Jan 1, 2023
Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1
The name Habakkuk does not appear anywhere else in the Bible but in this book. He is a prophet of God, ministering to the southern kingdom of Judah. His message is primarily given in the form of a conversation the prophet has with God. When God reveals that He will destroy Judah and Jerusalem by means of the Babylonians, Habakkuk protests as to the justice of such action. The interaction between God and His prophet is highly instructive.
Having prayed regarding the sins the people of Judah, Habakkuk now wonders why God has not brought His judgment. "Why do you idly look at wrong?" (Hab 1:3). There was violence in the land (Hab 1:2) and the wicked surrounded the righteous (Hab 1:4).
God's answer is that, indeed, He was planning to bring His judgment on Judah. "Look among the nations . . . For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans. . . . At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh" (Hab 1:5,6,10).
Now Habakkuk has a new question. "Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? . . . why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? (Hab 1:12,13).
God was employing the wicked, idolatrous Babylonians to bring divine judgment on the people of Judah. This is an example of divine providence as God grants 'purposeful permission' to the Babylonians to do what they desire to do. But what they desire to do is God's design for the judgment of Judah. God's awesome justice and glorious providence dovetails in the acts of war between Babylon and Judah. Let us bow down in silent wonder at the ways of the Almighty.