Habakkuk

1Chapter
1The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

Habakkuk’s First Prayer

2How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? 3Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. 4This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.

God’s First Answer

5Look at the nations and observe — be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it. 6Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter, impetuous nation that marches across the earth’s open spaces to seize territories not its own. 7They are fierce and terrifying; their views of justice and sovereignty stem from themselves. 8Their horses are swifter than leopards and more fierce than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead; their horsemen come from distant lands. They fly like eagles, swooping to devour. 9All of them come to do violence; their faces are set in determination. They gather prisoners like sand. 10They mock kings, and rulers are a joke to them. They laugh at every fortress and build siege ramps to capture it. 11Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty; their strength is their god.

Habakkuk’s Second Prayer

12Are you not from eternity, Lord my God? My Holy One, you will not die. Lord, you appointed them to execute judgment; my Rock, you destined them to punish us. 13Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are you silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself? 14You have made mankind like the fish of the sea, like marine creatures that have no ruler. 15The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook, catch them in their dragnet, and gather them in their fishing net; that is why they are glad and rejoice. 16That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet and burn incense to their fishing net, for by these things their portion is rich and their food plentiful. 17Will they therefore empty their net and continually slaughter nations without mercy?
2Chapter

Habakkuk Waits for God’s Response

1I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint.

God’s Second Answer

2The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. 3For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late. 4Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith. 5Moreover, wine betrays; an arrogant man is never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself; he collects all the peoples for himself.

The Five Woe Oracles

6Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him, with mockery and riddles about him? They will say, “Woe to him who amasses what is not his— how much longer? — and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.” 7Won’t your creditors suddenly arise, and those who disturb you wake up? Then you will become spoil for them. 8Since you have plundered many nations, all the peoples who remain will plunder you — because of human bloodshed and violence against lands, cities, and all who live in them.
9Woe to him who dishonestly makes wealth for his house to place his nest on high, to escape the grasp of disaster! 10You have planned shame for your house by wiping out many peoples and sinning against your own self. 11For the stones will cry out from the wall, and the rafters will answer them from the woodwork.
12Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and founds a town with injustice! 13Is it not from the Lord of Armies that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire and countries exhaust themselves for nothing? 14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the water covers the sea.
15Woe to him who gives his neighbors drink, pouring out your wrath and even making them drunk, in order to look at their nakedness! 16You will be filled with disgrace instead of glory. You also—drink, and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory. 17For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you; the destruction of animals will terrify you because of your human bloodshed and violence against lands, cities, and all who live in them.
18What use is a carved idol after its craftsman carves it? It is only a cast image, a teacher of lies. For the one who crafts its shape trusts in it and makes worthless idols that cannot speak. 19Woe to him who says to wood: Wake up! or to mute stone: Come alive! Can it teach? Look! It may be plated with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.
20But the Lord is in his holy temple; let the whole earth be silent in his presence.
3Chapter

Habakkuk’s Third Prayer

1A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk. According to Shigionoth. 2Lord, I have heard the report about you; Lord, I stand in awe of your deeds. Revive your work in these years; make it known in these years. In your wrath remember mercy!
3God comes from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise. 4His brilliance is like light; rays are flashing from his hand. This is where his power is hidden. 5Plague goes before him, and pestilence follows in his steps. 6He stands and shakes the earth; he looks and startles the nations. The age-old mountains break apart; the ancient hills sink down. His pathways are ancient. 7I see the tents of Cushan in distress; the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble. 8Are you angry at the rivers, Lord? Is your wrath against the rivers? Or is your fury against the sea when you ride on your horses, your victorious chariot? 9You took the sheath from your bow; the arrows are ready to be used with an oath. Selah You split the earth with rivers. 10The mountains see you and shudder; a downpour of water sweeps by. The deep roars with its voice and lifts its waves high. 11Sun and moon stand still in their lofty residence, at the flash of your flying arrows, at the brightness of your shining spear. 12You march across the earth with indignation; you trample down the nations in wrath. 13You come out to save your people, to save your anointed. You crush the leader of the house of the wicked and strip him from foot to neck.Selah 14You pierce his head with his own spears; his warriors storm out to scatter us, gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak. 15You tread the sea with your horses, stirring up the vast water.

Habakkuk’s Confidence in God Expressed

16I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us. 17Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, 18yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! 19The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights! For the choir director: on stringed instruments.
Study
Chapter 2
CSB

JOHN ANKERBERG: Just the Facts

Born in 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, John Ankerberg grew up in a Christian family that spent its days with many of the founding leaders of Youth for Christ, including world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham and Bob Pierce, founder of the Christian humanitarian organization World Vision.

The Christian influence of John’s friends and family led to an intriguing high school experience. He arrived the first day of his freshman year in a public school carrying a Bible. Skeptical students asked tough questions to challenge his faith. Rather than giving up, John would simply respond, “I don’t know the answer. I’ll look it up and let you know tomorrow.” Over time, he led several of his fellow students to Christ. This “fact on” approach soon became John’s model for handling the tough criticisms of Christianity.

After college, John’s question-and-answer approach transitioned to television where he often invited leaders of opposing faith systems to debate and discuss apologetics issues. Now, thirty years later, his apologetics ministry includes a global media outreach through television, radio, print, and online materials, including the well-known Facts On series of books used to help people discuss controversial faith issues.

Those who know him best say John’s attitude has remained unchanged since his early days regarding how he discusses his faith. He continues to confront new issues, seek out answers, and share what God’s Word communicates. As he shares, “It’s not about knowing all of the answers. It’s about finding out what God says and sharing his answers with those who will listen.”

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I will take my stand at my watchpost. Similar to a lookout who awaits a coming enemy, Habakkuk waits in the city’s watchtower for God to rebuke his direct challenge. tower. Probably part of a wall and tower system to protect the city.

CSB

The Lord commanded Habakkuk to write the vision he was giving him clearly—literally, “so one who reads in it may run.” This could be taken in two ways: either the tablets were to be written in letters large enough that a person running by would not have to stop to read them, or the message was so clear that a messenger could run with it. This message was for all God’s people distressed by arrogant oppressors, whether aggressive foreign nations (“the Chaldeans,” 1:6) or treacherous and greedy members of Habakkuk’s own community (1:13). Its essence was “Trust, and you will be able to live!” This was the ultimate answer to both of the prophet’s complaints. God is going to deal with wickedness among his people in his own good time, as he is also going to deal with wickedness generally (Gn 3:15). Even when appearances and human reasoning contradict what God has said, his people can trust his word given through the prophetic vision.

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God’s Response. God assures Habakkuk that he will punish all the wicked at the right time.

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Write the vision. This word “vision” commonly refers to the prophetic message from God (see 1 Chron. 17:15; Prov. 29:18). This message was to be a permanent witness, since it would not be imminently fulfilled. The content may be the entire book of Habakkuk, or some shorter portion. so he may run who reads it. This may refer to a herald spreading the message throughout the nation, or more generally to anyone fleeing the coming judgment.

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the vision awaits its appointed time. The fulfillment of the message may occur more slowly than expected, but God’s timing will be perfect. wait for it. While the judgment coming upon Judah will begin quite soon (586 B.C.), the punishment of the Babylonians will not be fulfilled until 539.

CSB

The translation “faith” in this verse is much debated; some prefer to use the word “faithfulness” instead. The Hebrew word is ’emunah, the root of our word “amen,” and it signifies reliability and steadfastness. Ultimately it is a word that signifies loyalty to the Lord’s covenant. Thus, there is not a great deal of difference between faith, faithfulness, and steadfast allegiance to God. The person who has true faith in God will remain faithful despite outward circumstances (3:16-19), and the faithful person will not endure without faith in God (Heb 10:36-39).

Paul quoted v. 4 to support his argument that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” because “the righteous will live by faith” (Rm 1:16-17). Those who trust in what God has done through Jesus Christ—not simply as a matter of intellectual belief but as a matter of life commitment—will be saved, or delivered, from the consequences of sin and the effects of God’s wrath. Paul made an even stronger argument from Hab 2:4 in his letter to the Galatians, asserting that salvation is through faith, not through “the law” (of Moses, Gl 3:11). Habakkuk did not directly contrast righteousness based on keeping the law with righteousness based on faith; to a prophet of Israel there would have been no difference between these concepts, since the law itself was an act of God’s grace (Dt 7:6-11). But he did make faith the key element for survival when the Lord brings disaster. Habakkuk’s statement should be viewed in light of earlier prophets who stressed that offering sacrifices according to the requirements of the law was useless when a genuine commitment to live according to God’s standards of justice and mercy was lacking.

ESV

his soul. The singular form refers to the Babylonian nation as a whole, but with a primary reference to the king. A proud person relies on himself, whereas a righteous person relies on God. While the phrase “his soul is puffed up” refers primarily to Babylon in this context, it could include anyone who is proud. It will take faith to wait patiently for God’s plan to unfold, but the righteous believe that God will accomplish it. The phrase but the righteous shall live by his faith is quoted in the NT to emphasize that people are saved by grace through faith (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; cf. Eph. 2:8) and that Christians should live by faith (Heb. 10:38–39). The kind of faith that Habakkuk describes, and that the NT authors promote, is continuing trust in God and clinging to God’s promises, even in the darkest days.

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His greed is as wide as Sheol. Sometimes in the OT, Sheol is the place of the dead where everyone went, yet which never filled up (see Prov. 30:15–16).

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The taunt against the Babylonians consists of five “woe oracles” that are divided into two parts (vv. 6–14 and vv. 15–20), both of which end with summary statements declaring the glory and greatness of God. These woe oracles (vv. 6, 9, 12, 15, 19) describe the reasons why Babylon deserves its coming punishment (cf. Isa. 5:8–23). Woe oracles are generally composed of two parts: declaration of the wrong, and pronouncement of impending judgment as a result.

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all these. That is, all the nations that Babylon has destroyed (see Isa. 14:9–11). Woe. The Babylonians are condemned for their excessive greed in conquest. They have hoarded things that are not theirs. While pledges were allowed under the law as guarantee of repayment, humane treatment of people was still expected (see Ex. 22:26–27; Deut. 24:10–13).

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debtors. The spoil and plunder that Babylon has taken from other nations is actually only on loan until a stronger nation comes to plunder Babylon.

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blood of man. God will someday hold the Babylonians accountable for indiscriminate bloodshed (see 1:17; Gen. 9:6).

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Woe. Babylon is condemned for relying on treasures and wealth for protection. evil gain. Amassing stolen goods was prohibited under the law (Ex. 20:13–17; Deut. 5:17–21). set his nest on high. Like the eagle that builds its nest in inaccessible spots, the Babylonians attempted to build a city that was inaccessible to their enemies (see Isa. 14:4–15; cf. Obad. 3–4). Herodotus says that Babylon had a huge wall with 100 bronze gates. It was wide enough for a four-horse chariot to run upon it (History 1.178–179).

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forfeited your life. God will hold Babylon responsible for killing many people.

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stone will cry out. The stones were plundered from other nations’ buildings or purchased with plundered goods and would serve as a witness against Babylon.

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Woe. Babylon is condemned for its violence and injustice.

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LORD of hosts. Yahweh is the commander of the heavenly armies, all of which do his bidding; see note on Amos 3:13. peoples labor merely for fire. God controls man’s destiny and will punish injustice; thus, Babylon’s cities will ultimately be destroyed or given to others. Even the people of Judah were chastened for similar practices (Mic. 3:10).

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The glory of the LORD is his special presence with his people, especially at the sanctuary. The glory “filled” the tabernacle and temple (Ex. 40:34–35; 1 Kings 8:11); a number of texts look forward to a day when God’s glory fills the whole earth (Num. 14:21; Ps. 72:19; Isa. 6:3 esv footnote). Israel existed so that the nations might come to know the true God (Gen. 12:2–3; Ex. 19:5–6), and the prophets nurtured the hope that one day the light would indeed reach all the nations. (Christian interpreters dispute whether a prophecy such as this will be fulfilled before or after Christ’s return.)

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Woe. Babylon is chastened for violence to its neighbors. gaze at their nakedness. That is, to dishonor them (cf. Gen. 9:20–22).

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shame. Babylon will experience the same shame and embarrassment that it inflicted on others (see note on v. 15). Cup is a symbol of divine retribution on Babylon (see Isa. 51:17, 22; Jer. 25:15–17; Lam. 4:21; Rev. 14:10; 16:19).

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violence done to Lebanon. Babylon used the famed cedars of Lebanon for its massive building projects (see Isa. 14:8). Nebuchadnezzar’s royal annals indicate that he commanded his army to construct a road to bring these cedars to Babylon. The animal population may also have been decimated—Assyrian inscriptions record hunting expeditions in the Lebanese ranges, and the Babylonians probably indulged in the same practices.

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idols. Carved images or likenesses of false gods were often condemned as worthless and lifeless objects unworthy of the faith placed in them (cf. Isa. 41:29; 44:9; Jer. 10:15). teacher of lies. This highlights the deceptive nature of worshiping idols (cf. Isa. 44:20).

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Woe. The Babylonians are condemned for their idolatry. Idols were often ornate and covered with valuable metals to enhance their prestige.

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But the LORD. There is a tremendous contrast between silent, inanimate idols and the awesome living God who sits enthroned in heaven and rules over the earth. He is the One who deserves the honor and reverence bestowed on worthless idols (see Isa. 41:1; Zeph. 1:7; Zech. 2:13). Silence is commanded so that everyone will consider God’s awesome nature and realize his sovereignty over all creation (see Zeph. 1:7).