Have you ever wondered why God allows injustice to continue?
Habakkuk 1 records the prophet’s raw and honest questions to God, as he struggles to understand why evil seems to go unpunished. This chapter reminds us that even when we don’t see immediate justice, God is sovereign and working out His perfect plan.
Key Verse:
“How long, Lord, have I called for help, and You do not hear? I cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ Yet You do not save.” – Habakkuk 1:2 (NASB)
Background Context:
Habakkuk prophesied during a time of moral and spiritual decay in Judah. Corruption, violence, and idolatry were rampant, and it seemed like God was silent. Unlike other prophets who spoke God’s words to the people, Habakkuk speaks directly to God, wrestling with deep questions about His justice. The Lord responds, revealing that He is raising up Babylon as an instrument of judgment—something that shocks Habakkuk even more. This chapter teaches us that faith often requires trusting God’s wisdom, even when His plans don’t make sense to us.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
Chaldeans Used to Punish Judah
1The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2How long, O LORD, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, “Violence!”
Yet You do not save.
3Why do You make me see iniquity,
And cause me to look on wickedness?
Yes, destruction and violence are before me;
Strife exists and contention arises.
4Therefore the law is ignored
And justice is never upheld.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out perverted.
5“Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days—
You would not believe if you were told.
6“For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
That fierce and impetuous people
Who march throughout the earth
To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.
7“They are dreaded and feared;
Their justice and authority originate with themselves.
8“Their horses are swifter than leopards
And keener than wolves in the evening.
Their horsemen come galloping,
Their horsemen come from afar;
They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.
9“All of them come for violence.
Their horde of faces moves forward.
They collect captives like sand.
10“They mock at kings
And rulers are a laughing matter to them.
They laugh at every fortress
And heap up rubble to capture it.
11“Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on.
But they will be held guilty,
They whose strength is their god.”
12Are You not from everlasting,
O LORD, my God, my Holy One?
We will not die.
You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge;
And You, O Rock, have established them to correct.
13Your eyes are too pure to approve evil,
And You can not look on wickedness with favor.
Why do You look with favor
On those who deal treacherously?
Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up
Those more righteous than they?
14Why have You made men like the fish of the sea,
Like creeping things without a ruler over them?
15The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook,
Drag them away with their net,
And gather them together in their fishing net.
Therefore they rejoice and are glad.
16Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net
And burn incense to their fishing net;
Because through these things their catch is large,
And their food is plentiful.
17Will they therefore empty their net
And continually slay nations without sparing?
Reflection on Habakkuk 1:
- God’s Silence Doesn’t Mean He’s Absent:
Habakkuk cries out, asking why God hasn’t intervened (Habakkuk 1:2-4). Many of us have felt this way when faced with injustice. But silence is not the same as inaction—God’s timing is not our own. Are you trusting that God is at work, even when you don’t see immediate answers? - God’s Plans Are Beyond Our Understanding:
When God responds, He tells Habakkuk that He is raising up Babylon to bring judgment on Judah (Habakkuk 1:5-11). This was unexpected and difficult to accept. Sometimes, God’s ways don’t align with our expectations, but His wisdom is greater than ours. Are you willing to trust God even when His plans seem confusing? - Evil Will Not Go Unpunished:
Habakkuk struggles with how a wicked nation like Babylon could be used for God’s purposes (Habakkuk 1:12-17). He reminds God of His holiness and justice. This reminds us that while evil may seem to thrive for a time, God’s judgment is sure. Are you holding onto the truth that God will bring justice in His perfect time?
Summary Key Points:
- God hears our cries: Even when it seems like He is silent, He is still working.
- His ways are higher than ours: God’s plans often surprise us, but they are always wise.
- Evil will not last forever: God will ultimately bring justice.
- Faith requires trust in uncertainty: Like Habakkuk, we must hold onto God’s character even when we don’t understand His actions.
Application:
If you’re struggling with unanswered questions or injustice, bring them honestly before God, just as Habakkuk did. Instead of doubting His goodness, ask Him for the faith to trust His plan. Remember that God’s justice may not be immediate, but it is always certain.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come to You with our questions and struggles, just as Habakkuk did. Help us to trust in Your wisdom and timing, even when we don’t understand. Strengthen our faith to believe that You are in control and that Your justice will prevail. Teach us to rest in Your sovereignty and to trust in Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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