Reflections on Habakkuk 1

Habakkuk 01 (Contemporary English Version)


1. I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message that the LORD gave me.
   
2. Our LORD, how long must I beg for your help before you listen? How long before you save us from all this violence?
   
3. Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice? Why do you allow violence, lawlessness, crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere?
   
4. Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser; criminals crowd out honest people and twist the laws around.
   
5. Look and be amazed at what's happening among the nations! Even if you were told, you would never believe what's taking place now.
   
6. I am sending the Babylonians. They are fierce and cruel-- marching across the land, conquering cities and towns.
   
7. How fearsome and frightening. Their only laws and rules are the ones they make up.
   
8. Their cavalry troops are faster than leopards, more ferocious than wolves hunting at sunset, and swifter than hungry eagles suddenly swooping down.
   
9. They are eager to destroy, and they gather captives like handfuls of sand.
   
10. They make fun of rulers and laugh at fortresses, while building dirt mounds so they can capture cities.
    
11. Then suddenly they disappear like a gust of wind-- those sinful people who worship their own strength.
    
12. Holy LORD God, mighty rock, you are eternal, and we are safe from death. You are using those Babylonians to judge and punish others.
    
13. But you can't stand sin or wrong. So don't sit by in silence while they gobble down people who are better than they are.
    
14. The people you put on this earth are like fish or reptiles without a leader.
    
15. Then an enemy comes along and takes them captive with hooks and nets. It makes him so happy
    
16. that he offers sacrifices to his fishing nets, because they make him rich and provide choice foods.
    
17. Will he keep hauling in his nets and destroying nations without showing mercy?
    

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Habakkuk came on the scene at a time of international crises and national corruption. The prophet watched as Israel's constant foe, the Assyrians, a nation that seemed invincible, was annihilated by the newly emerged power of the Babylonians, or Chaldeans, as they are referred to here. Although this provided a breather for Israel, taking away the threat of the Assyrians, Israel was falling apart from within with its growing corruption. All of this caused Habakkuk to raise the age old question of why a loving and just God would allow evil to prevail?

It is a legitimate question, but one that needs to be taken to the right source if answers are to be found. But do all who raise this question really want answers or is this a question they pose to promote their own ideas? Many use it as an excuse to say there cannot be a God, otherwise He would not allow such evil and injustice. But none of us are qualified to make such a judgment, for we would have to know and understand everything to draw this conclusion accurately. Habakkuk didn't just ask his question of just anyone who would listen. He took it to the only source that could give him an accurate answer - God Himself. What a novel idea! Why is it so many who ask this question don't sincerely take their question to God? It makes one wonder if they sincerely want an answer or if they prefer to draw their own conclusions.

Verses 2-4 give rather pointed questions Habakkuk directs at God. They might more accurately be called accusations. He accuses God of not listening when he calls for help and of not doing anything about violence that is so obvious. He claims that due to God's lack of action His law is made ineffective and therefore justice never emerges. Were we listening to this we might want to get away before lightning struck Habakkuk. Instead of lightning, what happened? God answered and told Habakkuk he couldn't see the forest for the trees. Well, that is not exactly what God said. He told him to look beyond himself and beyond Israel to the nations and observe what was happening. God was raising up a new power - the Chaldeans (Babylonians) - and would use them to deal with the injustice in Israel.

Rather than being glad he had an answer, Habakkuk had a new problem and a new set of questions: Why would God use such an evil people to deal with His own people, the Israelites? Why would God be silent "while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself?" How arrogant we are to think we know enough to judge how God should or should not do something! Habakkuk's assumption here is that if God uses one nation to punish or correct another nation the one He uses should at least be more righteous than the one being punished. This assumes that God uses His loyal followers to punish those who are disobedient or do not follow Him. This is an assumption that leads many who follow God to be judgmental of those who do not follow God. As I understand it, though, God wants to use His followers to take Good News to those who do not follow so they will be drawn to Him. This role does not work well with one of bringing judgment.