We are continuing on in studying Habakkuk. He is a prophet that is tired of seeing the world in a mess. Around him he sees misery and evil. The only thing he knows what to do is to tell God and rely on Him to make things right. He had the right posture as a believer, and this hasn’t changed for us today. We are to humble ourselves and wait on God for He is in charge. We believe and trust that He is working out His goodness in this sinful world.
We know for certain that all the wrongs will be made right in His time.
Last week we looked at Habakkuk’s first complaint, and how God responded. Today, we are going to study the second half of chapter 1, starting with verse 12, along with chapter 2. Habakkuk has a second complaint, and in His faithfulness, God responds.
It is good to know that God hears us when we pray.
Habakkuk starts out having respect for God. We learn that God is holy and eternal. This demands our respect. Habakkuk understands that God can wipe out humanity at any moment. This demands our humility. He realizes that God sends “troubles” to correct us for we are sinners. We fall short of God everyday, see Romans 3:23 and 6:23.
What does Habakkuk say about about God in verse 13? What is God wanting you to learn from this verse?
Do you like to fish? Habakkuk uses a fishing analogy in verses 14-17 to help explain his heart to God. He is feeling like believers are only here for the amusement for those not following God, and why God remains silent. Habakkuk tells God, “Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?”17 Do you feel this way in how our world is right now?
Notice how Habakkuk knows what to do in 2:1. “I will climb to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There, I will wait to see what the Lord says and how He will answer my complaint.” This is the key to walking in Christ on a daily basis. Do you have the same heart and mindset like Habakkuk? How do you keep watch?
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The rest of chapter 2 is God replying to his faithful prophet. I want you to realize something, notice how vulnerable and real Habakkuk is when talking with God, and how God tenderly responds to help Habakkuk understand. When you talk with God, He gives you clarity and understanding as well as a shift in perspective. He helps you to take your eyes off of you and onto Him. He helps you to sit in humble silence before Him.
This position of humble silence is when you are the richest and most satisfied. It is where fear and doubt dissipate.
God tells Habakkuk in verse 2 to write out His answer plainly so that others can “carry the correct message to others.” God is telling believers that His message needs to be shared. Not only are we to study and know God’s Word but we are to share the truths found within its pages with others.
Look at verse 3, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Check out Hebrews 10:37-38 for added insight.
God gives Habakkuk the vision. It is a picture of what the world will look like. As you study the rest of the scripture passage, ask yourself if you see any similarities to today.
God says to look at the proud for they trust themselves. They live crooked lives. “But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.”4
People will never be satisfied. They will always want more. God tells us from verse 5 that wealth is treacherous. How does God describe those who are never at rest? What else do you learn from this verse? Look up Proverbs 27:20 too.
Verses 6-8 seems to describe a government that has lost its purpose. A government should be leading its residents with fairness and justice but you don’t see this here. Do you think this describes the United States?
Verses 9-12 gives us a picture of people having wrong priorities. The acquisition of material things and great wealth leads to a false security. How you accumulate these things matter to God. So much dishonesty and corruption brings about great sorrow.
Verse 13 tells of a promise from the Lord. What is it?
What do you learn about God in verse 14?
Amidst God getting real with Habakkuk about mankind, He slips in this amazing reality for us to know and remember, “The earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.”14
God is everywhere and the earth responds accordingly.
We see in the rest of the verses that God does not dilute the reality of sin in our lives. Sin causes man to lose his footing and become drunk as well as pull others down in drunkenness too. Eventually, everyone will be exposed. When we take our eyes off of Christ, we worship false gods, things made by human hands, and we trust ourselves instead of God. Man becomes religious, lost, and ruined by his own stupor.
God reminds Habakkuk in verse 20 how repentant believers should act. “Let all the earth be silent before Him.”
We would be wise to learn from Habakkuk and sit in silence before the Holy Lord, be fed by His Son in His Word, and then live out what He’s calling of you. Only then will we be made right in His sight. Only then will God save us.
Carol J German 