Habakkuk - When God Seems Unfair

The book of Habakkuk is read so little by me that I check my spelling when I write the name. Habakkuk was a prophet to the southern kingdom during the time of Jeremiah. The book in the Bible bearing Habakkuk’s name contains the conversation between God and Habakkuk.

Habakkuk asks God why the evil in Judah goes unpunished. God tells Habakkuk that He will use the Babylonian bad guys to punish Judah. Habakkuk asks how God, who is so holy that He cannot look on evil, use a wicked nation to punish Judah; even though Judah was doing evil, they were not as wicked as Babylon. God tells Habakkuk that Babylonia will also be punished and faithfulness will be rewarded. God’s answer causes Habakkuk to write a prayer expressing trust and joy in God.

My favorite verse in the three chapters of this book is Habakkuk 3:2.
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
    I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
    in our time make them known;
    in wrath remember mercy.

This prayer of Habakkuk is also my prayer for my family, my church, and our nation. I hope you have heard that the LORD is famous. I hope you have experienced God’s love in action in your life and are amazed. Let them be repeated today so more can know God. There is deserved judgment in our communities and countries, but LORD, remember Your mercy.

Memorize this verse and use it as a starting point of your prayers to the LORD this week.

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