The Minor Prophets Bible Study VII: Habakkuk
April 12, 2012
BMC- Habakkuk
Opening Question: When can complaints be a good thing?
Background
Call: No direct call. 1:1 calls book an oracle/prophecy and refers to Habakkuk as a prophet
When: 609-597 BCE (von Rad 158)
Where: Judah (Achtemeier 32 & 34)
To Whom: Yahweh and Habakkuk (von Rad 158)
Characteristics: (What do you notice about the style of the book)
- Two sections: Pronouncement and Prayer (Harper’s Bible Commentary 739)
- Poetic Dialogue with God (Harris 173).
- Similar to Job (Gowan 91)
- Lament genre, contains dialogue, and concludes with theophany (Gowan 91)
Relationship with Kings & Others:
- King Jehoiakim (Achtemeier 34)
Important Events:
- Neo-Babylonian Dynasty founded 625 BCE (Sweeney 197)
- Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt 605 BCE (Sweeney 197)
Outline: (Sweeney pg. 198)
I. Habakkuk’s Oracle: Dialogue concerning YHWH’s righteousness (1:1-2:20)
A. Superscription (1:1)
B. Massa’ proper (1:2-2:20)
1. Habakkuk’s initial complaint to YHWH concerning oppression of righteous by wicked (1:2-4)
2. YHWH’s response: I brought the Chaldeans (1:5-11)
3. Habakkuk’s second complaint: why tolerate evil? (1:12-17)
4. Report of YHWH’s response: oppressor will fall (2:1-20)
II. Prayer of Habakkuk: Petition for YHWH to act (3:1-19)
A. Superscription (3:1)
B. Prayer Proper: YHWH will act (3:2-19a)
C. Instructions for the Choirmaster (3:19b)
Observations by Chapter: (Note observations make or questions you have as you read the book.)
Habakkuk 1: Name means “to embrace” or “to wrestle” (Wiersbe pg. 107), Habakkuk referred as a prophet. Focus of concern is on violence. Habakkuk speaks 1:2-4, God answers 1:5-11 but doesn’t really answer the question of how long and admits that the Babylonians are violent. Habakkuk speaks 1:12-2:1 will we survive?
Habakkuk 2: God answers 2:2-? Things will work out, but be patient. Names the sins and that the stones and beams will declare the complaint. Punishment will come.
Habakkuk 3: Habakkuk’s prayer/worship/praise. Declaration of the Lord’s salvation. Even when I have nothing, I will rejoice in the Lord.
Themes/Issues: (Note the major themes and issues the prophet addresses.)
- Why do bad things happen to good people? Theodicy
- “One must have faith in God to carry out justice” (Harris 174)
- Challenge injustice (NIB 623)
- Explanation of why God works as God works.
- Suffering and Justice of God (Gowan 91)
- They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength
- 2:20
- Quick to complain but then waits for answers
- Ability to question and complain to God.
- Wrestling with God. Don’t just blindly say it is ok when it isn’t.
- God’s Power
So What? (Having read the prophet, what do his words have to teach us today?)
- Question God, but don’t worry. God is in control.
- Adjusting to events when things aren’t going well.
- In the midst of it all, God sees and cares about injustice.
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