Habakkuk : Christian Community Bible

Introduction to Habakkuk

In the Bible the prophet Habakkuk is the first one to dare call God to account. For centuries, faith had been announcing God’s justice. However, this justice had not always been obvious. After many kept silent about their doubts, Habakkuk was the first biblical author who asked boldly: Why does the Lord allow injustice to triumph? Why, when he punishes one oppressor, does he replace him with someone worse?

The answer is twofold:

1. The Lord keeps secret how he rules the world and all he asks is that we remain faithful: the upright will live by his faithfulness.
2. The prophet contemplates the glory of the Lord who will judge in the end.

Habakkuk spoke his oracles from 605-600 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar, who had just destroyed the cruel Assyria, became very powerful himself and plundered Israel.

NOTE: excerpted from the introductory material for this book.