The Frozen Frontiersman

So, you ask, who is this Habakkuk guy? Good question; it always helps in studying Scripture to know who in the heaven wrote it (here using “who in the heaven” instead of “who in the hell” for obvious, yet playful reasons). Anyways…Habakkuk had a very unique and particular character in his little book of prophecy that greatly applies to me and my friends in “missionary music ministry.” This is for three reasons. One, because he was a Levite–set apart for the Temple service and selflessness “employment” of the one tribe that wasn’t allotted by God any land or possessions (we’ll discuss more on that later). Two, because he was a “musician.” We know this because the last chapter of the book of Habakkuk is primarily a song with a musical composition note at the beginning of it–a lot like one of the Psalms of David or Solomon. It was meant to be played and sung at Temple service. Third, and this is a no-brainer, he was a prophet. He was a messenger, a conduit, a funnel (if you will) of God’s divine words to His faithful people at this time.

With these characteristics in mind, we also need to notice that Mister Habby (as I sometimes call him) saw one of the most amazing O.T. manifestations of God’s glory on par with Isaiah and Moses. Now he has my whole and undivided attention. He was a Jew of the tribe of Levi serving in the house of the Lord. He had experience with leading, writing and performing music for and to God. AND he was a designated prophet of God speaking forth His words who actually SAW God Almighty, El Shaddai. Awesome.

Lastly, Habakkuk is the ONLY book in the whole of the Old Testament or “Tenach” in Hebrew, in which the entire account consisted of a dialogue between God and a human individual. Job and Jonah and other books have portions in which  we are given a fly-on-the-wall perspective of God talking to them, but Habby talks to God the whole time. This is, then, a spectacular view of the character of God. He does speak to us. His Word is good for today, alive and well. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m all ears to what this 2617 year old prophecy has to say to me and my friends.

Stay Tuned for Habby 1.

FF