Christian Living

7 Lessons from the Book of Habakkuk

I recently participated in a Bible memory challenge where we memorized the book of Habakkuk.  This short book is so powerful considering the times we live in, so I encourage you to read it before you continue reading this blog post. 😊

The book of Habakkuk has an interesting arc as it conveys Habakkuk’s reasoning with God as he tries to understand what is happening in his time. 

In chapter 1, Habakkuk is crying out to God, asking why He isn’t saving.  God replies that He is working through the Chaldeans.  Habakkuk recognizes that God appointed them to judge Judah, but he still wonders why they are allowed to do evil.  In chapter 2, God gives Habakkuk a vision, telling him that those who do evil will fall.  The book closes with a prayer.  In chapter 3, Habakkuk asks God to remember mercy while He judges.  God’s power is seen throughout the earth, and God’s power has gone through the earth to save His people and punish the evil.  While Habakkuk trembles as he waits for God’s judgment, he declares that he will rejoice in God no matter what because God is his salvation and strength. 

 What a powerful message as we see Habakkuk wrestling with God and deciding, in the end, to rejoice in the Lord no matter what!  Studying and memorizing this book has been both an encouragement and a challenge to rejoice in the Lord no matter what happens.  Today, I’d like to share some truths God showed me through this powerful little book. 

1: God sometimes works in ways we wouldn’t believe. 

When Habakkuk asks God why He’s allowing evil to reign, God doesn’t give him a straight-forward answer.  Instead, He tells Habakkuk He’s working in a way he wouldn’t believe:

 “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days— You would not believe if you were told. “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. Habakkuk 1:5-6

“Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god.” Habakkuk 1:11

God was raising up an enemy to judge Judah, but He also promised that the Chaldeans would not go unpunished for their evil and idolatry. 

This chapter reminds me of Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28 – we can’t see the big picture in the moment, but God can.  God can turn the worst things into something that causes people to glorify Him. 

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. Genesis 50:20

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

2: It’s okay to tell God our struggles.

Sometimes I feel like Habakkuk, seeing the evil in this world and wondering why God doesn’t work in the way I want Him to, knowing that God is good but wondering why He isn’t making His power known.  This book reminded me that it’s okay for me to be honest with God when I’m confused or struggling.  By the end of the book, Habakkuk reaches the place where he deeply believes that God is good, so he chooses to rejoice in God no matter what.  I need to keep pressing into God, not giving up, being honest, and asking for Him to reveal His goodness to me, so that I can respond with the same conviction as Habakkuk. 

3: God is faithful to judge.

Then the Lord answered me and said, “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:2-3

God reminds Habakkuk that He is faithful to keep His word, even if it seems like it’s taking a long time.  Throughout chapter 2, God lists examples of people who look like they are prospering in sin, but then He shows that they will ultimately fall.  God does bring justice for evil.  God is faithful, and we must trust in His faithfulness. 

4: Idols are dumb.

Yeah, I know, great fourth point title. 😉  Seriously, though, reading passages in Scripture that talk about how pointless it is to worship wood and stone makes idolatry seem so obvious and dumb.  But let’s look at this passage in a new light:

“What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it, Or an image, a teacher of falsehood? For its maker trusts in his own handiwork When he fashions speechless idols. “Woe to him who says to a piece of wood, ‘Awake!’ To a mute stone, ‘Arise!’ And that is your teacher? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, And there is no breath at all inside it. “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” Habakkuk 2:18-20

Idolatry is worshipping something man-made instead of worshipping the Creator of the universe.  While we don’t normally see people worshipping statues in our culture, idolatry is still a problem.  Instead of worshipping wood and stone, our culture worships beauty, fitness, fame, social media presence, politics, social justice, health, money, our dreams for the future… and if we’re honest, it all comes down to selfishness.  Our sinful nature wants us to worship ourselves instead of God. 

God deserves all our praise, honor, and reverence.  We cannot save part of our worship for ourselves, it all belongs to God. 

5: God is powerful!

Chapter 3 of Habakkuk shows the earth submitting to God’s power (see verses 3-15).  If the earth and the seas are submitted before Him, should we not also bow in reverence and awe before God?

6: God is Light, and His purpose is salvation. 

His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power. Habakkuk 3:4

Sun and moon stood in their places; They went away at the light of Your arrows, At the radiance of Your gleaming spear. Habakkuk 3:11

Even in judgment, God is light.  There is no darkness in Him (see 1 John 1:5).  God does not have evil intentions in mind when He judges His people.  God’s purpose in judgment is to bring salvation:

You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For the salvation of Your anointed. You struck the head of the house of the evil To lay him open from thigh to neck. Selah. Habakkuk 3:13

God doesn’t forget His people, and His desire is for our good.  God desires our salvation (see 1 Timothy 2:3-4), so much so that He sent His only Son to save us from our sins and grant us eternal life (see John 3:14-17).  We can trust God to be working for the salvation of the lost, even during judgment. 

7: I can rejoice, no matter what.

Habakkuk ends with this beautiful declaration:

Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:17-19

Habakkuk knew that judgment was coming for Judah, and he was afraid (see Hab. 3:16).  But he chose to exult and rejoice in God no matter what would happen, because God was his salvation and strength. 

Now is the time to make the decision to rejoice in God no matter what happens.  Our rejoicing is not in our circumstances, trials, or happy moments.  We rejoice in our Father, who gives us salvation and strength.  God is awesome, and we can always rejoice in who He is!

I was blessed by this study of Habakkuk.  God reminded me to be honest when I pray, trust His faithfulness, put away idols, and rejoice in Him because He is my salvation and strength.  I hope you have been encouraged today and will take time to read and study Habakkuk, too.  😊

With love,

Kelsey