Saturday 07 August 2010

Background

The opening verse of this book identifies the author as "theprophet Habakkuk", but nothing else is known of him as a historicfigure. In verse 6 of chapter 1 there is a referenceto the Chaldeans, and this is the only clue to the possible datingof the book. The Chaldeans normally refers to the Neo-BabylonianEmpire of the late 7th century BC that controlled Jerusalem until538 BC. The setting for the work is therefore likely to be that ofa time of turmoil in Judah at the end of the 7th and going into the6th century BC.

Central to the book is the theme of justice and the plight of God'speople. In verse 2 of chapter 1 Habakkuk begins thecomplaint against God with an echo of the psalms: "O LORD, how longshall I cry for help and you will not listen?". There then begins aconversation between Habakkuk and God concerning the nature ofGod's response, or apparent lack of it, to injustice. The passagefor today contains a snippet of that conversation.

Habakkuk, in his altercation with God, draws his complaint fromwhat he believes to be true about God, contrasted with what heexperiences as the lot of his people. This echoes those psalmswhich are psalms of lament. What he sees and experiences doesn'tmatch with what he believes about God and so Habakkuk enters intothis dialogue with God.

To Ponder

How does your understanding of God shape what youlong to see in the world?

What do you want to say to God in the light ofwhat is happening in the world? How do you think God mightanswer?

Try to develop a pattern of dialoguing with God.It will take time but may prove a stimulating way to develop yourspirituality.