Habakkuk: An Expositional Commentary (Exploring the Bible Commentary | EB)
Overview
Why does a righteous and sovereign God tolerate wrongdoing? How are the divine attributes reconciled with the triumph of the godless? Why do the wicked prosper and rule over the righteous? Why does God raise up ruthless and impetuous nations to execute judgment on his own people? These are some of the questions that perplexed Habakkuk, challenged his faith, and caused him to question God’s government of the world. And these are some of the questions that still perplex Christians today. Tim Shenton helpfully addresses these points in a clear and substantial exposition of the text of Habakkuk.
Top Highlights
“The purpose of Habakkuk’s message is twofold: to bring the wicked to repentance by threatening judgement and to console the faithful by promising salvation. Habakkuk himself, whose dialogue with God concentrates on the overall government of the world, after initial reservations and in the light of evidences of God’s power and past dealings, finally submits, without question, to the sovereign Lord of creation. This growth of faith from perplexity and doubt to the height of absolute trust is one of the beautiful aspects of the book.” (Page 14)
“Habakkuk deliberately shuts out worldly thoughts and fleshly imaginations and shuts himself in with only his prayers and meditations.” (Page 42)
“For the people of God it is a message of hope, which Habakkuk is instructed to write down for the benefit of future generations.” (Page 45)
“The conclusion is that Habakkuk prophesied after 625 bc, as the prophecy describes the Babylonians’ power among the nations, and before the fall of Jerusalem (587/6 bc), because the temple had not yet been destroyed. He prophesied after the fall of Nineveh (612 bc) (the Assyrians were no longer the dominant world force) and the death of Josiah (609 bc). Habakkuk did not preach during a time of reformation, but before the Babylonians’ victory at Carchemish in 605 bc. This narrows down the date to the early part of Jehoiakim’s reign, somewhere between 609 bc and 605 bc. (It was during Jehoiakim’s reign that the presence and power of Babylon was increasingly felt.) Habakkuk was therefore a contemporary of Nahum, Zephaniah and Jeremiah.” (Page 10)
Tim Shenton has provided us with a very helpful commentary on the writings of this man of God. Careful and clear, it is an excellent aid for every believer who would know and love the Lord. Take it and read. And then, bow before the Lord in worship.
—James Renihan, Dean, Professor of Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary, Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies, Escondido, California
- Title: Habakkuk: An Expositional Commentary
- Author: Tim Shenton
- Series: Exploring the Bible Commentary
- Publisher: Day One
- Print Publication Date: 2007
- Logos Release Date: 2008
- Pages: 192
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. O.T. Habakkuk › Canonical criticism; Bible. O.T. Habakkuk › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Habakkuk › Criticism, interpretation, etc
- ISBNs: 9781846250552, 1846250552
- Resource ID: LLS:EXPLBBL35HAB
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-08-30T00:16:37Z