CHAPTER ONE

Contents: Habakkuk's prayer concerning evil in dispersed Israel. God's voice to Israel and Habakkuk's testimony to God.

Characters: God, Habakkuk.

Conclusion: We must not think it strange if God sometimes suffers wickedness to prevail far and to prosper long, for He has good reasons for His attitude, and He cannot be the author or patron of sin. He takes full account of all sin committed, and will surely make men answer for it in His own time.

Key Word: Israel's iniquity, v. 3.

Strong Verses:   12, 13.

Striking Facts: v. 5. Acts 13:37-41 interprets this prediction of the redemptive work of Christ with Israel in dispersion. God did "work a work" which Israel did not believe. Paul quoted this to the Jews of the dispersion in the synagogue at Antioch.

CHAPTER TWO

Contents: Jehovah's response to Habakkuk's testimony. Vision of coming woes.

Characters: God, Habakkuk.

Conclusion: The lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye and the pride of life are the entangling snare of men, which, if yielded to, bring woes upon them. Those who will not be taught the knowledge of God's glory by the judgments of His mouth will be made to bear the judgments of His hand.

Key Word: Woe, vv. 9, 12, 15, 19.

Strong Verses:   4, 12, 14, 15, 20.

Striking Facts: v. 14. Isa. 11:9 fixes the time when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord when the Righteous Branch of David, Christ, has come and set up His kingdom. The knowledge of the "glory" of the Lord cannot be until He is manifested in glory (Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Luke 9:26; 2 Thess. 1:7; 2:8; Jude 14).

CHAPTER THREE

Contents: Habakkuk's answer of faith to Jehovah. The terror of God's wrath against sinners.

Characters: God, Habakkuk.

Conclusion: The God of nature can alter and control all the powers of nature to make earth, sea and heavenly bodies carry out the purposes of His judgment against sinners, or for the salvation of His people. His true children can, in the midst of earth's distresses, rejoice in Him who is the God of their eternal salvation, since by them, their salvation cannot be hindered but only furthered.

Key Word: Jehovah's wrath, vv. 2, 8.

Strong Verses:   2(b), 18, 19.