The themes of doubt and despair find expression in the questions of the prophet Habakkuk. Standing as an advocate between humanity and God, Habakkuk gives voices to some of the questions that we are afraid to even whisper in the dark. But God is not afraid of these questions, He is not afraid of our past, present, or future. Instead, we are encouraged to embrace a hope that is lived in faith in Him.
Habakkuk was most likely a contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. He was alive to see the reforms of Josiah, the apostasy of Manasseh, and the growing power of Babylon. Most date this book prior to 605 B.C. (before the battle of Carchemish, where Babylon defeated Egypt). Judah was facing a time of unrest and unfaithfulness as Babylon only grew in power.