Church History
Teachers
Lesson Summary
Teacher Tommy Stringer led the class through an exploration of the book of Habakkuk, focusing on the prophet's struggle with God's justice and theodicy—the age-old question of why a good and all-powerful God permits evil and suffering. Habakkuk uniquely presents a dialogue rather than a prophecy, with the prophet voicing three primary complaints: the persistence of wickedness and violence in Judah despite God's omniscience and omnipotence, God's shocking response to use the pagan Babylonians as instruments of judgment, and Habakkuk's moral objection that God would employ godless people to punish His own people. Stringer illustrated these struggles with contemporary and personal examples, including the Nashville tragedy and the story of his brother's wife who died of cancer, demonstrating the universal nature of questioning God's plans. The teacher explained God's response to Habakkuk's challenges: God acknowledged His awareness of both Judah's wickedness and the Babylonians' brutal character, but assured the prophet that divine justice would ultimately be served against the oppressors as well. The pivotal message God conveyed was encapsulated in the phrase "the just shall live by faith," emphasizing trust in God's character and timing despite incomprehensible circumstances. Stringer showed how this principle, quoted by Paul in Romans and Galatians and by the Hebrew writer, became foundational to New Testament theology. The class traced Habakkuk's journey from despair to faith, from questions to divine perspective, illustrating how the book opens with gloom and questions but closes with glory and affirmation of God's ultimate justice and trustworthiness.
Key Scriptures
O Lord, how long will I cry, and you will not hear me? I cry out to you violence, and you will not save. Why do you show me iniquity and look upon perverseness?