Introduction
In the Bible the prophet Habakkuk is the
first one to dare call God to account. For centuries, faith had been
announcing God¡¯s justice. However, this justice had not always been obvious.
After many kept silent about their doubts, Habakkuk was the first biblical
author who asked boldly: Why does the Lord allow injustice to triumph? Why,
when he punishes one oppressor, does he replace him with someone worse?
The answer is twofold:
¨C The Lord keeps secret how he rules the world and all he asks is that we
remain faithful: the upright will live by his faithfulness.
¨C The prophet contemplates the glory of the Lord who will judge in the end.
Habakkuk spoke his oracles from 605-600, when Nebuchadnezzar, who had just
destroyed the cruel Assyria, became very powerful himself and plundered
Israel.