The Strand Study Bible

HABAKKUK

Author: Habakkuk Theme: The Fall of Judah and Jerusalem Book’s Main Characters: The Nation of Judah

About the Author: Habakkuk, whose name means “embrace,” was a Judean prophet who prophesied against Jerusalem c. 607 BC. He began his writing ministry only two years after King Josiah’s death. Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Habakkuk sprang up from a priestly household. In fact, he belonged to one of the Levitical families who were in charge of maintaining the Temple music. Habakkuk was a contemporary of Jeremiah in Jerusalem. About the Book: Habakkuk, like Zephaniah, prophesied of the impending invasion upon Judah and Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Judah was invaded by Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon) in 605 BC (II Ki 24:1), only two years after Habakkuk prophesized it. Helpful Background: After the fall of Israel to Assyria in 721 BC (II Ki 17:5-6 & 18:10-11), the southern two tribes (named Judah) were all that remained in the land. Within eighty short years of Israel’s fall, Judah, like Israel, found herself ready to be judged. However, God in his mercy raised up three prophets ( Nahum , Zephaniah , and Jeremiah ) in order to help Judah avoid judgment, and by 621 BC revival broke out and the nation of Judah had begun to turn around spiritually. Nevertheless, spiritual revivals are short lived, and by the time King Josiah died in 609 BC the spiritual movement had ended, and God had to destroy Judah and Jerusalem via Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) from 605-586 BC. Notes of Interest: 1. Habakkuk is quoted in the NT 5 times. 2. Prophecies are referred to 20 times in Habakkuk . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 2 of the 20 times. 4. There is 1 inset map used in the book of H abakkuk . It is numbered chronologically (#250). Outline of Habakkuk :

1. Habakkuk questions the Lord (Hab 1) 2. The LORD answers Habakkuk (Hab 2) 3. Habakkuk’s prayer of praise (Hab 3) Habakkuk 1

God’s two-fold prophesy: #1. The promise of Judah and Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon (Fulfilled - II Ki 25 - 586 BC) #2. The promise of CHRIST’S redemptive work (Fulfilled - Mt 27:45,46,50 - AD 32)

1. or, “judicial sentence; weighty judgment” Note - God was about to hand down “sentencing” against the nation of Judah. 2. Lam 3:8 3. Jere 12:1-4 4. Quoted in the NT -Acts 13:41 5. Fulfilled- II Ki 25 (Fall of Judah) (See - Deut 28:64- 67) 6. Fulfilled - Mt 27:45-46,50 & Mk 15:33-34,37 & Lk 23:44-46 & Jn 19:28,30 (Christ’s Redemption) 7. Ezk 26:11

Habakkuk questions the LORD - “Why does God allow wickedness in Judah to go unpunished?” (Note - Habakkuk’s prophecy took place in the 2nd year of King Jehoiakim’s reign) Date Written - c. 607 BC/AM 3393 1 The 1 burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, 2 and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judg- ment doth never go forth: for the 3 wicked doth compass about the righteous; there- fore wrong judgment proceedeth.

5 4 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: 5 for I will work a 6 WORK in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. P P 6 For, lo, 5 I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. 1 7 5 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 1 8 Their 7 horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen TIBMM spread themselves, and their horsemen

1:1 Habakkuk’s name means “embrace.” He is referred to 1 time in the NT (Acts 13:40). 1:4 People who live within a democratic society and still have the freedom to vote need to take advantage of that freedom, lest the wicked gain control and God’s Law is spurned ( wrong judgment proceedeth ). 1:5 There are two kinds of “ work :” 1. The kind that God allows the world to perform on people (Babylon chastening Judah for the purpose of judgment - vs 6) 2. The kind that God performs on people (via CHRIST’S Work for the purpose of chastening ) Whenever God does a “work” on people, it’s always for the purpose of salvaging - Acts 13:41, Exo 14:13,30-31 and Heb 6:1 c ). NOTE - Whereas the “work” that God allows the world to perform on people shows no mercy, the “work” that God performs on people does show mercy (II Sam 24:12-14). 1414