I. The Questions of Habakkuk..............................1:1-2:20 A. The First Question..........................................1:1-4 B. God's First Reply..........................................1:5-11 C. The Second Question of Habakkuk...........1:12-2:1 D. God's Second Reply......................................2:2-20 II. The Praise of Habakkuk........................................3:1-19 A. Habakkuk Prays for God's Mercy...................3:1-2 B. Habakkuk Remembers God's Mercy.............3:3-15 C. Habakkuk Trusts in God's Salvation............3:16-19
HABAKKUK
● Hebrew verb habaq, which means "to fold the hands or wrestle" or "to embrace." In this case, it might mean "one who embraces" or "one who is embraced.”
● The content of the book, which includes wisdom literature and a psalm of praise, indicates that Habakkuk was a poet as well as a prophet. He is also the author of the book. ● His name has something to do with the message of the book.
Book of Habakkuk
– the 35th book in the Old Testament and the eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible. – attributed to the prophet Habakkuk
– the prophecy dates from 605-597 B.C. or between the great Babylonian victory at Carchemish and Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion of Judah which culminated in the capture of Jerusalem. – a copy of chapters 1 and 2 (of 3) is included in the Habakkuk Commentary, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
– it only has 3 chapters.
Purpose of Writing:
Habakkuk was wondering why God was allowing His chosen people to go through the current suffering at the hands of their enemies. God answers and Habakkuk’s faith is restored.
CHAPTER SUMMARY:
• Chapter 1&2:
– The first two chapters consist of a dialogue between the prophet and the Lord. – First time in Israelite literature, a man(Habakkuk) questions the ways of God, as Habakkuk calls to Him to account for His government of the world.
Habakkuk’s question (1:2-4)
He is outraged at the