Habakkuk Speaks to God: Questions, Complaints…or Both?

Habakkuk 1:2 2 How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, "Violence!" Yet You do not save.

Habakkuk 1:3 3 Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises.

Habakkuk 1:4 4 Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted.

Outline *Three questions of Habakkuk reveal three basic qualities of God’s character: How long? (v.2) [God is….?] Why? (v.3) [God is….?] What? (v.4) [God is….?]

Habakkuk 1:2 2 How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear? I cry out to You, "Violence!" Yet You do not save.

I. How Long? (v. 2) Right at the beginning of the prayer, Habakkuk makes the appeal, “O LORD!” Lament = a psalm of complaint where a need is described and help is sought from God. Job 19:7; Psalm 6:3; Jeremiah 12:4 The dilemma: God seems to be silent thought the prayers are being made!

I. How Long? (v. 2) God is not silent; rather, God is patient. Psalm 90:4

Psalm 90:4 4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night.

I. How Long? (v. 2) God is not silent; rather, God is patient. Psalm 90:4 Habakkuk accuses God of: (1) doing nothing (2) not caring Remember Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 NIV 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Habakkuk 1:3 3 Why do You make me see iniquity, And cause me to look on wickedness? Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises.

II. Why? (v. 3) Habakkuk is accusing God of being the cause. (Hiphal verb implies causation). Habakkuk blames God for the continuation of evil. God is not the author of evil, He is able to minister and be master…despite evil.

II. Why? (v. 3) The evils of Habakkuk’s day: destruction, violence, strife, contention… God is personal. Psalm 34:18

Psalm 34:18 18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Habakkuk 1:4 4 Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted.

III. What? (v. 4) God is predominant. Psalm 62:11

Psalm 62:11 11 Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God;

III. What? (v. 4) God is predominant. Psalm 62:11 God knows the end from the beginning…

III. What? (v. 4) What is going on? The law is ignored. Justice is never upheld. The wicked surround the righteous. Justice is perverted. AKA: a breakdown of the social order.

“When law is paralyzed and justice perverted, the righteous become the pawns of the wicked.” --K.L. Barker, K. L.

Conclusions God’s nature and God’s ways are mysterious. As children of God, we are to bring our questions, complaints, prayers to God. “The wicked” God promises to answer our prayers…if… God does know, God does care, God is able.