Habakkuk
Summary[i]
It seems most probable that
Habakkuk prophesied in the latter years of Josiah. Of the prophet himself
nothing is known. To him the character of Jehovah was revealed in terms of the highest
spirituality. He alone of the prophets was more concerned that the holiness of
Jehovah should be vindicated than that Israel should escape chastisement.
Written just upon the eve of the captivity, Habakkuk was God's testimony to
Himself as against both idolatry and pantheism.
The book is in five parts:
1. Habakkuk's perplexity in view of the sins of
Israel and the silence of God (Habakkuk 1:1-4). Historically this was the time
of Jehovah's forbearance because of Josiah's repentance (2Ki_22:18-20).
2. The answer of Jehovah to the prophet's
perplexity (Habakkuk 1:5-11).
3. The prophet, thus answered, utters the
testimony to Jehovah, 1:12-17; but he will watch for further answers (Habakkuk
2:1).
4. To the watching prophet comes the response of
the "vision," (Habakkuk
2:20).
5. All ends in Habakkuk's sublime Psalm of the
Kingdom.
As a whole the Book of Habakkuk raise and answers the question of God's consistency with Himself in view of permitted evil. The prophet thought that the holiness of God forbade him to go on with evil Israel. The answer of Jehovah announces a Chaldean invasion (Hab_1:6), and a world- wide dispersion Hab_1:5). But Jehovah is not mere wrath; "He delighteth in mercy" (Mic_7:18), and introduces into His answers to the perplexed prophet the great promises, Hab_1:5; Hab_2:3-4; Hab_2:14; Hab_2:20.