LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Interpretive Commentary:
Habakkuk
Submitted to Dr. Timothy Crow,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
OBST 520 – B05_202240
Old Testament Orientation II
by
Derek Beamon
Oct. 10, 2022
Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………1
Historical Setting……………………………………………………………………………………2
Literary Genre………………………………………………………………………………………3
Habakkuk's First Complaint (1: 2-4) ………………………………………………………………3
God's First Answer (1: 5-11) ……………………………………………………………………….5
Habakkuk's Second Complaint (1:12 - 2:1) ……………………………………………………….5
God's Second Answer (2:2-5) ………………………………………………………………...6
Habakkuk's Prayer with Rejoicing (3: 1-19) ………………………………………………….7
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….….8
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………….10
1
Introduction
Someone may ask, "Where is God amid all this evil, or Why does he allow evil to prevail on the
earth?" Someone asked me once, and I believe God is the only one that can answer that question. We find
the prophet Habakkuk asking God that same question, looking for a response regarding the evil that
existed in his day. He only saw injustice for the people of God, so his focus was on that. The theme of this
prophetic book seems to focus on a dialogue between God and Habakkuk. Habakkuk has asked God
questions regarding the injustice in the world. Usually, in scripture, we read God giving the prophet a
message to the people, but God answers Habakkuk's question in this book.
Historical Setting
Most scholars believe that the book of Habakkuk was contemporary to Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and
possibly Nahum, Daniel, and Ezekiel. There is some certainty about when his ministry started, and the
book was written. Barker mentioned, "Habakkuk's ministry probably revolved around the two significant
events in the last quarter of the seventh century B.C. in the history of the ancient Near East the fall of
Nineveh to a coalition of Medes and Babylonians and the establishment of Babylon as the greatest power
of the reign."1 The book’s setting was written in the late seven century B.C., as stated above, when the
Babylonians replaced the Assyrians in the East. Meaning Babylon is now the enemy of Judah. Hinson
said, "Habakkuk appears to have prophesied just prior to the first Babylonian invasion in 605 B.C. when
Egypt was controlling Judah and Jehoiakim was king over Judah ( 2Kgs 23:31-24:16)."2
The translation of Habakkuk's name means "embrace" or "caress." The meaning of his name helps
interpret the two-way dialogue with God regarding the existence of evil in the land, and God does nothing
about it in Chapter 1. At most, other books gave personal information about the author, but Habakkuk has
1 Barker, Kenneth L.. 1998.GMicah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of
Holy Scripture. New York: B&H Publishing Group. Accessed October 7, 2022. ProQuest Ebook Central. P. 229
2 Hindson, Ed, and Gary Yates, Essence of the Old Testament: A Survey, B&H Publishing Group, Nashville,
Tennessee, 2012. P. 417
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no notion of when he was born, where he came from, and what he did for a living. Baker wrote, "R.L.
Smith states the issue plainly: "We do not know when Habakkuk lived and preached."3
Literary Genre
The book starts diving into a complaint to God about allowing evil to take place without
displaying justice. The structure of the book depicts a dialogue with God in the first two chapters and ends
with a prayer by Habakkuk. Despite Habakkuk's complaints and questions, he still receives divine
Revelation from God. I believe God allowed him to complain about the people by allowing him to
experience the struggles of daily life so he could understand God's sovereignty in the end. He later
understands that everything happens in God's timing. "Habakkuk surprises the reader with two literary
faces, the one given by its component parts and the other by its canonical context."4 The literary reads like
a Psalm. The phrase "How long" in the second verse reminds me of David crying out to God in trouble
with his soul regarding his affair with Bathsheba in Psalm 69. In my belief, the key and pivotal verse of the
book is mainly quoted, "And the Lord answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may
run who reads it."5
Habakkuk's First Complaint (1: 2-4)
In the book's first chapter, Habakkuk seems a bit frustrated with God. He asked two questions.
God answers the first question in this chapter but answers the second in chapter 2. To capture adequate
analysis of each chapter, the student has elected to work in chronological order and stay with the flow of
the text.
In verses 2, 3, & 4, Habakkuk uses the following phrases: "How long," "Why?" and then describes
the root problem in verse 4 as the Law is paralyzed. I am thrown back into a Psalm when reading verses
two and three. Habakkuk reveals his frustration and his distress as he pleads to gain God's attention to the
3 Ibid p.237
4 Ibid p.239
5 Hab. 2:2, ESV
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violence that has taken place. "In Hab 1:2-3 the distress is described in three sets of paired words (iniquity
and trouble, destruction and violence, strife and contention) for which God is not made directly
responsible. But Habakkuk accuses YHWH of failing to hear and to save in v.2 and holds him indirectly
responsible in v.3 for making the prophet witness evil, which would not be necessary if YHWH did not
look on (i.e., tolerate) it."6 Habakkuk complained that God did not answer any of his prayers. He was
referring to the introduction God is holding off on His judgment to show His mercy.
In verse 2, Habakkuk wanted God to do something right now because it seemed like the Law of
God was not enough and not being revered. His question was regarding the length of time the prophet
must look at what is happening and continue to cry out to God, awaiting His answer only to hear nothing.
Seeing all the violence he saw will cause anyone in God the distress to ask with the lack of faith How long.
Today, we can see the same wickedness and violence throughout the world, and to people, it can seem like
God is not interacting at all or even hearing the prayers of His people, but He is.
In verse 3, Habakkuk questions the motive of God's delay, "Why." He wants to hear God's heart of
the matter. What is God's intention? There must be a reason why God is allowing such violence to take
place. He is even blaming God for allowing the violence to take place.
In verse 4, the root problem for Habakkuk is that the Law of God is ineffective. In Habakkuk's
view, if God does not provide justice to the violence, then the Law remains ineffective. People will
continue to do their wickedness to others and themselves. For the laws to have power in the lives of His
people, there needs to be some enforcement. Habakkuk requested this in His prayer to God.
God's First Answer (1: 5-11)
Verses 5-11, God answers Habakkuk. A clear indication that God heard the prophet's prayers and
was not ignoring Him. God has provided plans to do something about the injustice. However, God simply
6 Renz, Thomas. 2021.GThe Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. Chicago: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co. Accessed October 10, 2022. ProQuest Ebook Central.
4
told him, "I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."7 God indicates that He was
raising the Chaldean (Babylonian) nation. Why is God raising up the Babylonians? God describes this
nation's characteristics but never explains why He chose the Babylonians. Did they have a history? Hinson
mentions,
"Earlier, Isaiah explained how God used the empires of the ancient Near East to punish
Israel and Judah for their sins and then to restore them to their homeland. The Assyrians
were the "rod" of the Lord's anger, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was His
"servant," and the Persian king Cyrus was "His anointed." While the Lord out His
purposes through these nations, He in no way approved of all of their evil actions. When
the Babylonians came, they did not attack Judah to do the Lord's bidding but rather to
satisfy their own greed and lust for violence."8
Habakkuk Second Complaint (1:12-2:1)
Habakkuk received his answer, but it was not the answer he was expecting. God did tell him in
verses 5-11 that he would not believe Him if He told him. In verses 12-17, "we will not die" was like a
protest against God. Habakkuk was pleading with God not to kill Judah. Coggins stated, "The Midrash
regards Habakkuk's "we will not die" as a prayer asking God to remove death and restore the Creator's
design as it was before Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."9 Before making
his rebuttal to God, he addresses God as the "Holy One." He also used the term "Rock" several times
within scripture. Chisolm stated, "The prophet also addressed God as "Holy One," recognizing the
Lord's sovereign position as the world's moral authority, and as a "Rock," indicating that he is
the protector of his people (see Isa. 17:10; 26:4; 30:29; 44:8)."10
7 Hab. 1:5, ESV
8 Ibid, p.418
9 Coggins, Richard J., and Han, Jin H. 2011.GSix Minor Prophets Through the Centuries: Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. Accessed October 10,
2022. ProQuest Ebook Central.
10 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., Handbook on the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Minor
Prophets (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 436.
5
Habakkuk did not understand why God was using a nation far more wicked than Judah to bring justice. He
asks, in essence, "How could God allow evil nations to swallow up Judah?" Judah performed their
wickedness; however, the Babylonians were far worse. Habakkuk describes them as a fisherman and his
net. Their net filled with other nations, and they slaughtered them. He expressed that the king of Babylon
was living in luxury and eating whatever he desired. Chisholm mentioned, "In other words, in God's
plan it seemed as if the nations had no value at all. They existed simply to satisfy the
Babylonians' appetite."11 In Chapter 2:1, after Habakkuk's rebuttal to God, he mentions he will
stand and position himself to hear what God has to say regarding his second complaint.
God's Second Answer (2:2-5)
God answers Habakkuk again and giving something to do. God includes him in his plan
by allowing him to see the vision to write down. This was a key and pivotal point in this dialogue
because God revealed Himself to Habakkuk, which he otherwise could not know. God is going
to deal with sin in His way. Having the prophet write down the vision in verses 2 and 3 gives
way to those who read it and place their faith and hope in God. They can wait on Him to fulfill
His promises by holding onto the written Word of God. Chisholm mentioned, "Prior to the
fulfillment of the prophecy, this formal record of God's promise would serve as an assuring
reminder to the godly remnant that they would eventually be vindicated."12
In verses, 6-20 begins the woe to the Babylonians. Five woes are listed in this passage. The 1st
woe (v. 6) was regarding someone who piles up stolen goods for himself. 2nd woe (v. 9) for those
who receive unjust gain for their house from others. 3rd woe (v. 12) who builds a town with
murder and crime. 4th woe (v.15) to him who makes one drunk to manipulate them to expose
their naked skin. 5th woe (v. 19) to those who worship lifeless statues for idols. All will judge by
11 Ibid, p.436
12 Ibid, p.436
6
God and will be put to shame and death. No one will be able to escape the judgment of God then
and now. The Babylonians thought their idols could help them escape judgment. God is alive and
rules the earth from His throne (v.20a). God intends to have the whole silent after revealing His
glory to humanity.
Habakkuk's Prayer with Rejoicing (3: 1-19)
The prophet sees the plan of God and is now in fear. As he writes about God pouring out His
wrath on the nations, he requests God to remember mercy. He wants justice for the evil in the world but
shows mercy to Judah. He mentions that "God came from Teman and the Holy One Mount Paran." Barker
noted, "Together, the two areas refer to God's coming in the past when he gave the law and led the people
of Israel through the wilderness."13 Hinson mentions a theophany in this passage. A theophany is an
appearance of God in His great power and glory. Hinson states, "In answer to this prayer (3:3-15), the
Lord appeared to Habakkuk in a theophany mountain to disintegrate when He marches out in His glory
as a warrior to fight on Israel's behalf."14 Someone can read this figuratively or literally. Figuratively, God
is seen utilizing the natural elements mentioned in this passage to make his presence known throughout
nations. One can take the literal position of God coming to earth. One has to remember how He revealed
Himself to the children of Israel with Moses during the day and night. With this thought in mind, God has
never left His throne. This will be the argument for the one who took the figurative stance. Babylonians
trusted in the strength of their military and gods, but they were no match for YHWH. God will deliver
those who have trusted His Word and promise.
Towards the end of this passage, Habakkuk rejoices. This portion of scripture is referred to as a
song or hymn to praise God for His deliverance and salvation. Habakkuk will sing his praise because of
13 Ibid, p.332
14 Ibid, p.420
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God's salvation. Despite the crops not bearing fruit and no herd in the stalls, God will be glorified
regardless.
Conclusion
Habakkuk was a book about God's sovereignty. As the prophet prayed to God, he thought God
had ignored Him because he had not seen justice. All the violence of the nations was a sign to Habakkuk
that the Law of God was not ineffective. However, God had a plan! Habakkuk did not know about this
plan, and if God had told Him, he would not understand it and believed it. Well, God told Him away after
Habakkuk questioned Him. We have heard in the past that we cannot question God. This revealed an
entire dialogue between God and man regarding His people. It also said that we could question God if we
have the right mindset and motive of the heart. It led Habakkuk to a deeper understanding of why God
allowed evil to continue and how He would deal with it. God wanted His vision and promise to be written
so people could place their faith in it. Even though judgment was in the plan, salvation was around the
corner for those who set their trust in His Word. Regardless of what comes through judgment, God will
still be praised.
As Christians, we can learn from this Habakkuk's interaction with God. God wants us to worship
Him and obey His commands. Like Habakkuk, some have grown weary and distressed because of the evil
running rampant today. They feel as though God is not doing anything about it. However, God has a plan
for the world. The book of Revelation notes how the head of all evil and kingdoms that follow will be
brought down and destroyed. Most of what's stated in Chapter 2 regarding the Babylonians can be seen
today in people and nations worldwide. Salvation is for those who trust Jesus Christ and stand on the
written Word of God just like Habakkuk did.
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Bibliography
Barker, Kenneth L.,GMicah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah: An Exegetical and Theological
Exposition of Holy Scripture, New York: B&H Publishing Group, 1998. Accessed October 7,
2022. ProQuest Ebook Central.
9
Chisholm Jr., Robert B., Handbook on the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel,
Daniel, Minor Prophets, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.
Coggins, Richard, and Jin H Han.GSix Minor Prophets through the Centuries: Nahum, Habakkuk,
Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, Chichester, U.K. Malden, MA, Wiley-Blackwell,
2011.
Hindson, Ed, and Gary Yates, Essence of the Old Testament: A Survey, B&H Publishing Group,
Nashville, Tennessee, 2012.
Renz, Thomas.GThe Books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, Chicago: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 2021.
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