Minor Prophets

Habukkuk
GOD’S PEOPLE LIVE BY FAITH
Martin Luther was a monk, priest, professor of
theology, composer, and one of the most important
figures in the Protestant Reformation. As a young
monk, Martin Luther worked hard, denied himself,
and even inflicted physical punishment on himself,
seeking to live a righteous life and be justified in
God’s sight.
With his whole heart he sought to please God, but
in his mind he knew he could never measure up. No
matter what he did, he
could never be pure and
holy in the sight of God
because he knew he was
a sinner. As he searched
the Scriptures looking
for a solution to his
dilemma, God graciously
led him to the Book of
Romans where he read:
The righteous man will live by faith (1:17). By the grace
of God’s Holy Spirit, Martin Luther’s eyes were opened
to see that all his sacrifices of hard work, self- denial,
and self- punishment were in vain. It was only by
God’s grace that he could find ease for his conscience,
be justified, and stand as righteous before God. His
works were nothing but “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).
It was his heart of faith, in itself a gift from God,
(Ephesians 2:8) that gave him right standing before
his Creator and Sustainer.
That one short sentence, The righteous man will
live by faith, changed Martin Luther’s life and ended
up changing the world. But the apostle Paul, in the
Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous
will live by his faith
Habakkuk2:4
Book of Romans, was not the first to make that
profound and life- changing statement. Hundreds of
years before Paul wrote, the prophet Habakkuk had
a conversation with God concerning justice and the
judgment of the wicked. Before Habakkuk’s time, the
northern kingdom of Israel had been invaded and
carried into exile by the Assyrians because of their
rebellion against God and their evil ways. Habakkuk
was disturbed because he saw that same rebellion
and wickedness in the people of the southern
kingdom of Judah in his
day. Habakkuk
wanted justice to
reign, so he took his
complaint to God and
waited for God’s reply.
Chapter 2 of the Book
of Habakkuk is God’s
answer to the prophet,
and in His answer, God proclaimed,
Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right
within him; But the righteous will live by his faith
(Habakkuk 2:4).
The problem with the people of Judah was their
pride. They thought they could live as they pleased.
After all, didn’t all the other nations live prideful
lives of wanton pleasure, greed, and violence? The
people of Judah thought they could scorn God by
ignoring His Law and mistreating one another but
then turn to Him and find approval by offering their
sacrifices. They considered themselves God’s people,
but their hearts were not right with Him. In this one
simple statement by God, we see that the heart is
the most important thing. God does not look upon
our sacrifices but upon our hearts. God’s people must
be people of faith and it has always been that way. It
is by faith we believe in God and His Word and obey
Him. The proud person lacks understanding of God’s
grace and power and is unable to live a life pleasing to
Him. So, God says, “His soul is not right within him.”
The person who stands as righteous before God
humbly admits there is nothing he or she can do to
earn the grace of God. The righteous person takes
God at His word, humbly taking God’s promise to
heart, “By grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not
as a result of works, so that no one may boast”
(Ephesians 2:8). Salvation is God’s grace, freely
offered, and accepted humbly by faith.
Habakkuk, the prophet, is a beautiful example
of one who lived by faith. The final chapter of his
prophecy is a prayer, written as a song, in which
he asked to see God’s justice and mercy. His song
closes with a confession of his faith and expression
of his trust in God. May we all take Habakkuk as our
example and live by faith.
Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.
Habakkuk 3:17- 19
20 INTRODUCTION TO MINOR PROPHETS DISCIPLERS BIBLE STUDIES 21