The BOOK – A Reformer before Martin Luther

As protestant churches worldwide celebrate the 500^th year of reformation, Martin Luther - the man who emphasised on “the just shall live by faith”, in the Old Testament we see Habakkuk, a prophet of faith. He was one of the Levitical choristers in the temple (Habakkuk 3:19). Habakkuk knew only too well that Judah must fall before the great power of Nebuchadnezzar. But one question arose in his mind and troubled him greatly – Why should any nation as wicked as Babylon conquer a nation like Judah, which was less evil? It seemed to him that it was just a matter of evil triumphing over evil. God had to show him his ultimate plan. Judah needed punishment. God was using Babylon to correct Judah, but Babylon’s turn would come. Babylon would be utterly blotted out. As for God’s people, there was yet to be glorious future and a kingdom where Jehovah himself would prevail.

In Habakkuk 1, we see Habakkuk knowing his own land, Judah, full of lawlessness. The righteous were oppressed (Habakkuk 1:4,13). The people were living in open sin. They were worshipping idols (Habakkuk 2:18-19). They were oppressing the poor. Habakkuk knew that the day was dark. He knew that this sin was leading to an invasion of Jerusalem by a strong enemy.

Habakkuk asked his question to God. He did not call a committee or form a society to solve the problem of the day. He went straight to Jehovah and stated his problem. Then God answered, “Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told” – Habakkuk 1:5. God wanted Habakkuk to look beyond the present. God was already working. God called the Chaldeans to the work of punishing Judah. They were a cruel scourge that swept over the land to destroy it (Habakkuk 1:5-11). God’s answer horrified Habakkuk. He could not understand how God would allow such awful means to bring about punishing his people. It is mentioned in Habakkuk 1:12, 13.

Habakkuk is a prophet who sang in the night (Habakkuk 3). Habakkuk prayed sincerely and God appeared to him (Habakkuk 3:1-16). God always responds to the cry for help from his people. Habakkuk realizes that God is in control of this universe and that he is working out his own purpose in his own time. Habakkuk learns that he can trust implicitly in God. He realizes that he can see only a small part of God’s plan at one time. One must wait for God to reveal his entire program. One must know God’s way is best. God does not promise that he will unravel every problem, but he does assure us that we can put our trust absolutely in him.

One of the texts in Habakkuk has great significance in history of the Reformation. A catholic priest called Martin Luther opposed the hypocrisy of the religious faith of Catholics by the words – “The just shall live by his faith” which can be seen in Habakkuk 2:4. The same is mentioned in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38. On this day when you read this, remember Christianity is not about doing works to reach God, but it is by faith and grace of God that a person can reach Almighty. May God help you to know Christ, understand him and accept him as your personal saviour to know God’s grace and live in salvation.