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Introduction to the Book of Habakkuk In
the three chapters of this book,

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the prophet Habakkuk addressed his words
to God, not people.

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In this frank dialogue with God,
Habakkuk asks two questions that were

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troubling him.

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He asks first why God allows wicked people
to prosper without being punished.

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Habakkuk saw that the leaders of Judah
were oppressing the poor.

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God answers and says that Judah would be
punished by the foreign power Babylon.

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Then Habakkuk asks why God would use a
nation even more sinful than Judah to

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punish his people.

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God answers and explains that the
Babylonians would also be punished once

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they had accomplished his purpose.

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Habakkuk then confesses his continuing
trust in God's ways and offers praise for

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the greatness of God.

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Not long after Habakkuk wrote,
the southern kingdom of Judah did fall to

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the Babylonians and many were taken
captive.

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But God's purposes would still be
fulfilled.

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As Habakkuk so beautifully declared,
Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

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neither shall fruit be in the vines,
the labor of the olive shall fail and the

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fields shall yield no meat, the flock
shall be cut off from the fold,

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and there shall be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

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I will joy in the God of my salvation.