Environmental Stewardship Commission

Reflection on Habakkuk 1:1-6 (7-11) 12-13; 2:1-4
by John Gibbs, PhD

So far as prophet Habakkuk is concerned, and as Psalm 37 also saw, all is not right with the world. That is clear in this short prophecy’s first section, which is a dialogue between God and prophet (1:2-2:5).

Habakkuk’s problem is this: How can there be one all-powerful God who “will not listen,” “will not save,” and who remains “silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they” (vv. 2, 13)? It’s so bad that the laws are unreliable and “justice never prevails.” The tyrannical enemy of the prophet’s people respects no standard norm of transcendent Justice, for it worships its own power. But the God over all power does nothing! How can this be?

God answers, in the first place, that appearances are deceiving, incredible as that may seem. “For I am rousing the Chaldeans” (v. 6), I God am in charge, and I know full well that “they transgress and become guilty” and even are blasphemous (v. 11). But for the time being God is working through the Chaldeans to enact Justice against the prophet’s no less unrighteous nation. The goal remains the same: the outworking of transcendent Justice among all people.

God answers, in the second place, that however long-deferred the working out of transcendent Justice may be, its accomplishment is certain, and until that time the business of the prophet and of all righteous people is to “live by their faithfulness” (‘emunah; 2:4 and see Romans 1:17).

The frustrations that “tree huggers” experience, the obstacles that are increasing against ecological stewardship, the multiplication of injustices against the poor and marginalized peoples of our world—all that amounts to Justice withheld, and the wholeness of Shalom deferred. The work of “the righteous” proceeds nevertheless in an attitude of expectant watchfulness and trust in God that the promised Justice and Peace are on their way into the realities of here and now. There’s no way to “prove” this abstractly. All we can do is live concretely from day to day, putting one foot in front of the other in accord “with the grain of the universe,” as Stanley Hauerwas puts it in his book with that title (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2001).

There is an excellent discussion of Habakkuk 1:2-2:5 by Elizabeth Achtemeier, Nahum-Malachi (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching; Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1986), pp. 34-48).

Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary

John Gibbs, PhD, a retired theologian, attended Trinity Episcopal Church, Park Rapids, MN, when he originally wrote this reflection in 2003. John and we welcome your comments. Please address your comments or additional reflections to John Gibbs or any MEESC member, or mail them to: