Habakkuk part 1

Last Wednesday evening our Bible study group began the prophet Habakkuk, one of the 12 so called minor prophets at the end of the Old Testament. These are referred to as minor, not because they are unimportant, but because they are shorter in length than the books of Isaiah,Jeremiah or Ezekiel. Habakkuk is a dialogue between the prophet and God. Habakkuk doesn't hold back- God knows everything that he is feeling, thinking or about to say. This forms a good example for us. Be candid with God. He knows it anyway. The Lord responds to Habakkuk's complaint saying He will use a pagan nation, the Chaldeans,to judge the enemies of His people. Habakkuk utters a second complaint asking why God doesn't punish evil doers. Verse 13 contains the important statement that God is too pure to see evil. In chapter 2 God responds as He will to believers. Verse 4 informs us "the righteous shall live by his faith." This truth is amplified in the New Testament, especially in Romans. Justification by faith, rather than works, became the central doctrine of the Protestant Reformation. And all from a response from God to Habakkuk, whom followers of Christ will see in the next life.