"Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise." (Hab. 1:3)

In Habakkuk 1:3 the prophet shows a frustration with evil. Though evil comes in many forms, in this verse Habakkuk focuses on several forms of injustice. He lays out at least three categories of evil, all of which revolved around social justice: Oppression, Injustice, and Corruption. Two different words describe each of the three categories.

The first category fueling the prophet's frustration is oppression. Two words in verse 3, "iniquity" and "wrong," indicate that the strong were taking advantage of the weak. Jeremiah, a contemporary of Habakkuk tells us that the king opposed all who opposed him. Since the poor had no power, he refused to pay them fair wages (Jer. 22:13-19). In addition to this the prophets and priests were using their positions for their own gain: adultery, extortion. Censoring the truth always accompanies oppression. This is seen when the king burns Jeremiah's handwritten prophecy against him.

While Habakkuk was no doubt disturbed by the powerful oppressing the poor, he is especially puzzled at how God can allow powerful people to oppress those who follow His will. Difficult as it may be to understand how God allows wicked people to oppress those who are equally as wicked, it is all the more difficult to understand how God allows evil people to oppress the righteous. The psalmist gives a similar cry: "They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death" (Psalm 94:21). This was, in part, what caused the disciples on the Road to Emmaus to question their faith. Who could allow a group of wicked men to crucify this innocent, righteous man?

"Destruction" and "violence" make up the second category of injustice. Once again, the powerful were not loving the weak, but exploiting them. These two words remind us of the story of Eli's sons. They were giving a position of authority and privilege, but they abused their power, even the point of sexually harassing female worshippers.

Throughout the Word of God, God's people are called to not only abstain from abusing their power, but to use that power to help the weak. James talks about ministry to the orphans and widows. The Mosaic Law reminds employers to pay their employees at the end of each day to ensure that they can take care of their families. In Galatians Peter gives Paul his support, but reminds him to remember the poor.

Finally, corruption was everywhere. The words "strife" and "contention" may be legal terms indicating a corrupt system of justice. Strife was everywhere. Could Habakkuk be describing a sue-happy culture of frivolous law suits, where everybody is out to get one another?

The presence of such evil leads the prophet to a theological crisis: theodicy. How can a righteous God stand the sight of this injustice? His eyes are too pure to behold such sin (Hab. 1:13)! Habakkuk is not just frustrated by evil, but puzzled by it. How can a righteous God stand by and allow this to take place?

Is there any hope in this climate of corruption? Absolutely! This frustration with evil should remind us that there is coming a day when the Righteous One will right all the of wrongs and rule with both justice and mercy