If you don't know much about the book, you're not alone. Habakkuk is the minor prophet of scripture that scholars know the least about. It is a short three chapter book that tells the story of a man who pridefully questions God's intentions but ends up humbly worshipping Him in the end. It is the same story we all live day in and day out. We question and doubt the plans of God thinking we can plan our life better.
The plans God has for us are hardly ever what we expect. Habakkuk is about to have everything taken from him but he seeks out the words of God. God's response is that, "the righteous will live by faith" (2:4). This small portion of scripture is enough to envelop every commands God has given in all of scripture. (The Apostle Paul references that verse twice, and the author of Hebrews does as well - Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38).
This specific part of the story fits in just before the wicked, blood thirsty Babylonians drag the Israelites off into exile. God tells Habakkuk that everything he has ever known is about to be destroyed. God's exact plans are laid out for Habakkuk to see, and it isn't pretty. But when he encounters the reality of his desperate situation his response led right to worship.
Trials and suffering are sure to come our way, some big, some small. The question is how do we prepare for it, how do we endure it?
Habakkuk would want you to sing this song, Habakkuk 3:17-19.
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
What is your favorite book of the Bible? Why?
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