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Minor Prophets, Part 2: Babylonian Crisis

  1. Lesson One
    Nahum
    23 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Zephaniah
    22 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Habakkuk
    19 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Joel and Josiah
    24 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Interpreting Prophecy
    34 Activities
    |
    7 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.
This also will be my salvation,
For a godless man may not come before His presence.
Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.
Behold now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated. 
Job 13:15-18 NASB

Habakkuk’s appeal to God might be divided into two basic lines of questioning: 

1) Why do we suffer such violence and how long must it last?
2) Why are you silent when the wicked abuse the righteous?

In the opening verses at the beginning of the lesson (Habakkuk 1:2-3), these questions were framed like this:

How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save? (NIV)

 

Why do you make me look at injustice?
    Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    there is strife, and conflict abounds. (NIV)

Job struggled with the same questions. In each of these books, we’re confronted with a period of prolonged and apparently unjust abuse. A quick death would be merciful, but just as Job refused to “curse God and die,” Habakkuk lives to face the holocaust around him. Both men are faithful and choose to trust God in unfathomably difficult circumstances.