Habakkuk was an Old Testament prophet who lived in the 7th century BC. He is the author of the biblical book that bears his name, the book of Habakkuk.
The book of Habakkuk contains a series of questions and answers between the prophet and God, who was concerned about violence and injustice in society at the time. Habakkuk questioned God about the apparent lack of justice toward the people of Judah, who were being oppressed by the Babylonian empire.
God responded that He was aware of the situation and was planning an intervention to punish the Babylonians. Habakkuk was confident in God’s answer and concluded the book with a prayer of praise and confidence.
Habakkuk is remembered as a prophet who maintained faith in God despite the difficult circumstances around him, and who taught his followers the importance of trusting God even when things seemed bleak.
Church Fathers' Views on Habakkuk
The church fathers, who were Christian leaders and theologians of the early centuries of Christianity, had different opinions about the prophet Habakkuk.
For example, Origen, a third-century theologian and biblical scholar, considered Habakkuk a special prophet who had a higher view of God than most other prophets. Origen also viewed the book of Habakkuk as a prophetic text that pointed to the coming of Christ.
Augustine of Hippo, another important fourth-century theologian, interpreted the book of Habakkuk as a reflection on divine justice. Augustine saw Habakkuk as an example of how faith can help people deal with injustice and suffering.
Jerome, a 5th-century scholar and theologian, considered Habakkuk a model of piety and humility. Jerome saw the prophet as someone who trusted God completely and sought to understand God's ways even when things seemed incomprehensible.
In general, the church fathers valued the book of Habakkuk as an important work of prophetic literature, containing valuable teachings about faith, divine justice, and trust in God.
Main texts of the books of Habakkuk
The book of Habakkuk is relatively short, with only three chapters, but it contains several important verses. Here are some of the key verses from the book of Habakkuk:
“How long, O Lord, shall I cry out, and you will not hear? Or shall I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2)
“Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.” (Habakkuk 40:15)
“The righteous shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)