Habakkuk

Historically, Habakkuk is a mysterious figure, little to nothing is known of him. Scholars are iffy about his home town, profession, parents, or tribe. To help flesh the background of Habakkuk out, here is an excerpt from Bible.org:

"Because the book of Habbakuk consists of five oracles about the Chaldeans (Babylonians), and the Chaldean rise to power is dated circa 612 BCE, it is assumed he was active about that time, making him an early contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Jewish sources, however, do not group him with those two prophets, who are often placed together, so it is possible that he was slightly earlier than they.

Because the final chapter of his book is a song, it is sometimes assumed that he was a member of the tribe of Levi, which served as musicians in Solomon's Temple."

"The name "Chaldeans" derives from the ruling class that lived in southern Mesopotamia and took leadership in the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The last and greatest dynasty to rule Babylon was of Chaldean origin. Thus "Chaldean" was almost a synonym for "Babylonian." -Thomas Constable

Looking at a composite of perspectives, the book probably dates from between 608-587 BC. It may be a compilation from several periods of his prophetic career.

Judah, Southern Kingdom, Jehoiakim

fearful, Babylon looked, Egypt & Assyria

different, prophets, dialogued

"In the interim, while history is still awaiting its conclusion (and Habakkuk was not told when the end would come, apparently for him prefigured by Babylon's destruction), the righteous ones are to live by faith. The faith prescribed—or 'faithfulness,' as many have argued that 'emunah should be translated—is still called for as a basic response to the unanswered questions in today's universe; and it is this, a theology for life both then and now, that stands as Habakkuk's most basic contribution."--Expositor's Bible Commentary

"If Zephaniah stressed humility and poverty of spirit as prerequisites for entering into the benefits of the company of the believing, Habakkuk demanded faith as the most indispensable prerequisite. But these are all part of the same picture.

"Whereas Zephaniah stressed Judah's idolatry and religious syncretism, Habakkuk was alarmed by the increase of lawlessness, injustice, wickedness, and rebellion." -Kaiser "Toward an Old Testament Theology"

Looking at the style of the text, below is an excerpt from Bible. org

"The style of the book has been praised by many scholars,suggesting that its author was a man of great literary talent. The entire book follows the structure of a chiasmus in which parallelism of thought is used to bracket sections of the text."

A chiasmus is also known as an inverse parallelism.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms by Chris Baldick provides a more extensive description: 

chiasmus [ky-AZ-mus] (plural -mi), a figure of speech by which the order of the terms in the first of two parallel clauses is reversed in the second. This may involve a repetition of the same words ("Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure" —Byron) or just a reversed parallel between two corresponding pairs of ideas … . The figure is especially common in 18th century English poetry, but is also found in prose of all periods. It is named after the Greek letterchi (x), indicating a "criss-cross" arrangement of terms. Adjective:chiastic.


While not directly related to Hababkkuk, I found these examples of "chaismi" enlightening:


A reversed order of the grammar in two or more clauses in a sentence will yield a chiasmus.


Consider the example of a parallel sentence:


Inverting into chiasmus:


Other examples:
”He knowingly led and we blindly followed”

(A B A B)

(Subject, adverb, verb, conjunction (cross), subject, adverb, verb.)
"He knowingly led and we followed blindly"

(A B B A)

(Subject, adverb, verb, conjunction (cross), subject, verb, adverb.)
"By day the frolic, and the dance by night". Samuel Johnson The Vanity of Human Wishes.

(prepositional phrases and gerunds in reverse order)
"His time a moment, and a point his space." Alexander Pope Essay on Man, Epistle I.

(possessive phrases with nouns; also note that this is an example of chiasmus of inverted meaning "time and space", "moment and point")
"Swift as an arrow flying, fleeing like a hare afraid" --Wikipedia


Here's a helpful further reference:
http://www.drmardy.com/chiasmus/definition.shtml

Ah....I wish that someone had schooled in the structure of language early in life, that I would have years to play with these linguistic tools and work them into my style. But, better to learn them at 43 than never at all...
It will be interesting to see if this structure can be maintained in translation---will I notice chiasmi while reading Habakkuk, or are they lost in translation?

According to Bible.org, Habakkuk is the only prophet to question the wisdom of God. I'm not
sure that I buy that however, what about Jonah?

"Habakkuk is unique among the prophets in that he openly questions the wisdom of God (1:3a, 1:13b). In the first part of the second chapter, the Prophet sees the injustice among his people and asks why God does not take action: "1:2 Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you 'Violence!' and will you not save?" - (World English Bible).

Whether he's the only prophet wrestling with these issues or there are others, I find comfort in his struggle. His transparency is appealing to the modern man who is continually pummeled by his culture with doubts about the goodness and the very existence of God. Ours is an impersonal age, dominated by science and self-reliance. Perhaps even the thought of questioning God is becoming dated?

This skepticism toward the actions of God is the dominate theme of Habakkuk. In this regard, the book reminds me of Job. Unfortunately, the world is full of instances where the wicked are allowed to prosper in this present age. It's a modern, timeless question. It hits us where we live.


Structure & Verses


Above all else, Habakkuk is a dialogue between God and the prophet. I find the tension in it interesting, it reminds me of Job in this regard. Who wouldn't like to question God about a few things? And even though we know the questioning is ludicrous in one regard, we can't resist in another. I particularly like the diagram above, despite the neon color scheme, because it captures the tension of the interchange.

The second diagram below fleshes the particulars of the conversation out more thoroughly. It's useful as a quick snapshot of the themes and highlights of this book:

In Acts 13:41, Paul references Habakkuk:

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." -Habakkuk 1:5

Clearly, Paul did not share our modern tendency to regard the prophets as obscure. He sees immediate parallels between God's work then and his work Paul's era. Speaking to the church at Antioch, he draws a parallel between God's unusual work of bringing the Israelites to justice through the oppression of the Chaldeans and God's plans for the early Church or His larger plan to extend salvation to the Gentiles and provide forgiveness through the sacrifice of His Son, the Christ.

Toward the end of chapter 1, he sets up a poignant image of man under a merciless God. His simile is that God is like a fishmen and that men are "like crawling things that have no ruler." (Habakkuk 1: 14) The contrast brings to mind the modern despair we struggle with under Darwinian theory. If our universe is impersonal, and we are merely an impressive interchange between elements, a chemical reaction of sorts, then we are like these crawling things. If that theory is true, no amount of amazement or elaboration on the beauty or intricacy of our design will mute the fact that we have no larger master or purpose.

However, Habakkuk is no atheist. Instead, his imagery is not of an absent master, nor of an indifferent one, but of a God that seemingly delights in his "catch" of men:

"He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad." -Habakkuk 1:15

Following the image, this image of God is no kind "fisher of men" for higher purposes, but an earthy, hedonistic God who enjoys prosperity and plenty:

"Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever?" -Habakkuk 1:16-17

In some ways, this portrait is easier to dismiss, in other ways, not. Our world is violent. It is full of injustice. If one does hold to the belief that God exists, how does one reconcile the nature and intent of Him with the reality of our broken world?

I believe they are reconcilable, if we pull back and look at the picture with more humility and perspective, allowing that God is God and His plans are broader and more complex than our own. The modern perspective, in my opinion, vastly underestimates the mind and character of God when they allow Him into the picture at all. And there is a hubris about their own wisdom in looking at things which is a bit ironic: they count themselves intellectually infallible in many ways, yet conclude we are all accidental and animalistic at best. Do they sense no disconnect? How can you know everything, even sizing up the issue of God in the universe, assuming to know His mind and make? The modern intellect makes some huge intellectual jumps and assumptions that they would rather not acknowledge. The perspective requires a heady view of one's own self-worth and intellect, requiring a naivete and faith of its own. Admittedly, there are many things that I live in uncertainty about--questions I'm patiently waiting for answers upon, and bits of Him that I do not begin to understand. However, one of my unresolved issues has never been my own inability to grasp it all, or my own sinful nature. Both are clear and indisputable.

I admire Habakkuk's pluck and candor:

"I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint." -Habakkuk 2:1

At least he's trusting God enough to ask the questions at the right place. At least he expects an answer.

God's reply gives us glimpses into His plans and character over history. After telling Habakkuk to write the vision, "make it plain on tablets," He alludes to the broader time frame of His plan:

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." -Habakkuk 2:3

We are an impatient people. We want eternal answers today. We want immediate relief from what ails us. God is not squeezed by time. His canvas is an eternal one. It's as if we are butterflies who live for two weeks trying to understand all four seasons and beyond.

We want to wrap up the story in our lifetime, in our zenith. But the story is one of many generations, it requires patience. It goes beyond our small lifespan on earth, reaching people, cultures, and times that we cannot begin to understand fully.

The Lord's answer also touches back to the arrogance of man's own assessment of things, contrasting that with a faith-filled one:

"Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith." -Habakkuk 2:4

He also points out that this human "amassing" of material things--whether it be nations or individuals doing the collecting--is vain and short sighted. Even the greatest of rulers, rule for a brief season in the sight of God. Alexander the Great was cut down in his youth, Pharoahs bones are strewn throughout the desert while their pyramids remain as monuments to their weakness.

In contrast, we are instructed by Christ to store up things where rust and moths cannot take them away:

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal." -Matthew 6:20

Everything on earth is really up for grabs--it's just a matter of time, and time is on God's side.

While we may fool ourselves amassing things, He also warns that deeds will find us out. Sadly, driven by our own need for safety and security, we make bad choices, we do not choose His best. In time, even the things themselves will testify:

"Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond. "Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!"-Habakkuk 2:9-11

Clearly, to God why and how we do what we do is as significant, if not more than, as the actions themselves.

Isn't it wonderful to think of the ease that will be when the earth is full of His knowledge, when it is ubiquitous and indisputable?

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." -Habakkuk 2:14

There will be no peace until we are all on the same page in this regard, but once He goes forth, there will be no room for dispute, argument, war. In the glory of His presence, what else is there to say?

"But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." -Habakkuk 2:20

Chapter 3 definitely leaves one with a sense of the changing of the guard or passage. Thematically and intellectually, we seem to start all over again from the beginning--the war, the enemy, the violence around us. The God of this chapter is definitely a war God, pounding around the earth like the giant from Jack's beanstalk or one of the Greek Gods who comes down and goes back up again. Honestly, it's hard for me to relate to this imagery, though that's a weakness in my understanding and ability to grasp all facets of Him I'm sure.

Out of the carnage, the Lord's mercy shines forth like a prized gem:

"In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known;in wrath remember mercy." -Habakkuk 3:2

However, Habakkuk does eventually seem to land back upon some of his earlier themes--the need to wait, the need to hold fast to faith amid the present circumstances of our lives that press upon us, the unfruitful and bleak moments that threaten our long-range vision:

"Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."-Habakkuk 3:16-19

God makes all the difference. He enables us. He overarches our lives with divine purpose. He casts our lives in the broader seas of eternity. He provides sure footing even in our precarious todays. Selah for sure.