The Minor Prophets
Lesson 7
Habakkuk – “How Long Oh Lord?”
Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah working just before the invasion of Babylon in 605 B.C. He preached for repentance during the reign of evil King Jehoiakim (609-597 BC), but received a negative response. Habakkuk observed the injustice, wickedness and violence in Judah and cried out to God with some perplexing questions: Why do the wicked prosper? Why do the righteous suffer? Why doesn’t God do something?
Read Hab 1:1-4
- What question did the prophet ask in v 2? What is his complaint in v 2-4?
- Make yourself a philosopher and answer the following questions: How can God coexist with evil? Since God hasn’t intervened against evil, does He not care? Is He powerless? Is He absentee? (2 Peter 3:9-10)
- What question did Peter ask Jesus in the boat in Mark 4:38? They had nearly been killed, yet Jesus responded with what question to Peter (Mark 4:40)?
- What was God’s answer in Hab 1:5-11? The Chaldeans were a Semitic people who were dominant in Babylon. Were the Chaldeans merciful and kind? Did they fear the true God and respect His people? Who was their god (1:11)?
- What was Habakkuk’s second problem after he heard what God was getting ready to do (1:13-17)? Habakkuk reminded God that He had promised the Patriarchs that Israel would always be God’s chosen nation (1:12). Is it fair that God would use a nation even more evil to destroy Judah?
- Even though God was going to use the evil Chaldeans to accomplish His purpose, would He later hold them accountable and destroy them (Hab 1:11; Jerem 50:1-2, 29; Daniel 5:22-30)? Comment on this principle: God can use evil in your life and still not be pleased with evil; and yet, God can still use evil to accomplish His intended purpose, but later judge and destroy evil.
- Habakkuk has played the lawyer and the lobbyist in Hab 1:12-2:1. What arrogant, self-confident statement did he make in 2:1?
- Did God directly answer Habakkuk’s questions (2:2-20)? In spite of Habakkuk’s argument, will God’s plan come about (2:3)? What is Habakkuk’s problem (2:4a)? What does he need to do (2:4b)?
- Hab 2:5-19 is an indictment of the human race. It always comes back to God’s first commandment (Ex 20:3-5). What foolish endeavor does Hab 2:18-19 describe when men give their devotion to anything but the true God? Is it presumptuous for us to question God (Hab 2:20)?
- Habakkuk began his book complaining and questioning God, but in the end (Ch 3), he praises God and prays for mercy. Chapter 3 is basically a recap of the Exodus from slavery in Egypt to conquering Canaan. God has always been faithful. Therefore, what must Habakkuk (and Judah) do (3:16)? What is his conclusion in 3:17-19?
