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In Habakkuk we are given an intimate look into the prophet’s relationship with God. We see the same thing in Jeremiah and Hosea.
God loved His prophets. He calls them “my servants” (Jer. 7:25). They had a very difficult job, reproving Israel of her sin and calling Israel to repentance. But God was with them. He strengthened them, encouraged them, helped them, communed with them, gave them special wisdom. Serving God even in the most difficult situation is never a “thankless task.” The faithful servant of God is blessed in this world and in that to come.
Habakkuk could be called “the prophet in his watchtower” (Hab. 2:1).
The prophet questions God; he seeks wisdom from God (Hab. 1:2-4).
- We see Habakkuk’s intimate relationship with God. He doesn’t have the fuller New Testament revelation, but he knows God like Enoch and Job and Abraham and Moses and David knew God. He calls God “my God, mine holy One” (Hab. 1:12).
- The prophet is communing with God, reasoning with God. This is exactly what God wants men to do. He wants to reason together with men. See Isa. 1:18; 41:21.
- We see in Isa. 1:18 that reasoning with God begins with salvation. The individual that wants to approach God and commune with God must come on God’s terms, and that requires being cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. This is the only way that a sinner can be reconciled with a holy God.
- God’s reasoning is found in Scripture. When Paul reasoned with men from the Scripture, he was God’s ambassador (Ac. 17:2; 18:4). Every man and woman is invited to study the Scriptures and to hear God’s Words about all of life’s important questions and to reason with God about these things.
- Note that Habakkuk is not doubting God and blaming God and complaining against God. While the saint is at liberty to ask anything of God, he is not at liberty to doubt God (Heb. 11:6). The Bible nowhere encourages unbelief and doubting. Jesus often reproved the disciples for “little faith” (Mt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8).
God graciously answers Habakkuk (Hab. 1:5-11).
The prophet again questions God (Hab. 1:12-17). This time he asks why God would use a very wicked nation to judge a more righteous nation.
The prophet goes to his watchtower to wait for God’s answer (Hab. 2:1).
- The watch tower was a strong tower or small fortress from which watchmen looked for enemies and danger. There were watchtowers in vineyards (Isa. 5:2), on city walls (2 Ki. 9:17), and on prominent hills and ridges (2 Ch. 20:24).
- Habakkuk’s full attention was on waiting on God, watching for God. He wasn’t sitting and sleeping; he was standing and watching. Habakkuk was a man who spent his time seeking God and communing with God. This is what occupied his attention. He studied God’s Word, meditated on the things of God, looked at life through the lens of God’s Word, prayed for wisdom. This is what he loved. This was his life. He didn’t waste his life on vanities. He was devoted to serious, valuable, eternal things.
- Note again that Habakkuk is not arguing with God or doubting God. He is ready and willing to be corrected. He says, “I will ... watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.”
- Habakkuk is not hasty or forceful with God. He is willing to wait on God, however long it takes.
- God answers the prophet (Hab. 2:2-20). He tells him that God’s people must trust Him and wait on Him in every circumstance. He is in control of all things and is working out His eternal plans and His Word will be fulfilled. Judgment will come, and the eternal kingdom of Christ will be established (Hab. 2:13-14, 20). Our part is to wait on Him and be faithful in serving Him.
Habakkuk responds to God by “a prayer upon Shigionoth” (Hab. 3:1-19). See commentary on Habakkuk 3.
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