Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Habakkuk

Habakkuk 
Day 
Day 2

"O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear"

Text: Habakkuk 1:2

PRAYING TO THE LORD

Sometimes, we take prayer too much for granted. To the prophets of the Lord, prayer was a vital activity. Two main things may be noted:

1. Prayer was a means of communicating with the Lord on a personal level

a) To seek understanding.
b) To seek wisdom.
c) To seek guidance.
d) To seek direction.
e) To seek power.
f) To seek revival.

2. Prayer was a means of pleading on behalf of the nation (Israel/ Judah)

a) Seeking forgiveness.
b) Seeking to avert destruction of the nation.
c) Seeking deliverance from disasters or enemies.
d) Seeking the will of God.
e) Seeking wisdom
f) Seeking the mercy and grace of God.

BUT WHAT IF GOD DOES NOT HEAR AND ANSWER PRAYER

This was something that burdened the heart of the prophet Habakkuk.

“O LORD, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’
And You will not save.”
Habakkuk 1:2

1. “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear”

a) This was not an uncommon problem (Psalm 22:2).
b) Habakkuk expected God to hear all prayers.
c) He was perplexed when God did not hear his prayers!

2. “Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!'”

a) Habakkuk felt that God should respond to desperate cries.
b) Violence was an affront to the name of God… but there was silence instead.

3. “You will not save”

The Lord had not responded to his prayers. He had not sent deliverance! This troubled the prophet Habakkuk.