Are you listening?

Habakkuk anticipates God’s response. (1)

Do you listen with anticipation?

God responds: I get it, and I got it. (2-5)

Do you listen with a submissive heart?

God proclaims His own supremacy. (6-20)

God overpowers the powerful. (6-8)

God humbles the proud. (9-11)

God’s glory outlasts the wicked. (12-14)

God humiliates the insolent. (15-17)

God alone deserves worship. (18-20)

Do you listen with fear?

1. Read verse 1. How would you describe Habakkuk’s attitude? What did Habakkuk anticipate God would do? What was Habakkuk’s complaint (see 1:2-4, 12-17)? What can you learn from Habakkuk’s anticipation and attitude?

2. Read verses 2-5. In verse 2,what was God’s point to Habakkuk? What do you learn about God’s plans in verse 3? Verses 4-5 draw a contrast between the wicked Babylonians and those who follow God. How is this contrast described? What does it mean to “live by faith” given Habakkuk’s complaining and God’s response? In what ways should we live by faith amidst the messiness of our lives?

3. Read verses 6-14. In these verses we get the first three “woes” against the Babylonians. What does “woe” mean in context? How would you summarize the first “woe” in verses 6-8? How would you summarize the second “woe” in verses 9-11? What about the third “woe” in verses 12-14? What point is God making through Habakkuk in verse 14? Why is this important?

4. Read verses 15-20. Here we get the final two “woes”. How would you summarize each of these two “woes” in verses 15-17 and 18-20? What is God’s lesson for Habakkuk in verse 20? What is God’s lesson for us?

5. So What. What do you learn about God’s plans in these verses? What do you learn about God? How should you respond to God when you are confused and frustrated with His plans? What should your attitude be? How do the lessons learned here apply directly to the messiness of life?