Creative Silence
In the silence of waiting Habakkuk seems to enjoy an imaginary and harmless war of words with his adversaries whom he very carefully identifies. Our adversaries will be different from his but recognising and reflecting on his may help us to identify ours. There are four.
First, the merciless creditor (vv 6-8) who calls in debts like a bailiff sequestering goods being used as collateral. There were obviously plenty of them around, and over a long period, because Amos also was well aware of him (2:8).
Second, the ambitious builder (vv 9-11), possibly a reference to the king who had helped himself to such a gorgeous palace that even the stones cried out against him. Jeremiah might have a reference to the same person (22:13-17).
Third, the cruel conqueror (vv 12-14), perhaps Josiah, possibly Nebuchadnezzar, but any ruler indeed who was more concerned to build a city to glorify his own reputation than build one for the wellbeing of the citizens.
Finally, the violent oppressor (vv 15-17). All those who have got too big for their shoes, whose policies have revealed their weaknesses and who have put themselves before those for whom they are responsible.
This is Habakkuk letting off steam and crying, ‘Woe, woe, and thrice woe’, but still nobody seems to be listening and he is certainly not engaging with his adversaries. In giving vent to his deepest failings while keeping his thoughts to himself, however, he maintains his faithfulness to God. That way nobody gets and such creative silence may bring healing whichmay take many forms.
One way is simply opening your heart to a friend. Another is to sit down and write a letter, possibly to a friend, perhaps even to your adversary, but then making a positive decision not to send it. Then, to make it really creative, take another look at it after a few days and see whether somewhere there you can find the faint voice of God telling you what you had never noticed. So maybe he was active all the time.