One of the most frequent questions asked by God’s people is, “How long?” It’s more than a question, it’s a complaint, and yet it is a complaint of faith. The complaint has no teeth if there is no God to answer the question. And that God must have power and be righteous and have already revealed enough for people with faith to see that how it should be isn’t how it is. How long until God makes things right?

This question opens the burden of the prophet Habakkuk. And while the LORD gave this vision with particular people/nations in mind, and while the first level fulfillments have already taken place, the situation in Habakkuk’s day bears much similarity to our own. The realities of God’s sovereignty, justice, and salvation are very much still at stake.

At least four parts of this three chapter minor prophet are familiar to us. The last few verses (3:17-19) are often quoted at weddings, fitting with a “for better or worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health” vibe. We also sing about all the earth in silence (2:20). We long for the earth to be “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (2:14). And especially because that is what we want, Habakkuk 2:4 resonates the most: “the righteous shall live by his faith.”

This was the whole theme of Romans according to Paul (Romans 1:16-17). The gospel saves believers, and saved believers keep on believing. Faith is life, from start to finish. The author of Hebrews also quotes Habakkuk 2:4 in terms of our confidence and courage and not being cowards (Hebrews 10:38).

Faith was necessary for Habakkuk and any of the righteous. Faith isn’t only the first breath, it is the blood and bones of our life.

The book has two main divisions, both of which name “Habakkuk the prophet.” In 1:1 the prophet has an “oracle” and in 3:1 he has a “prayer.” The oracle includes two complaints, the second caused by the Lord’s answer to the first, and the second answer includes five woes. The dialogue between Habakkuk and the Lord take up the first two chapters. The entire last chapter was Habakkuk’s submission to the Lord and was intended to be sung, as shown by the final words.

This morning we’ll meet the prophet and consider his problem in context. It’s more than facts of history, it is food for hope.

The Prophet’s Burden (verse 1)

There is not much of an intro or background on Habakkuk.

The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. (Habakkuk 1:1 ESV)

Habakkuk is the name of the prophet , and all we get is his title. There’s nothing else about this prophet in the Old Testament, though based on the content of this book he must have been a contemporary of Nahum and Zephaniah (the books before and after Habakkuk), as well as Jeremiah. This puts him in Israel when Josiah was King of Judah, near the last half of the 7th century BC.

Oracle is a typical word from the Lord, a message, a “prophecy” (NIV), a “pronouncement” (CSB). Sometimes translated “burden” (KJV); it’s a heavy/hard message. It came in the form of a vision because it was something Habakkuk saw .

These are small but vital details because it might seem as if Habakkuk’s questions are personal. And they are. But the observations Habakkuk makes about Israel and Babylon and the future, as well as the responses from the Lord, are all revelation Habakkuk received. The prophecy is God’s Word, and so profitable for us as well.

The (First) Complaint (verses 2-4)

Here is Habakkuk’s complaint of faith. Two questions make up the prophets cries.

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
(Habakkuk 1:2 ESV)

Habakkuk calls on the LORD , Yahweh, the name God gave to Israel when He made covenant with them. The prophet has been praying, this is not his first prayer. He’s wondering how long shall I cry…or cry , because it seems that the Lord is not replying.

Things are bad, and we’ll see more specifics in verses 3-4, but there is Violence! (a key word in Habakkuk, used here, the next verse, 1:9, 2:8 and twice in 2:17), such that God is needed for salvation. Why isn’t the Lord answering and stopping the damage and destruction?

Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
(Habakkuk 1:3 ESV)

Three pairs of problems that are Habakkuk’s face. Can the Lord not see? Or does He see and idly look , doing nothing about it? Why is God just standing by?

Iniquity and wrong . The first word also has the idea of injustice, which, we only know about justice because of God to begin with. And so the second word relates to unjust actions, the consequences of violating the standard.

Destruction and violence are filling up his news feed, they are before me , all he can see. Violence is what he’s been crying out about (see verse 2), and the results are damaging beyond repair, ravaging and ruinous.

The third pair are strife and contention . Broken standards break society. It’s obvious, but sin makes stupid sinners. Ethics and morality are relational, before God, yes, but between one another. We can’t violate what is right toward another person and think that won’t start unraveling the whole into a mess, especially when no one stops it.

Why does the Lord “tolerate” (NIV) any of this?

So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted.
(Habakkuk 1:4 ESV)

Four lines of results. First, law is paralyzed , and this is fine translation, but the Hebrew verb carries the idea of making something cold, like one’s hand, so numbed, and ineffective, useless, or paralyzed. The law was supposed to hold back the violence and bring forth justice.

While many cultures/nations had some sort of laws, using the word Hebrew word torah for law shows that the corruption is in Judah. This is internal fraud, dishonesty, lawbreaking by judges. So “justice is never upheld” (NASB), no one seems to be getting what they deserve.

That leaves nowhere to go for the righteous, the wicked surround them, or “hem in” (NIV). When things are working, the righteous could appeal to the authorities and those who disobeyed would be punished, property could be restored. The process provides no protection anymore.

And justice is perverted , twisted; order becomes chaos. Justice comes out crooked.

Conclusion

Though Habakkuk complains that the LORD was inattentive, He was actually already lining up world powers. Judgment was coming, which, turns out, would be even less comfortable than the injustice. God’s answer is that Judah will be punished. God is going to send the Babylonians (Chaldeans) per verse 6. It would be a surprise, and this helps us date Habakkuk itself.

Manasseh was king in Judah for 55 years, the most evil and idolatrous king of Judah, and then his son Amon ruled for two years following in Manasseh’s sins. But Assyria was the superpower in the Middle East during their reigns; so Habakkuk’s burden must come later. Josiah became king of Judah around 640 BC when he was only 8 years old. During Josiah’s rule righteousness was restored. He was already reforming the nation, and when workers repairing the temple found a copy of the Book of the Law, Josiah humbled himself and even more so and sought to lead for the Lord.

Josiah died in 609. Babylon rose under Nabopolassar and defeated Assyria at Nineveh, just before Josiah’s death, in 612. Then his son Nebuchadnezzar marched on Jerusalem three times: 605 - when Daniel was taken captive, again in 597 when King Jehoiakim was taken captive, and finally conquering Judah and taking even more captives.

So the cultural wickedness got bad quickly, shortly after 609, and Habakkuk could see the anxiety and agitation. The consequences were coming. This leads to Habakkuk’s “wait a second, though, how can an even more wicked people punish this (less) wicked, covenant people?”

The oracle of Habakkuk has happened; it’s history. Corruption for the covenant community (Judah) had catastrophic consequences. God will judge the wicked, and He will even use other wicked peoples to do it, as He determines is right.

The United States are not Israel/Judah. But, by way of application, our nation did know better, it’s in our books. We cannot claim ignorance of God or His standards. With Habakkuk we are allowed to cry for God’s justice. We should want the glory of the Lord to fill the earth. And as Christians we should remember that judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). With Habakkuk, the righteous shall live by faith.

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Charge

When the foundations crumble, that is not the time to abandon hope, that’s when hope is potent. When the windows are broken, that’s not time to leave your trash on the floor. In other words, what should you do when so many things aren’t right? By faith YOU do what is right.

Benediction:

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Peter 4:17–19 ESV)