On Wednesday this week, those who came to the Compline service also remained for a Bible class on the prophetic Old Testament book of Habakkuk. One might ask, Why study this minor prophet who lived around 630 B.C.?
The answer as to why might be ‘Because it is God’s Word,’ since St. Paul says that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
A second reason has to do with the times we are living in. They are not that different from the culture and religious decay that Habakkuk witnessed in Judah. In spite of the warning God gave Judah by allowing the Assyrians to destroy and remove the northern kingdom of Israel, and in spite of the many prophet God sent to Judah, along with the faithful kings of Hezekiah and Josiah; the people, princes, and priests tried to worship both God and idols. They thought that with the Temple in Jerusalem, God would never allow an enemy to destroy the city.
In the first chapter, Habakkuk asks God about why He allows evil to advance and does not punish it. God’s answer in chapter two pronounces His “woe” upon those who sin, to show that they deserve His just wrath. Chapter three contains a prayer by the prophet praising God for His mercy and trusting in God for allowing evil because “I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
The study of Habakkuk will help us meditate on the problem of evil, help us trust in God for preserving us from evil, and will focus our faith on the God of our salvation, namely, Christ Jesus and His work of atonement to pay for all sin so that all who believe on Jesus have eternal life. All are welcome to come to this study on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm in the church basement.
