Author: Habakkuk (1:1); nothing is known of his background.
Date: Approximately 600 BC.
In Ten Words or Less: Trust God even when He seems unresponsive or unfair.
Details: In Judah, a prophet complains that God allows violence and injustice among His people. But Habakkuk is shocked to learn the Lord’s plan for dealing with the problem: sending the “bitter and hasty” (1:6) Chaldeans to punish Judah. Habakkuk argues that the Chaldeans are far worse than the disobedient Jews, telling God, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil” (1:13). The Lord, however, says He’s only using the Chaldeans for His purposes and will in time punish them for their own sins. It’s not Habakkuk’s job to question God’s ways: “The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him” (2:20). Habakkuk, like Job, ultimately submits to God’s authority.
From Know Your Bible, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.