A prophet’s cry for help reminds us of God’s ultimate purpose & care

By Dean Collins

Habakkuk wasn’t one of the major prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or Daniel, but he had some major frustration with how things were going and whether God would do anything about it. In fact, all three chapters of his short book in the Old Testament are a dialogue between the prophet and God.

How long must I ask for help? Are you even listening?

In chapter 1 Habakkuk expressed what we all express to God at some point on our journey: “How long do I have to ask for help before I get it?” Before we get an answer, we usually follow up with the next question the prophet asked: “Are you even listening?” And like Habakkuk, if you’re paying attention to the situation at home and abroad, the complaints sound familiar: inequities, strife, injustice, perversions, destruction, and more. Seems like we might not be as advanced in society as we think. We end up where Habakkuk begins; if God is so good then why is so much bad going on in the world and why isn’t God fixing things?

Habakkuk is a Q&A session with God, a lament of the soul, and ultimately a description of a Hope for the world. Habakkuk’s audience might be the Southern Kingdom of Israel, but his words have ultimate hope and answers for readers still today and even in the future.

Wait and see!

As chapter 2 opens, Habakkuk finds a watch post where he is determined to sit and see how God will answer. He wants concrete evidence. God and Habakkuk agree that things are bad. However, God indicated that he would use Babylon to clean up the problems of Israel. This was unsatisfactory in Habakkuk’s eyes because Babylon is even worse than Israel! God’s response was to wait and see. What the prophet couldn’t have imagined was that not only would Babylon be used to bring judgment, but eventually Israel would find relief and Babylon would be judged as well.

If you look at history, both biblical and beyond, we see this up and down cycle of power that ultimately is misused, which brings judgment. What Habakkuk couldn’t see and we don’t really want to see is that this cycle continues until Jesus our eternal King returns and sets things right forever.

Trust the Lord

Habakkuk ends with a hopeful prayer. One worthy of learning and praying even now. Especially now. Habakkuk came to the conclusion that while he waited and even though he might never see in this life the ultimate resolution to all the world’s problems, he would trust in the Lord. In good times and in bad. And as he trusted in God daily, God would provide strength to live. As we put our hope and trust in the Lord, we will make our legs strong to climb over the difficulties and see the glory of God.

Another obscure Bible character named Jude gives us a similar prayer. The combination of Habakkuk’s prayer with Jude’s will help us climb high, not stumble, and experience all of God’s strength and goodness!

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭1:2-5; 2:1-3; 3:17-19; Jude 24-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Alex Woods on Unsplash

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