The Message of the Habakkuk
‘O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?’ (Hab 1:2-3)
Bel and the Dragon – an apocryphal extension of the book of Daniel – contains an interesting story, according to which Habakkuk, while on his way to the field with a bowl of porridge, was taken by an angel, carried to Babylon and placed in the lion’s den, where Daniel ate the porridge, while Habakkuk was returned to his own place. This is a possible miracle, though with no certain proof; but this record introduces a prophet that lived and served in the time of Jeremiah. Both prophets, under spiritual inspiration, foretell the sad and disappointing downfall of the Jews who would be conquered by invading Babylonians as God’s punishment upon the Jews because of their sin of idolatry. These events happened around years 625 – 586BC.
We have begun exploring ‘the message of the prophets’, and our feature book is Habakkuk. ‘How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?’ Habakkuk starts, in his second verse, with this desperation – and many of us can identify with this kind of sadness and pain. The prophet was unhappy and disgusted with the corruption and injustice of his own people: bribery, abuse of power, misappropriation of public funds, quarrels and violence in family leading to breakdown and suffering for children; the oppression of the righteous Jews by the wicked Jews, calls for the Divine manifestation in judgment against the oppressors. At the heart of all this corruption was the sin of idolatry; the Jews had forsaken the LORD their God and turned to other gods!
The above situation would fit many countries today, including Uganda in part, and that is why many of us can identify with Habakkuk’s sadness and pain. Habakkuk has done the right thing: ‘Take it to the Lord in prayer.’ But he is now at that point where he is wrestling with God because the prayers seem to be falling on deaf ears. No action even after much calling and crying to God about this injustice and violence! This book has lessons to those who are at the verge of giving up on God because the answer seems to be taking long. Habakkuk did not give up.
We will see later how God answered Habakkuk, not only in the prophet’s time but also in the history of the Jews. The first part of God’s response was perplexing: The LORD announces that He is about to send the Babylonians to execute judgment on the Jewish oppressors; the righteous God is bringing wicked barbarians to execute judgment upon a people more righteous than they. But God will explain himself later, and Habakkuk will not only understand but also rejoice and sing. Be encouraged to pour it to God – all manner of frustration or disappointment. God’s answer – no matter what it is and when it comes – is the best and our only hope.
God bless you all.