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All of Habakkuk

Bible Chapter Summary

Habakkuk 1 Summary

Habakkuk's Complaint and God's Answer

Habakkuk the prophet cries out to God, asking why He permits violence and wickedness to go unpunished. God responds that He will raise up the Chaldeans, a terrible and swift nation, to bring judgment. Habakkuk then questions how God, who is pure and cannot look upon evil, can use such a wicked nation as an instrument of correction, when the Chaldeans devour those more righteous than themselves and worship their own military strength.

Key themes

God's justiceDivine judgmentThe problem of evilGod's providenceFaith in affliction

Key verses

Habakkuk 1:2

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

Habakkuk 1:5

Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Habakkuk 1:12

Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

Habakkuk 1:13

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

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