Habakkuk, Nahum, and Zephaniah are three minor prophets whose teachings are frequently overlooked in Bible studies.
I am grateful that Rudy Ross and I have been exploring these books. I am discovering insights and details in these passages that I previously missed in my earlier readings of the Bible.
These three prophets were contemporaries and shared a common conviction that God was active in the affairs of humans and would judge the wicked and deliver the righteous.
Habakkuk probably served between 612 and 587 BC. Habakkuk is particularly interesting due to his struggle with the solution to the problem of evil and the justice of God.
He questions God, asking how long it will take for the righteous to survive, and thrive, and for the evil ones to be punished.
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
and you will not save?
Why do you make me see wrongdoing
and look at trouble?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
So the law becomes slack,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked surround the righteous;
therefore judgment comes forth perverted. Habakkuk 1.2-4
Habakkuk saw wrongdoing, trouble, destruction, violence, strife, and contention. The question is, who was wrong? Who were those causing trouble and distress?
In the case of Habakkuk, he faced two distinct sources of trouble. The first was the moral decline within a corrupt society. The second was the use of the Babylonians as God’s instrument of punishment.
In this specific section of Habakkuk, the focus is on the first issue: the moral decay of society.
Examples of Moral Rot in America
I use ChatGPT in my writing and asked this large language model to provide an answer to this question: As a modern-day historian, what are the five top examples of moral corruption in America?
This is the answer I received from ChatGPT. Please know that I have added some of my commentary at the end of quotes by ChatGPT.
(1) Political Corruption and Partisanship: The increasing prevalence of political corruption, marked by lobbying scandals, campaign finance irregularities, and partisan gridlock, has eroded public trust in governmental institutions.
This includes instances where politicians prioritize personal or party interests over public welfare, leading to a lack of accountability and transparency.
The current reluctance of a specific faction within the Republican Party to fund the war in Ukraine and Israel’s conflict with Hamas, and tackle immigration issues at the border serves as an example of prioritizing political party interests over national welfare.
(2) Economic Inequality and Corporate Wrongdoing: There’s a growing concern over the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor, partly attributed to corporate greed and unethical business practices.
Consider the trillions of dollars spent by the top five industries to influence American laws over the past 24 years in a way that benefits their businesses (source opensecrets.org).
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products: $5,170,516,263 – Spending $5.17 billion over the past 24 years, the pharmaceutical and health products industry has far outpaced all others in lobbying spending.
Insurance: $3,300,687,123 – The insurance industry, including the health, property, and auto insurance companies along with agents and brokers, has historically mounted a lobbying effort second only to that of drugmakers and other healthcare product providers.
Electric Utilities: $2,828,743,315 – Utilities are a highly regulated industry with service rates that must be approved by state utility commissions and a big stake in federal environmental and climate legislation, so heavy lobbying has long been key to the business model.
Electronics Manufacturing and Equipment: $2,819,482,099 – This category includes many of the largest software, computer hardware, and semiconductor suppliers.
Business Associations: $2,700,343,039 – This grouping includes small business, big business, and international trade associations, as well as chambers of commerce.
(3) Media Manipulation and Misinformation: The role of media in spreading misinformation and propaganda has significantly impacted public perception and discourse.
The rise of social media has exacerbated this issue, with the spread of fake news and echo chambers that reinforce divisive ideologies, undermining the integrity of information and public debate.
Regardless of being liberal or conservative, it’s crucial to verify the facts presented by the media. Often, media outlets spin stories to align with their own perspectives, which can lead to distorted facts or outright lies.
(4) Environmental Neglect and Exploitation: There’s an ongoing issue with environmental neglect and exploitation, where short-term economic gains are often prioritized over long-term environmental sustainability.
This includes ignoring climate change warnings, pollution, and the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, leading to significant ecological imbalances.
(5) Social and Racial Injustice: Systemic issues of social and racial injustice remain deeply ingrained in American society. These issues reflect deep-seated biases and institutional barriers that continue to perpetuate inequality and social unrest.
Bold Questions and Answers
Habakkuk was concerned about the unchecked power of evil and this problem caused him to question the nature of God who permitted such evil to go unpunished.
It is quite bold for a human to approach the Creator of the universe with complaints about what is happening. Yet, God graciously listens to our grievances and responds.
Tomorrow’s article will explore the first of God’s responses in a dialogue with Habakkuk.
In thinking about this, it’s important to recognize that we are free to ask anything we desire, understanding that God will provide an answer.
It might not always be the answer we hope for, but it will nonetheless be a response from a God who loves and cares for us. This is the same God who loved us so much that He sent His Son to earth to die for our sins and be resurrected.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 