Writing in 1985, J. Blue expounded on the contemporary relevance of the book of Habakkuk for the state of the US. Nearly thirty years later, although a few aspects of what he wrote have changed somewhat, his words insightfully speak all the more of our current plight:
The crisis internationally was serious. But of even greater concern was the national corruption. Great unrest stirred within Judah. Josiah had been a good king. When he died, Josiah’s son Jehoahaz rose to the throne. In only three months, the king of Egypt invaded Judah, deposed Jehoahaz, and placed his brother Jehoiakim on the throne. Jehoiakim was evil, ungodly, and rebellious (2 Kings 23:36-24:7; 2 Chron. 36:5-8). Shortly after Jehoiakim ascended to power, Habakkuk wrote this lament over the decay, violence, greed, fighting, and perverted justice that surrounded him.
No wonder Habakkuk looked at all the corruption and asked, “Why doesn’t God do something?” Godly men and women continue to ask similar “whys” in a world of increasing international crises and internal corruption. Nation rises up against nation around the world and sin abounds at home. World powers aim an ever-increasing array of complex nuclear weapons at each other while they talk of peace. World War III seems incredibly imminent.
While the stage is set for a global holocaust, an unsuspecting home audience fiddles a happy tune. The nation’s moral fiber is being eaten away by a playboy philosophy that makes personal pleasure the supreme rule of life. Hedonism catches fire while homes crumble. Crime soars while the church sours. Drugs, divorce, and debauchery prevail and decency dies. Frivolity dances in the streets. Faith is buried. “In God We Trust” has become a meaningless slogan stamped on corroding coins.
In such a world of crisis and chaos, Habakkuk speaks with clarity. This little book is as contemporary as the morning newspaper.
—J. Ronald Blue, BKC: OT, 1507
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
