Habakkuk was a prophet who lived between 612 BC and 589 BC in Judah. The book of Habakkuk documents a conversation between the prophet and God, where Habakkuk questions God twice about the injustice and unrest in Judah. God answers both times, explaining that He will use the Babylonians to punish Judah for their sins, and instructing Habakkuk to have faith. The book transitions from Habakkuk's initial anxiety to hope in God through their dialogue and his final musical prayer of praise and trust in the third chapter.

1. Habakkuk Major Questions by a Minor prophet

2. Habakkuk Habakkuk was a prophet who prophesied between 612 BC -589 BC In the year 612 BC, Nineveh fell and in the year 589 BC Judah was Invaded and Assyria was in disarray. Habakkuk’s prophesied between these two dates. Habakkuk was a Musical prophet and he played the string instruments harp and lyre Habakkuk means “ He that embraces a wrestler” The book of Habakkuk was written to Judah and all God’s people to stress that God is still in control Harp Lyre

3. The conversation The book of Habakkuk is a two way communication between God and Habakkuk This conversation can be compared to the present day conversations that most of us have with God. Habakkuk questions God twice and God answers him on both occasions and these two answers gives hope to Habakkuk

4. Habakkuk’s first Question Habakkuk 1:1-4 – Habakkuk pours his heart out to God. He does not know the reason behind all the bad things happening around him. His questions give a clear indication that he has the doubt “whether God is really in control”. This is evident from his words “Jehovah, how long shall I cry and thou wilt not hear? Habakkuk’s faith was very weak in these four verses.

5. God’s first reply Habakkuk 1:5-11 – God replies to Habakkuk’s anxious question Judah will become a vassal nation Egypt will be crushed Nineveh will be ransacked The Babylonians suddenly rose to power in 630 BC. By 605 BC, they were the strongest world power. But they were wicked, proud and idol worshippers (9,10,11). God promises Habakkuk that he will use the Babylonians to punish Judah.

6. Habakkuk’s second Question We should never complain about the kind of rod that God uses to correct his children. But Habakkuk complained about it. He did not like the idea of God using the Babylonians to destroy Judah (Habakkuk 1:12-17)

7. God’s second reply God answered Habakkuk a second time in the second chapter and God also instructs Habakkuk to write the answer in a stone table. Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted by Apostle Paul in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and by the writer to the Hebrews in Hebrew 10:38 “ The Just shall live by Faith” God condemns the sins of the Babylonians and he also reveals his anger against their pride and Idol worship.

8. Habakkuk’s Musical Prayer Habakkuk then Prays to God in Music in the third chapter. Habakkuk is considered to be a descendant of the Levi Tribe. He uses the term “Selah” in 3 verses (3,9,13). Selah means Stop, Meditate and Proceed. Verses 17-19 echoes Habakkuk’s Faith in God. So in this small book, we see the transition in Habakkuk’s mental state from anxiety to Hope in God.

9. For any queries regarding this presentation, you can send an email to the author at [email_address] Prason Christopher Robin is an Apologetic Researcher with a passion for Music and Bible studies.