Author: The author is named in the title of the book. His name means, “pressed to the heart” or “embrace”. Not much is known about the author (place of birth, occupation, etc…), but his name embodies his work; speaking as one who has taken his nation to his bosom!

Date: The book was written and speaks of a time prior to the Babylonian invasion of Judah ( 1:6 ). Based on the description of the evil that oppresses Judah from those in power, it was probably written during the reign of Jehoahaz and Eliakim (Eliakim was Jehoahaz's brother and was placed on the throne by Pharaoh-necho, then re-named by Pharaoh to Jehoiachim – see: II Kings 23:31-37 ); both kings did what was evil in the sight of God ( II Kings 23:32; 37 ).

Something Different: The book is outlined in very unique way, note:

Question #1 - 1:1-4: Why do you allow the wicked to surround the righteous?

Answer #1 - 1:5-11: The universal supremacy of God's judgment of the wicked!

Question #2 – 1:12-2:1: Why do you allow wicked nations to judge your people?

Answer #2 – 2:2-20: The just shall live by faith and all the wicked will be punished!

A Prayer – 3:1-16: The mighty works of God are evident from the past and elicit joy and confident trust (faith), to the righteous.

A Song – 3:17 -19: A hymn of faith!

Theme: The prophet Ezekiel noted that God would judge the wicked and the persistently unrighteous, regardless of how many righteous were among them ( Ezekiel 14 ). Just as God promised Ezekiel who suffered in captivity that there would be a remnant that would be brought out of the judgments of God against the unrighteous; God states to Habakkuk that even though He would judge the proud (self-righteous), “The Just Shall Live By Faith” (trust in God to save them!).

Even though the prophet begins his questions to God pleading for his people against the evil rule and the nation that grows in threat to the people; he is soon convinced by God that His righteous judgments are for the salvation of the people and that even if the righteous suffer right along side the unrighteous, they should live by faith in God's redeeming power!

The Apostle Paul would state that this has been the key to God's saving power from faith to faith (from Adam to present day - Romans 1:17 ); thus all men must trust God's saving power (found now in the Gospel of Jesus Christ – Romans 1:16 ); regardless of the evil that exists around them!

The growth of faith from perplexity and doubt to the apex of absolute trust is the great theme of the book!

GOOD READING !