As we continue our journey through the Trei Asar, next, we’re going to dig into Sefer Habakkuk.
Now, if you’ve ever read Habakkuk, you know that it is a deep book. It’s also one of the more popular Neviim (prophets) in both biblical and philosophical circles.
Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 twice (once in Romans and once in Galatians), and the book of Hebrews quotes it as well. So Habakkuk has had a major influence on how both Jews and Christians have thought about faith.
Another interesting fact about Habakkuk is that a commentary on the book was one of the seven original Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947. It is called Pesher Habakkuk, with pesher meaning “commentary” or “interpretation.”
Pesher Habakkuk was probably written in the first century BCE, and the commentary draws parallels between Israel during Habakkuk’s time and Israel during the time of the Dead Sea Scroll community. Both were dealing with hostile Gentile powers. For Habakkuk, that power was Babylon. For the Dead Sea Scroll community, it was the Kittim, a term they used for Rome.
Now, as far as the man Habakkuk himself, we really don’t know much about him. Many think he lived and wrote in the early 600s BCE, around the time that Babylon was becoming the new world power. There is also an interesting Jewish tradition, mentioned in the Zohar (the chief text of Jewish mysticism), that identifies Habakkuk as the son of the Shunammite woman who was restored to life by Elisha in 2 Kings 4. Chronologically, that presents some obvious problems. But keep in mind that Chazal (traditional Jewish commentators) were not always being literal when they made connections between biblical characters. Sometimes the connection was thematic or spiritual.
But when we get to the actual text of Habakkuk, one thing becomes clear very quickly:
Habakkuk has some BIG questions for God.
He looks around Judah and sees tremendous injustice. And essentially, he asks, “Why? How, God, can you let this happen?”
Habakkuk 1:2–4 says:
“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth.”
Those are some pretty bold words! Habakkuk even asks God why He “idly” looks at wrongdoing. Obviously, Habakkuk knows that God does not literally sit around and idly watch evil. But the prophet is speaking honestly about what the situation looks and feels like from where he is standing. Let’s pause here for a moment and think about the implications of these raw expressions from the prophet.
I think Habakkuk’s example affirms that it is okay to come to God with our hardest questions. Too often in religious circles, people hesitate to ask questions. That’s a shame…because asking questions is very Biblical! Put differently, a relationship with God can handle some bending. And I find it comforting that some of our hardest questions have already been asked in the Bible.
Commentators have pointed out that Habakkuk’s question is not exactly the classic question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” His question is more specific. Why are the wicked prospering in Israel? Why is injustice flourishing among God’s own people? Well, God answers him. However…the answer probably wasn’t what Habakkuk was hoping to hear. In Habakkuk 1:5–6, HaShem says:
“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. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation…”
In other words, God’s answer to Habakkuk’s concern about the injustice in Judah is that He is going to use the Babylonians as an instrument of judgment against Judah. Wait…what did God just say?
The Babylonians???
Now Habakkuk has an even bigger problem.
He was already in knots because wicked people were flourishing at the expense of the righteous in Israel. And God’s answer is that He is going to bring the Babylonians against them?
In Habakkuk’s mind, Judah might be in bad moral shape. But they are nowhere near as wicked as Babylon! So…at this point, if you’re Habakkuk, it’s a case of, “I’m sorry I asked.”
But Habakkuk doesn’t leave it alone.
In the second half of chapter 1, he goes back to God. I like how the NET translation captures the prophet’s emotions:
“You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?” (Habakkuk 1:13)
Habakkuk is essentially saying, “God, I’m not satisfied. Your answer makes no sense to me.” How can God respond to one injustice with what appears to be an even greater injustice? And I think this raises an important question for us:
What do we do when we bring a complaint to HaShem, and His answer doesn’t seem to make sense?
Habakkuk 2:1 tells us what the prophet does:
“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.” I love this. The renowned medieval Jewish commentator Rashi comments on this verse by saying that Habakkuk essentially drew a circle around himself and declared that he would not move until God answered his question. There is something important here.
Habakkuk does not walk away from God because he doesn’t understand God. Instead, he presses in. The prophet is essentially saying, “God, I’m not budging until I get a better answer!”
Now, I’m not saying that God gives weak or shallow answers. And we certainly shouldn’t conclude that God owes us answers on demand. But I do believe that as a good Father, God wants us to bring Him our questions. And in His wisdom, He knows both the best way and the best time to answer them.
For me personally, one of my big questions has been why there has been such a long delay with Yeshua’s return. Two thousand years is a very long time to wait. And who knows how much longer it will be?
But Habakkuk has helped me understand something: HaShem often gives us answers piece by piece.
God’s first response to our question may not be the entirety of what He is going to show us. In other words, sometimes God answers our questions through a process. And that can require some hunger and pursuit on our part, as well as a willingness to live with an unresolved question for a while. Sometimes it is better to wait and have unresolved questions for a season than to accept easy answers that don’t stand up to the scrutiny of our souls. That is exactly what Habakkuk does. He waits.
He still doesn’t understand how God can use Babylon to judge Judah when Babylon is far more wicked than Judah. But instead of walking away, Habakkuk takes his place on the watchtower and waits for God to say more. And eventually, God does. In the rest of chapter 2, HaShem gives Habakkuk a powerful answer. Justice is coming for the wicked. But God’s justice typically takes time and unfolds in stages through history.
And that’s where we’ll pick up in the next blog!
