BBB Bible Series: How About Habakkuk? Quiz

Answer: to embrace

In Hebrew, Chabaqquq (or Habakkuk in English) has the phonetic spelling/pronunciation of (Khab-ak-kook'). "To wrestle" is another possible meaning of the name. In either event, it implies close physical contact with another.

Practically nothing is known about Habakkuk. The book that bears his name tells almost nothing about his life, and no other books in the Old Testament mention him, although quite a few legends have grown up concerning him.

One of these legends has it that he was the son of the Shunamite woman, whom Elisha raised from the dead, while another implies that he is the watchman that Isaiah speaks of in Isaiah 21:6. Yet others say that he is of the tribes of Levi and Simeon. These are merely legends, however, and should not be given any credence historically or otherwise.

One interpretation of his name could be due to the way he clung to God, as evidenced in Habakkuk 3:18. "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." This act of embracing God in the face of impending doom establishes him as a man who trusted in God, regardless of circumstances.

Answer: that he won't believe even if God tells him the truth

Habakkuk 1:5 says, "Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you."

It is widely assumed that the 'work' referred to at that time was a prediction of the downfall of Judah to the Chaldean (Babylonian) people, an event that occurred later. The time-frame seems to have been about 610 B.C., because the Chaldeans attacked Jerusalem in the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim in 605 B.C., according to 2 Kings 24:1; 2 Chronicles 36:6; and Jeremiah 46:2. Add to this Habakkuk's prophecy in 1:5,6 which speaks of the Chaldeans as being about to invade Judah, but not yet having actually done so.

A strikingly similar phrase can be found in the New Testament book of Acts, in 14:31. "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."

This may be a reference to the later destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman Empire.

There are some who feel that another pending event of this type is yet to come, with Jerusalem falling under siege yet again, as the nations gather together against her to make war during the battle of Har-Mageddon (Armageddon).

The nation of Judah apparently could never conceive of the idea that God would allow the desecration of the temple. Since then, it has already happened at least on those two occasions, a seeming testament to God's willingness to judge the works and actions of mankind.

Answer: as a bitter and hasty nation

While Habakkuk 1:6 describes the Chaldeans as bitter and hasty, verse 7 goes further and states that they will be terrible and dreadful as well, and verses 8 and 9 identify them as fierce, and as coming "all for violence".

Answer: as purer than to behold evil

"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity..."

Habakkuk goes on to ask God how he holds his tongue when the wicked are devouring the righteous people. He even compares mankind to fish caught in a net, with evil men "catching" the good men. (Habakkuk 1:13-17)

Answer: that he will stand watch to hear what God has to say

"I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me and what I shall answer when I am reproved."

The concept here seems to be that of a vision which is made to pass before the mind like a picture, or of a landscape, where a person contemplates a panoramic view of objects around him -- in this case, God's answer to Habakkuk.

Habakkuk is not only prepared to listen for the nation, he is also prepared to answer for himself, if God sees fit to correct his attitude. Even though he is sorrowful for his country, he seems to acknowledge that the righteousness of God demands judgment. Habakkuk chooses to praise God and give him thanks for His mighty works and fair judgments. Contrast this statement made by Habakkuk with the following excerpts from Revelation 16:

v.9 - "And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory."
v.11- "And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and repented not of their deeds."
v.21- "...and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great."

Habakkuk chooses to PRAISE God, not to blaspheme and curse Him, even though to him, the circumstances that he faces are similar to those mentioned in Revelation.

Answer: his faith

Not only is the concept of the "just living by faith" found as spoken by God in Habakkuk, it is repeated in Paul's letters to both the church at Rome in Romans 1:17, and again in his letter to the churches that lay in the region of Galatia in Galatians 3:11.

Answer: that vanity and covetousness will not be rewarded

In verse 5, we see this evil entity referred to as full of self-pride, and in verse 10, we read that: "Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul."

Habakkuk sees the doom that is promised to all the proud and mean-spirited men who oppress God's people at any time.

The evil force mentioned is most likely a foreshadowing of the personage of king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon of the Chaldeans, who was later active in the destruction of Jerusalem.

Answer: "The Lord is in his holy temple"

The verse in its entirety reads: "But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him."

This statement is preceded by a reference to man-made or idol gods that men have chosen to worship. In previous verses, many "woes" or troubles were pronounced upon those who oppress His people.

The implication of all being silent before Him is that no one is worthy to offer a challenge to His Lordship and should therefore be quiet in His presence, much as both older and modern nations would require of individuals who stand in the presence of royalty or others in positions of authority. A person aware of any social or political protocol at all would only answer if called upon to do so; otherwise they would be respectfully silent and allow the personage of the ruler of the nation to be the person in command.

Answer: remember mercy

In Habakkuk 3:2, he responds to God with a prayer that begins; "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."

Although Habakkuk has resigned himself to the knowledge that Judah's days as an independent nation are numbered, he continues to put his trust in God and begs for mercy as the inevitable occurs. He becomes almost poetic as he continues the prayer, explaining how ultimately God is in control of all things, peoples, and even of the earth itself.

Answer: by expressing his own weakness and God's strength

In the last two verses of Habakkuk, he sums up his feelings - "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make me to walk upon my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." (King James Version)

From this last sentence, we may infer that Habakkuk composed his prayer to be sung, as a praise to God.