Study Guide for Habakkuk
We know very little of the prophet Habakkuk. This book was probably written between 625 and 600 B.C. This is right before Judah was carried off into captivity. This is a most unusual book because it is actually an account of a conversation between the prophet and Jehovah. The great value of the book is that it actually shows us the words, mind or thinking of God. Let us note the wonderful lessons as we hear Jehovah give verbal answers to the prophet's prayer.
The entire book is Hebrew poetry so you should expect parallelism and figurative language. See http://www.tntcarden.com/Bible/Parallelism.htm for an explanation of Parallelism.
There are a number of wonderful statements in this book that are some of the most powerful messages of our day. The nations exhaust themselves for nothing. (2:13-14) "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters that cover the sea. The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." (2:20) "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (3:17-18)
Habakkuk 1 The early part of chapter 1 is the prayer of the prophet to God. The prophet is struggling with violence and sin all around. The prophet complains that it seems that wickedness always wins, and justice is always perverted. The answer of heaven is that if the prophet will be patient and watch he will see the power of God as the Babylonians are used to correct this great injustice in Judah. In the latter part of this chapter the prophet raises another question. He inquiries more specifically regarding why the Lord puts up with such treachery among men.
Glossary for Chapter 1:
1 An oracle is a prophecy or announcement from the spiritual world, in this case, God Himself
3 Iniquity is sin
3 Contention is arguing or fighting
Chaldeans are a nation of people from Babylonia or Mesopotamia
7 Originate means starts with
8 Keener means more clever
9 Horde means a large group
Please read Habakkuk chapter 1 and answer the following questions:
[1A] What is ignored? ____________________________________
[1B] Who is God raising up? ____________________________________
[1C] Where do the Chaldeans get their authority? ____________________________________
[1D] What do the Chaldeans gather like sand? ____________________________________
[1E] Those will be held guilty whose god is what? ____________________________________
[1F] What does the prophet say God has made like the fish of the sea? ________________________
(Check your answers below)
Habakkuk 2 The 2nd chapter is the Lord's reply, and this time the prophet is directed to write the message down so that it may be carried by herald to the people. In this chapter the Lord declares 5 woes on those who simply use other people for their own gain. At least a part of the answer given to the prophet is that the Lord will deal with the sinner in his own way and his own time. It is a fact that no sinner will escape the wrath of God.
Glossary for Chapter 2:
1 A rampart is a defensive wall of a fort.
2 Inscribe means to write.
3 Tarries means to wait.
5 Haughty means arrogant or proud
5 Sheol is another word for hell or the grave depending on context
6 Taunt is teasing someone who is losing
6 Insinuations are indirect accusations, assumptions of guilt
6 Woe is unhappy events, the opposite of blessings
7 Plunder is something stolen by violence usually during wartime
9 Calamity is when something very bad happens
15 Nakedness can be just that, without clothing, or it can be something shameful that is revealed
17 Devastation is complete destruction
Please read Habakkuk chapter 2 and answer the following questions:
[2A] What does the prophet do when God does not answer what he said in chapter 1 right away? ____________________________________
____________________________________
[2B] Why does God tell the prophet to write down what He is
saying?
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
[2C] How will the righteous live? ______________________________
[2D] What happens to someone who lives on borrowed money? ____________________________________
[2E] What will the world be filled with as the water covers
the sea?
____________________________________
____________________________________
[2F] Where is the Lord?
____________________________________
____________________________________
(Check your answers below)
Habakkuk 3 In the 3rd chapter the prophet offers a prayer of praise to Jehovah. This prayer reveals that the prophet has understood the message of God and that he is anticipating the righteous acts that the Lord has promised. He no longer is struggling, but he is waiting on the Lord. This chapter is a song. We know this because the first verse says "according to Shigionoth," the chapter ends with "For the choir director, on my stringed instruments," and it uses the word "Selah" several times.
Glossary for Chapter 3:
1 Shigionoth – meaning is uncertain but it appears to signify music
Selah – meaning uncertain, but it is also believed to signify music
3 Teman is an area south of Judah
3 Mount Paran is a mountain on the southern border of Judah
3 Splendor is great light, luster or brilliance. Something grand or magnificent. Great fame or glory.
5 Pestilence is like a plague, a disease a lot of people get at the same time
6 Perpetual means it lasts forever
7 Chushan is what we call Arabia today, southeast of Judah
7 Midian is what we call the Sinai today, southwest of Judah
9 Chastisement is punishment
14 Throngs are crowds of people
14 Exultation is happiness, usually over victory or at overcoming a significant obstacle
19 A hind is a kind of mountain goat. It is very sure footed even on a steep mountain side
Please read Habakkuk chapter 3 and answer the following questions:
[3A] What covers the heavens? ______________________________
[3B] What is everlasting? ______________________
[3C] What stood still that usually doesn't? ______________________________
[3D] Who was struck so hard he was cut open from thigh to
neck?
____________________________________
____________________________________
[3E] What will the prophet do no matter how bad it gets?
____________________________________
____________________________________
[3F] Who is the prophet's strength? _______________________________
(Check your answers below)
------------------------ HABAKKUK ANSWERS ------------------------
[1A] What is ignored? The Law Hk 1:4
[1B] Who is God raising up? The Chaldeans Hk 1:6
[1C] Where do the Chaldeans get their authority? Themselves Hk 1:7
[1D] What do the Chaldeans gather like sand? Captives Hk 1:9
[1E] Those will be held guilty whose god is what? Their own strength Hk 1:11
[1F] What does the prophet say God has made like the fish of the sea? Men Hk 1:14
[2A] What does the prophet do when God does not answer what he said in chapter 1 right away? He waits patiently and expectantly Hk 2:1
[2B] Why does God tell the prophet to write down what He is saying? Because there is still time to repent and escape the prophesied judgment. Hk 2:2-3
[2C] How will the righteous live? By his faith Hk 2:4
[2D] What happens to someone who lives on borrowed money? He becomes poor Hk 2:6-7
[2E] What will the world be filled with as the water covers the sea? Knowledge of the glory of the Lord. Hk 2:14
[2F] Where is the Lord? In His holy temple. Hk 2:20
[3A] What covers the heavens? His splendor Hk 3:3
[3B] What is everlasting? His ways Hk 3:6
[3C] What stood still that usually doesn't? Sun and moon Hk 3:11
[3D] He was struck so hard he was cut open from thigh to neck? The head of the house of evil. Hk 3:13
[3E] What will the prophet do no matter how bad it gets? Exult and rejoice in God. Hk 3:17-18
[3F] Who is the prophet's strength? The Lord God Hk 3:19
THOUGHT QUESTIONS FOR HABAKKUK:
(Hab Question 4) Read Habakkuk 1:2. Do you ever feel like God is not listening? When? What do you do about it?
(Hab Question 5) Compare Habakkuk 2:10-12 with Luke 19:37-40. How are they the same? How are they different?
(Hab Question 6) Read Habakkuk 3:17-18. Is this true of you? Why or why not?
(Hab Question 7) Which verse would you select to memorize from Habakkuk? Why?
(Hab Question 8) Was Habakkuk and this lesson helpful to you in your Christian life? Why, or why not?
(Hab Question 9) If someone asked you what Habakkuk was about what would you say?
(Hab Question 10) What questions would you like to see discusses with regard to Habakkuk?
(Hab Question 11) Choose a passage from Habakkuk and analyze it for parallelism as described in http://www.tntcarden.com/Bible/Parallelism.htm
(Hab Question 12) What book would you like to study next week?