T he only good news that we ought to know and remember is that Jesus Christ had already won the war against sin and death. He has made it possible for us to join Him in the afterlife. All we need now to do is accept Him as He is. God is alive today and it may be sometimes be difficult to see this. The world and its demonic nature has still made it look like that only worldly things matter and that the ultimate goal of each one is to achieve their own personal happiness. This is the biggest lie of all, that we should do all to make us happy. Individual happiness at the expense of someone else is the biggest deception of all. The truth is, our lives are never really about us. It is ultimately about God and about others. It is about how you can provide and give joy even at our own expense. This is the model of ultimate and genuine love that Jesus shown us at the cross. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s frie...
Habakkuk is a book of the Hebrew Bible, one of the twelve minor prophets. It is a unique prophetic book because it is not primarily a message to the people of Israel, but rather a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God. The book explores themes of justice, suffering, faith, and God's sovereignty.
Summary:
The book of Habakkuk can be divided into three main chapters:
Chapter 1: Habakkuk's Complaint and God's Response: The book opens with Habakkuk lamenting the rampant injustice and violence he sees in Judah. He questions why God, who is holy, allows such wickedness to persist and does nothing to intervene. God responds by telling Habakkuk that He is indeed at work and will raise up the Babylonians (Chaldeans) to punish Judah. Habakkuk is shocked by this revelation, as the Babylonians are even more wicked and ruthless than Judah. He questions how God can use such a corrupt nation as an instrument of His justice.
Chapter 2: God's Second Response and Woes: God reassures Habakkuk that the Babylonians, despite being His instrument, will also face judgment for their own wickedness. He instructs Habakkuk to write down a vision, stating, "The righteous will live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). This verse is particularly significant as it is quoted three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38), emphasizing the importance of faith. God then pronounces a series of five "woes" against those who accumulate ill-gotten gain, exploit others, build with bloodshed, get drunk, and worship idols. These woes serve as a reminder that God will ultimately bring justice to all nations.
Chapter 3: Habakkuk's Prayer and Song of Faith: Having received God's answers, Habakkuk offers a prayer and a psalm of praise. He recalls God's past acts of salvation and expresses his awe and fear before God's power. Despite the impending judgment and the hardships that will come, Habakkuk declares his unwavering trust and joy in God: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior" (Habakkuk 3:17-18). This chapter beautifully illustrates a profound journey from doubt and complaint to steadfast faith and worship.
Notable Quotes and Verses:
"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 1:2)
"Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." (Habakkuk 1:5)
"The righteous will live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4)
"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14)
"The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." (Habakkuk 2:20)
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, thoug
h there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:17-18)
Historical Facts about the Book:
Author and Date: The book is attributed to the prophet Habakkuk. While the exact dates are debated, it is generally believed to have been written in the late 7th century BCE, specifically between 612 and 605 BCE. This places it during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, shortly before the Babylonian invasion and exile.
Context: Habakkuk prophesied during the decline of Assyrian power and the rise of Babylon. The political landscape was unstable, and the people of Judah were experiencing moral decay and social injustice, even under the relatively righteous reign of King Josiah and then subsequent, less righteous kings like Jehoiakim.
Literary Form: Unlike many prophetic books that deliver oracles directly to the people, Habakkuk takes the form of a dramatic dialogue or disputation between the prophet and God. This makes it a profound theological inquiry into the nature of divine justice and human suffering.
Purpose: The book aims to address the common human struggle with understanding why God permits evil and suffering, especially when His people are afflicted. It reassures believers that God is sovereign, works in mysterious ways, and will ultimately bring justice and vindication to the righteous. It encourages unwavering faith even in the darkest of times.
Canonicity: The book of Habakkuk has always been accepted as canonical by both Jewish and Christian traditions.