The Book of Habakkuk

The Conversation of Prayer

Conversing with God

It is easy to make prayer a duty and lose the wonder of being able to converse with God. Prayer is more than sharing a Christmas list with God for prayer is not a time of talking at God but a chance to share our hearts with God as God shares His heart!

CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT! The creating, patient, redeeming and loving God wants to talk with you! The God who spoke creation into existence wants to speak with you! The God who spoke you into existence wants to talk with you!

Real person, real God

The book of Habakkuk is a conversation prayer that can guide us. As you read this conversational prayer what stands out to you? Does this compare with how you pray with God? What can you learn from Habakkuk?

This book will not be a guide to you if you do not accept Habakkuk as a real person conversing with a real God. Indeed the only true God! Before reading the book of Habakkuk pray and ask God to help you discover Him. As you read ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to what God has for you. After you read see how you can apply this.

Preparing for the study

Notice Habakkuk begins by sharing his “burden” with God. Though it is best to start talking with God offering our thanks and praise there are times when the burden is so great we must cry our burden out first!

Before looking at the different parts of this conversation take time to read the whole book looking for the parts of the conversation. This is especially important if you have never read the book of Habakkuk before.

How would you converse with God about your burden? What would you say if God answered you like Habakkuk?

Habakkuk’s prayer

1 ¶ The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.

2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, "Violence!" And You will not save.

3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.

4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds. (Habakkuk 1:1-4 NKJV)

Habakkuk sees the brokenness of his nation and cries out to God. Habakkuk lifts his “burden” to God and then cries out his frustration at God’s inactivity!

Does Habakkuk’s situation seem familiar to you?

Do you ever feel a “burden” for the community, nation or world in which you live?

Do you feel a “burden” for yourself?

Have you ever asked God to fix or “heal” the problems around and in you?

Have you been angry at God because of God’s seeming inactivity?

Habakkuk does not just see the evil surrounding him but is burdened by it!

“Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble?”

Habakkuk even blames God because he has to see all this sin and trouble!

Do you think Habakkuk is more worried about the troubles or about having to see them?

Is Habakkuk blaming God for sin? Do you?

List the ways Habakkuk describes the troubles like iniquity.

God’s answer

5 ¶ "Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

6 For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.

7 They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.

8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.

9 "They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand.

10 They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it.

11 Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god." (Habakkuk 1:5-11 NKJV)

God’s response to Habakkuk’s burden is a call for Habakkuk to “look” and to “watch”. God is very aware of what is going on and of those who are being abused and are victims of those who violate others and God’s law.

Do you believe God sees the sin and pain in the world?

Why did God respond to Habakkuk in this way?

Does this answer from God fit into your understanding of God?

The Chaldeans were a vicious people who used ethnic cleansing on anyone who stood up to them. They were horrific in conquest and celebrated this in their history and art.

Make a list of God’s description of the Chaldeans?

Can God use judgment here on earth so we do not face the eternal judgment to come?

How?