5 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Habakkuk

The Bible is one unified account of God’s redemptive history, yet He used forty men to compose its sixty-six books. The message of the Scriptures is consistent, with Jesus Christ as the center of it all and as the culmination of history. Thirty-nine books encompass the Old Testament while twenty-seven books are found in the New Testament. 

The Old Testament consists of:

1. Historical Narratives (which include the Law) - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles  

2. Wisdom Literature/Poetry - Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon 

3. Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

We’re going to look at the prophet, Habakkuk, and the lessons God teaches us through his book.

What Was a Prophet’s Role in the Bible?

EastonSmith’s Bible Dictionary

In the Old Testament, the prophetic books are divided into the major and minor prophets, not because of any prophet’s lesser importance, but simply because of the length of the prophet’s writings. God used each prophet He called for His particular time and purposes.

What Was Habakkuk’s Role as One of God’s Prophets?

prophet

1. Habakkuk introduces himself as a prophet at the very outset and in another chapter of his book, “The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw” (Habakkuk 1:1; 3:1). A distinct call from God caused Habakkuk to become a prophet, and he served as God’s spokesman (whether to the people at the time or through the written Word of the Bible).

2. The prophecies he recorded all came to fruition. The Babylonian invasion indeed happened (1:6) and Habakkuk probably lived to see the initial stages of the prophecy’s fulfillment when Babylon forces attacked Jerusalem in 597.

3. Habakkuk’s words, “the righteous shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4) were quoted as authoritative in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:37-39.

Habakkuk’s

The main theme of Habakkuk is God’s divine intervention using a wicked nation, despite man’s confusion. Yet God judges all nations, including those whose wicked deeds serve Him. God is to be worshipped for who he is.

5 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Habakkuk

1. The Bookends of Habakkuk

Habakkuk begins his book by complaining (Habakkuk 1:2-4) and ends by praising God in song (Habakkuk 3:17-19).