Habakkuk 01
Habakkuk 1:1 The following is the message which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet:
Habakkuk means “to embrace.” When writing his name, the last consonant is doubled, thus intensifying the meaning to become “full embrace.” Nothing else is known about him or his family.
This book was written after northern Israel was taken into the Assyrian captivity. Babylon was not a world power at this time. They were a tribute nation to Assyria. Since the northern tribe had been assimilated into the Assyrian culture, Habakkuk was a prophet from Judah. Israel did not exist at this time.
King Josiah was the King of Judah. Judah was living in prosperity, but they were spiritually bankrupt.
The Hebrew word for “message” is הַמַּשָּׂא֙ (ha-masah), meaning a heavy message which is hard to carry. The message that Habakkuk gave to Judah was bad news. It would be hard for them to carry this message. It would be difficult for Habakkuk to deliver this message.
2 How long, Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, “Violence!” But you do not intervene!
The prophet made two complaints to the Lord. The first complaint was that the people of Judah were too violent. Habakkuk wanted God to judge these violent men.
3 Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife.
Habakkuk’s second complaint to Jehovah was “why does the Lord allow these evil men of Judah to get away with their destruction and violence?”
4 For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.
Habakkuk complained that because God was inactive in punishing Judah’s sin that the people were not keeping the Mosaic Law. There was no justice in the court system. The wicked were intimidating the innocent. Justice was not being carried out. Justice was being perverted by corrupt judges.
5 “Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.
God answered the prophet. His answer was that He will eventually deal with the sins of Judah. His method of dealing with Judah’s sin was that He was about to do something amazing among the Gentile nations. This event will happen in Habakkuk’s lifetime, demonstrating to the world that Habakkuk was a prophet of God. If the prophets near predictions were fulfilled, then the latter day prophecies would be fulfilled as well.
6 Look, I am about to empower the Babylonians, that ruthless and greedy nation. They sweep across the surface of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.
The Babylonians were a major power under Nimrod. However; Assyria had defeated them and reduced them to poverty. Habakkuk predicted that Babylon would rise out of poverty and become a world power once again. Since Babylon was a very poor and weak nation under the powerful Assyrians, this seemed an impossibility. This would be like a prophet today predicting that a small state (such as Mississippi) would rebel against the United States, defeat them, and become a world power.
God predicted the characteristics of the future Babylonian world power. They would be ruthless, meaning violent and revengeful in their tactics of war. They would be greedy, as they would want what others possessed.
7 They are frightening and terrifying; they decide for themselves what is right.
The Babylonians would become a powerful and independent nation who would not have to make alliances with other nations.
8 Their horses are faster than leopards and more alert than wolves in the desert. Their horses gallop, their horses come a great distance; like a vulture they swoop down quickly to devour their prey.
The Babylonian cavalry would give them swift victories over their victims.
9 All of them intend to do violence; every face is determined.
They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand.
The Babylonian soldiers were determined and effective killers. They took prisoners with ease.
10 They mock kings and laugh at rulers. They laugh at every fortified city; they build siege ramps and capture them.
The Babylonian military machine would become so powerful that they would mock and laugh at the kings, rulers, and fortified cities of their victims.
11 They sweep by like the wind and pass on. But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty.”
Just as the wind sweeps by and passes the city, so will Babylon sweep by and conquer their victims. King Nebuchadnezzar will consider himself as a god, so his sin will cause Babylon to fall.
In conclusion, Habakkuk complained about the violence and sin of Judah. God answered that He will deal with Judah’s sin by raising up Babylon to defeat Judah.
12 Lord, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. Lord, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.
Habakkuk listened to God’s request, but he was not satisfied. He offered a second complaint to Jehovah.
He began his complaint by honoring God's activity with Israel since the Abrahamic Covenant. He understood that God would never exterminate Israel. He understood that Babylon was going to be used as a rod to discipline Judah.
13 You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?
The Jews were evil at this time, but they were not as evil as Babylon. Babylon was the birthplace of idolatry. How could God use a nation more evil than Israel to discipline Israel?
The same question is asked by the Jews today. How could God use the Romans, the Greeks, the Crusaders, and Adolph Hitler to discipline Israel?
14 You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea that have no ruler.
The Gentiles of the other nation had become like fishes in the sea. They were easily captured by the Babylonian net.
15 The Babylonian tyrant pulls them all up with a fishhook; he hauls them in with his throw net. When he catches them in his dragnet, he is very happy.
King Nebuchadnezzar was the Babylonian tyrant. He was capturing the Gentile nations just as easily as fishermen capture fish in the sea with their nets.
16 Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet; for because of them he has plenty of food, and more than enough to eat.
God was the one who made Babylon into a world power. However, Babylon did not give glory to God. They thought that they had accomplished this task on their own.
17 Will he then continue to fill and empty his throw net?
Will he always destroy nations and spare none?
Habakkuk asked another question. Will the King of Babylon be able to conquer the nations continually? How can God use a nation more evil than Judah to discipline Judah?