Habakkuk Dares Question God About All The Sin And Violence
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
The small prophetic book of Habakkuk is probably read and studied about as little as any portion of the Holy Bible. But don’t get caught passing over any part of the Holy Writ, for it all contains important information and lessons, even for us today.
Habakkuk’s writing was done about the seventh year of the reign of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar…about 596 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. And about 121 years after the Syrians had destroyed the Kingdom of Israel. Things were, indeed bad, and Habakkuk wanted to know how long was he supposed to inquire and plead of God to do something about the evil and suffering.
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. (Habakkuk 1:1-4 KJV)
As others had done, he seems to think God simply was not paying any attention and allowing those who were more wicked than they, to exact such maltreatment upon His people. And God comes back with some sad news for him. You may read God’s reply in the next 7 verses: (Habakkuk 1:5-11)
Here is the nex seven verses taken from "The Message" translation. It is somewhat better understood in more modern language:
Look around at the godless nations. Look long and hard. Brace yourself for a shock. Something's about to take place and you're going to find it hard to believe.
I'm about to raise up Babylonians to punish you,
Babylonians, fierce and ferocious—World-conquering Babylon, grabbing up nations right and left, A dreadful and terrible people, making up its own rules as it goes.
Their horses run like the wind, attack like bloodthirsty wolves. A stampede of galloping horses thunders out of nowhere. They descend like vultures circling in on carrion.
They're out to kill. Death is on their minds. They collect victims like squirrels gathering nuts.
They mock kings, poke fun at generals, spit on forts, and leave them in the dust.
They'll all be blown away by the wind. Brazen in sin, they call strength their god." (Habakkuk 1:5-11 TMT)
It has been God’s nature and his normal way to use other nations to punish His wayward children. And, although they were not necessarily evil such as the Babylonians are so pictured, God also used such ungodly nations as the source of his punishment. These remnants of the Jewish nation, His chosen people to furnish the lineage to Jesus Christ, had been warned by the prophets, even by Habakkuk, of their sinful ways and that God would not tolerate it long. And this time it had been too long.
Seeing that this is God’s method and that he will not tolerate the rebellion of His children forever, this nation could use some honest meditation of the heart. Here He gave us a land, even greater than that of Canaan land which was given to the Israelites, and after a period of less than 300 years, we have seen it fall into sinful lifestyles and abandonment of God. He will not send us a prophet or messenger to warn us. They are recorded in his indestructible word. We have these warnings, and we are without excuse.
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