UNROLL
First light on a terraced Judean hillside: a lone fig tree in leaf beside a low stone wall, a small flock in an open fold below, a walled hill town far off, under a calm pale sky.

The Book of

Habakkuk Intro

A prophet argues with God, waits on the wall, and learns to sing when everything fails.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min3 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

In 30 seconds

A prophet asks God: how long?

God answers: Babylon is coming.

The prophet asks: how can You use them?

God answers: wait, and live by faith.

The prophet sings: yet I will rejoice.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Who wrote it

Habakkuk

A prophet who argued with God, and waited

  • He calls himself Habakkuk the prophet.Habakkuk 1:1
  • He wrote as the Chaldeans rose, about 605 BC.Habakkuk 1:6
  • His prayer was set for the temple singers.Habakkuk 3:19

His day

Good King Josiah died in 609 BC.

Under Jehoiakim, Judah turned violent.

In 605 BC Babylon beat Egypt at Carchemish.

Jerusalem would fall in 586 BC.

How it’s built

Two complaints, two answers

How long?1:2–4: violence inJudahThe Chaldeans1:5–11: God’s firstanswerWhy are Yousilent?1:12–17: how can Youuse them?Write thevision2:1–20: live by faithRemember mercy3:1–16: the God of theexodusYet I willrejoice3:17–19: joy in Godalone

Whiteboard

A prophet’s argument with God becomes a song.

How to read it

It is a conversation: notice who is speaking.

Honest questions are allowed.

The answer is not an explanation but a promise.

Big themes

Three things to carry

Watch for

The righteous will live by faith.

Romans 1:17

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Question

Quick question

After his second question, Habakkuk goes somewhere to wait.

Where did Habakkuk wait for God’s answer?

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