Justice Is a Joke: The Cry of Habakkuk and Its Echo in the New Testament
By Larry Billinger
Habakkuk, often called the “doubting Thomas” of the Old Testament, presents a journey from doubt to faith, from questioning to understanding. His name, meaning “wrestler,” aptly describes his spiritual journey through the book that bears his name. In Habakkuk 1:1-4, we witness the prophet’s deep struggle with the prevalence of injustice and God’s seeming inactivity.
Habakkuk 1:1-4
Justice Is a Joke
1 1-4 “The problem as God gave Habakkuk to see it:
God, how long do I have to cry out for help
before you listen?
How many times do I have to yell, “Help! Murder! Police!”
before you come to the rescue?
Why do you force me to look at evil,
stare trouble in the face day after day?
Anarchy and violence break out,
quarrels and fights all over the place.
Law and order fall to pieces.
Justice is a joke.
The wicked have the righteous hamstrung
and stand justice on its head.”
Habakkuk’s Struggle
Habakkuk begins in the valley of despair. “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!” (Habakkuk 1:2). His plea reflects a profound sense of abandonment and frustration. The prophet is not just crying; he is screaming for God’s intervention in a world filled with violence and corruption.
The Paralysis of Justice
In Habakkuk 1:4, the prophet laments the paralysis of the law, a condition where justice seems absent, and the wicked surround the righteous. This paralysis symbolizes a judicial system that fails to function, echoing the frustrations many feel today when witnessing the inefficiencies and injustices in our legal systems.
Echo in the New Testament
This cry of Habakkuk finds its echo in the New Testament, particularly in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ teachings and actions addressed the very injustices Habakkuk lamented. Christ’s ministry was marked by a profound concern for the marginalized and an uncompromising stand against hypocrisy and injustice.
Jesus: The Answer to Habakkuk’s Cry
Jesus embodies the answer to Habakkuk’s cries. Through His teachings, Jesus illustrated a kingdom where justice reigns and the marginalized are lifted. His crucifixion, an act of profound injustice, becomes the means through which God addresses the brokenness and injustice of the world.
Conclusion
Habakkuk’s journey from the valley of despair to the mountain of faith mirrors our own struggles with understanding God’s ways, especially in the face of rampant injustice. His book is a reminder that, in times of doubt and confusion, we can look to the example of Jesus Christ, who brings hope and justice to a broken world.
