Habakkuk

Habakkuk is the thirty-fifth book of the Bible and the eighth of the minor prophets. The book is traditionally attributed to the prophet Habakkuk, about whom nothing is known beyond what the book itself says. It is dated to the late seventh century BC, shortly before the Babylonian invasions of Judah.

The book is unusual in form. Rather than delivering oracles to the people, Habakkuk addresses God directly with hard questions, and the book records God's answers.

Habakkuk's first complaint is that Judah is full of violence and injustice and God seems to be doing nothing. God answers that he is raising up the Babylonians, who will deal with the situation.

Habakkuk's second complaint is sharper. The Babylonians are worse than the people they will be used to punish. How can God use a more wicked nation to judge a less wicked one? God answers with a series of woes pronounced on the Babylonians, who in their turn will be judged. Within that answer comes the famous line "the righteous will live by his faith," quoted three times in the New Testament.

The book closes with a psalm, Habakkuk's prayer in which he accepts what God has said. He will rejoice in the Lord even when the crops fail and the fields are empty.