Habakkuk; Who?

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Habakkuk’s prophecy begins simply, “The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw” (Hab. 1:1). Habakkuk is one of three Minor Prophets who we know only their names. He is also one of only three who describes himself as a “prophet.” That’s all we know about him, but the apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews knew who Habakkuk was.

Habakkuk’s heart was burdened by the injustice among God’s people and by their coming destruction by the Chaldeans. Habakkuk’s questions and God’s answers should burden the conscience of this prideful nation. For, God will punish them because their souls are not right within them. From the vision which God revealed to Habakkuk, he wrote, “But, the righteous shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4). With these words, the apostle Paul and the writer of Hebrews agreed; by inspiration, quoting them three times in letters to the Romans, Galatians and Hebrews. Yet, each time the words are quoted, there is a different emphasis.

“The righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Paul is teaching that only those who have a true life of faith, based upon the gospel which is the power of God for salvation, are righteous.

“The righteous shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11). Paul is teaching that everyone who seeks to be righteous by fulfilling the works of every Law will be cursed. Those who seek to be justified, only do so by living by faith.

“The righteous shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). The writer is teaching the certainty of the coming judgment; when many will spiritually die because of their sins. But, Christians who by faith endure in doing the will of God shall live.

Someone may still ask, “Habakkuk; who?” We know his name, we know he was a prophet, and we know the power of six, simple words. We are accounted among the righteous because of faith in the gospel. We are justified because we live not by the works of the Law, but by the works of faith. Being among the righteous and living by faith, we are assured to live forever with our God who first revealed to Habakkuk, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

GREEN IS BEAUTIFUL

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We recall the earnest self-assessment and the colorful words of one famous frog, “It’s not that easy being green.” Kermit questions his worth because he is “green like so many other ordinary things.” But, he resolves that “being green is fine, it is beautiful, and it’s what I want to be.”

The ancient nation of Judah had its issues with the color green. So many times Judah had offered her incense under every green tree on every high hill (Jer. 2:20). The Lord charged Judah to acknowledge her idolatry, for she had transgressed against the Lord, having scattered her favors to strangers under every green tree, and having not obeyed His voice (Jer. 3:13).

Judah forgot she would pay the price for idolatries. She forgot the penalty for her deceitful heart. The Lord said,

"Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind

and makes flesh his strength,

and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

"For he will be like a bush in the desert

and will not see when prosperity comes,

but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,

A land of salt without inhabitant.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD

And whose trust is the LORD.

"For he will be like a tree planted by the water,

that extends its roots by a stream

and will not fear when the heat comes;

but its leaves will be green,
and it will not be anxious in a year of drought

nor cease to yield fruit” (Jer. 17:5-8).

“Being green” is the environmental catchphrase of our day. The critical question for many people is whether or not our choices prove we are being green. Like Judah depended upon her idolatries in this world, perhaps we are too dependent upon this world rather than God; too concerned with saving the planet versus saving our souls.

Let us not be like Judah, forgetting the price to be paid for our idolatries, green or not green. Let us remember that will be judged for depending upon any riches other than God’s riches, for “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like the green leaf” (Prov.11:28). When it concerns our soul, “being green is beautiful, and it’s what we want to be.”