This is the twenty-ninth in a series of biblical summaries from David Dorsey's book: The Literary Structure of the Old Testament. This is the eighth in the sub-series of minor prophets, covering Habakkuk.
a Habakkuk's first complaint (1:2-4)
b Yahweh's first answer (1:5-11)
c Habakkuk's second complaint (1:12-17)
d CENTER: wait, for in the end the wicked will be punished (2:1-5)
c' Yahweh's answer to second complaint (2:6-20)
b' Yahweh's final answer (3:1-15)
a' Habakkuk's final resolution of his first complaint (3:16-19)
The 'a' pattern links Habakkuk's first complaint to its later resolution. In the first section, he asks, "how long must I wait for your justice?" In the second section, he says he will wait for God's help as long as it takes, no matter what, that God is the source of his joy. In the first section, he complains that God does not hear Habakkuk's cries for help. In the second section, Habakkuk hears Yahweh's arrival to help and is silenced. Both sections have extended first-person speeches. In the first section, Habakkuk asks how long he must wait for God's salvation. In the second section, Habakkuk says he will wait, no matter what, for God is his salvation. In the first section, Habakkuk expresses a frustrated cry to God, who is not saving him. In the second section, Habbakuk expresses a joyful cry to the God who saves. All this suggests that God addresses Habakkuk's complaint.
The 'b' pattern compares the initial success of the Babylonian army over Judah with the ultimate success of Yahweh's army over Babylon. The first section expresses Yahweh's first answer to Habakkuk's complaint, that the powerful army of Babylon will come. Yahweh's later final answer is that Yahweh's army will vanquish Babylon. Both sections begin with statements about Yahweh's work. The first section is a highly militaristic portrayal of an unstoppable powerful army. The second section is a highly militaristic portrayal of Yahweh's unstoppable powerful army. In the first section, the Babylonians come, proceed, and go forth. In the second section, Yahweh comes, proceeds, and goes forth. The first section describes the Babylonians' horses, the peoples' intentions to devour their enemies, and that the army originates from a distant place in the north. The second section describes Yahweh's horses, Babylon's intentions to devour peoples, and that Yahweh's army comes from the south. All this suggests that Babylon's conquest of Judah is a temporary measure which will give way to Yahweh's final victory over Babylon.
The 'c' pattern links Habakkuk's second complaint with Yahweh's answer. Habakkuk's second complaint is: how can you allow the wicked to destroy nations more righteous than themselves? To this, Yahweh pronounces "woes" upon the wicked. They will be punished. All wrongs will be righted. Both sections begin with rhetorical questions. Both sections focus on the wickedness of the Babylonians in their conquests. Both sections focus on the Babylonians' foolish, human-originated idolatry. The first section questions Yahweh's justice with the Babylonians. The second section answers the question of Yahweh's justice with the Babylonians. All this suggests Yahweh's address of the question Habakkuk raises.
The 'd' section is a central exhortation to wait. Dorsey writes: "The theme of waiting is highlighted by its occurrence at the beginning, middle, and end of the book. These structurally prominent units declare that God will ultimately right all wrongs, but his people must wait with patience for this to happen."
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