Theme - The burden of Habakkuk's prophecy is the menace to the national existence of Judah by the rapid growth of the Chaldean Empire, which attained a place of supremacy upon the fall of Assyria, and by the defeat of the Egyptians at Carchemish in 605 B.C. Habakkuk was called by God to set forth the divine will and purpose in the rising power of the Chaldeans and their relationship to God's chosen people, and to foretell the fall of this great power and the significance of that event to Israel's future history. He reveals the character of Jehovah in terms of the highest spirituality. To him, the vindication of the holiness of Jehovah was more important than the escape of Israel from chastisement. Both idolatry and pantheism are judged and condemned. His style is poetical and profuse in imagery; his prophecy takes the form of a dialogue between himself and the Divine Ruler.

Outline - The book may be divided into five main sections: I. The Prophet's Perplexity as He Views the Sins of Israel and God's Silence (1:1-4) II. Jehovah's Answer to the Prophet's Perplexity (1:5-11) III. The Prophet's Testimony to Jehovah (1:12-2:1) IV. The Vision of Five Destructive Woes (2:2-20) V. The Psalm of Triumphant Confidence in Jehovah and His Providence (3)