As far as we know Habakkuk had no call like Isaiah or Jeremiah - no vision of God - but he did have an argument with God. You never know what is going to happen when you talk with God - when you pray. He asked questions - he interceded for Israel.
He reveals himself as a man of urgent intercessory prayer. This is where his prophetic ministry is born. "Lord, how much longer?" He can almost no longer pray about it - but it is an importunate prayer. Habakkuk does not give up easily! The wicked always seem to get away with things, and as he looked at the situation he could see no light!
King Josiah was on the throne when Habakkuk was born, and Josiah was a good king who carried out many reforms.
Read of Josiah in II Kings Chapters 21,22 and into Chapter 23 .
These were outward reforms - and outward reforms are never enough. Moral laws are not enough. They failed. Jehoiakim was king after Josiah, and he was more concerned about his own comforts - and things declined - fast. They do that!
Habakkuk had learned that you do not stop praying until you get an answer.
Habakkuk had discovered the secret of what has been called interrogatory prayer! Habakkuk asked God questions. He was bold enough to cross-examine God. Habakkuk challenged God! Lord, what are You going to do?
Now this is one of the secrets of getting into prophetic ministry. God did reply to his questions. God did not simply answer his prayer. He did not just reverse the trends in the nations on this occasion. "Habakkuk it is you who needs correction!"
Habakkuk - you have not got your eyes opened wide enough. Are you watching the nations? Don't just look at your own nation. I am operating on an international scale.
We can be focussed - too locally - too introverted - looking inward too much.
Habakkuk you are going to be in for a big surprise! I am going to surprise you - and you will be utterly amazed. Verse 5 .
I am going to do something in your lifetime. I am not going to tell you what I am going to do - because would not believe ME!
Of course, we know today that prophets always believe what God says - and do what Jesus Christ commands. Not always so!
I have already started doing something and you have missed it!
What are you doing? I am raising up the Babylonians. The who?
In the early 1980's - David Pawson asked the question - "What if God were to say today - "I am raising up Islam!" At that time people were looking for revival to come, and not Islam. Now this would not be so hard to believe in these present-day conditions!
Babylon was more violent than Israel - and God knew what He was doing - and God knows what He is doing! God allowed Babylon to come and overrun and capture Israel. Babylon was proud - greedy - they worshipped themselves - and God is saying - I am raising them up to deal with your situation!
God can use people less godly than we are to correct us. Of course, this is NOT His first method. He sends someone with a Word first - but that had been rejected and that has been rejected today. If people will not listen to the prophets, then He will send in the troops of Babylon.
“Loving Father – our gracious and compassionate God – have mercy upon us – where we have rejected the preaching of the prophets – where we have refused and rejected the outpouring of the Holy Spirit – as we confess our sins, and turn from them, forgive us. We pray for the Church of Jesus Christ – and we thank You for the Church of Jesus Christ – use those men and women who are truly Yours, and who throb with Your message. In Jesus Name we pray.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.