Habakkuk was written between the Asyrian and Babylonian invasions, probably during the reign of Jehoiakim's reign (or possibly the end of Joisah's). Joisah had been a very good king, putting many things right in the nation. However, the "revival" was only skin deep, for as soon as Jehoiakim came to the throne the nation descended into apostasy again. The date of the prophecy is usually taken to be about 605 BC.
The prophecy is unique in that Habakkuk does not address the nation itself, rather it is more of a conversation between Habakkuk and the Lord. It consists of two complaints of Habakkuk against God, the Lord's response to these, and then Habakkuk seeing things in faith.
The book reveals something of how God works and how He reveals Himself to us. God uses the thoughts and emotions of our lives to lead us to seek Him, and through these He reveals Himself to us. Now this does not mean we live by our feelings, but knowing God is far more than just an intellectual matter.
In appreciating the prophecy we need to keep in mind the historical context, remembering the things that Habakkuk was seeing going on around him.
Habakkuk 2:4 is famously quoted by Paul in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11.
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