather begins with several questions for God. Chapter 2 lists God’s response. Chapter 3 becomes a chapter of praising God in various ways, declaring his works and his power.
Hab 1:6 gives us the only clue in dating this work. God is raising up the Chaldeans (ie, the Babylonians), as the instrument of his judgment upon Judah. Thus we are assured that this was written sometime before 605 BC, the first of 3 attacks by Babylon against Judah. Some think to date it around 610 BC, but you could reasonably go as far back as 650 BC. I believe one should date it before 612 BC, when Nineveh of Assyria was destroyed by Babylon, as Hab 1:6 states that God is in the process of raising them up, implying that they had not yet usurped the current rulers, the Assyrians.
Because no king is mentioned in the text, we cannot be dogmatic as to which king it was written under. Manasseh, Josiah, or even Jehoiakim is possible, but I prefer the ones earlier in time rather than the latter, as God does like to give plenty of lead time when warning his people, as was the case with most of the so called minor prophets. Jeremiah and Ezekiel are the exceptions, as most of their ministries occur in the time immediately preceding, and during, the final judgment of Judah and Jerusalem, when they were first destroyed.
One could surmise the purpose of the book as two fold. One, a warning of judgment coming upon Judah by this new kingdom of Babylon. And two, comfort in knowing that Babylon will also be judged.
The uniqueness of the book of Habakkuk is found in its style. It is written in a very poetical manner. The first 2 chapters consist of a discourse between God and the prophet. The subject is the invasion of Chaldea and the concurrent judgment of Judah, then the subsequent Chaldean destruction. Chapter three is really a psalm with verse 19 consisting of instructions to the musicians for its proper rendering. Because of this verse, some think Habakkuk may of been a Levite.
In the first two chapters, the prophet contends with the Lord. In the third chapter, he submits to Him.
So what exactly is Habakkuk all fired up about? Why is he crying out to God in great distress and consternation? In a nutshell, he is deeply disturbed over the lawlessness in the land. God responds by saying that he is raising up a heathen nation to judge Judah. This causes even greater anguish for the man of God. Why would God raise up and use a nation even more godless than Judah to judge Judah?
Can anyone see the parallels to our day? Are not our own nations in North America, and all of the west, overrun with the worst sort of lawlessness? And do we all not realize that the rich men of the world, whom we call the deep state, the cabal, the globalists, the new world order, have been allowed by God to usurp our rights and freedoms? Although we know that we have sinned exceedingly before the Most High, yet does it not vex our souls day and night to see the likes of Gates, Schwab, Harari, Biden, Trudeau, and every other vile caricature of humanity be set over us to rule us? Is this judgment not excessive? Why does God choose to judge us with these creatures? They are so evil and worthless that words fail to adequately describe the utter abomination that they represent.
Yes, we have sinned. We have sinned grievously. But couldn’t God of just sent an overwhelming fear of the Lord into our hearts and into the land, like some of the revivals of old? Why did he have to raise up such wicked creatures to reign over us? And even if we know that they will get what’s coming to them someday, yet don’t we question God’s ways and his wisdom in choosing to destroy us in the form and fashion that we are currently experiencing?
If that is you, take heart. The book of Habakkuk is for you. You will find out that you aren’t the only one who felt this way. This obscure man of God, of whom so little is known, was asking the same questions of the same God that we serve over 2600 years ago.
Let us now take the time and listen in to this discourse, and see what the Lord has to say about these age old questions that have been asked universally by mankind throughout the ages.
Solitary Man
https://solitaryman.substack.com/
Photos courtesy Depositphotos
