Habakkuk Chapter 1

From The Open Bible Project

1:1 The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

• The Argument - The Prophet complains to God, considering the great felicity of the wicked, and the miserable oppression of the godly, who endure all types of affliction and cruelty, and yet can see no end. Therefore he had this revelation shown to him by God, that the Chaldeans would come and take them away as captives, so that they could look for no end of their troubles as yet, because of their stubbornness and rebellion against the Lord. And lest the godly should despair, seeing this horrible confusion, he comforts them by this, that God will punish the Chaldeans their enemies, when their pride and cruelty will be at height. And for this reason he exhorts the faithful to patience by his own example, and shows them a form of prayer, with which they should comfort themselves.

1:2 [1] Yahweh, [See Habakkuk Footnotes 1] how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you "Violence!" and will you not save?

• (a) The Prophet complains to God, and bewails that among the Jews is left no fairness and brotherly love: but instead of these reigns cruelty, theft, contention, and strife.

1:3 Why do you show me iniquity, and look at perversity? For destruction and violence are before me. There is strife, and contention rises up.

1:4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.

• (b) To suppress him, if any should show himself zealous of God’s cause.
• (c) Because the judges who should remedy this excess, are as evil as the rest.

1:5 "Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you.

• (d) As in times past you would not believe God’s word, so you will not now believe the strange plagues which are at hand.

1:6 For, behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs.

1:7 They are feared and dreaded. Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.

• (e) They themselves will be your judges in this cause, and none will have authority over them to control them.

1:8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. Their horsemen press proudly on. Yes, their horsemen come from afar. They fly as an eagle that hurries to devour.

1:9 All of them come for violence. Their hordes face the desert. He gathers prisoners like sand.

• (f) For the Jews most feared this wind, because it destroyed their fruits.
• (g) They will be so many in number.

1:10 Yes, he scoffs at kings, and princes are a derision to him. He laughs at every stronghold, for he builds up an earthen ramp, and takes it.

• (h) They will cast up mounds against it.

1:11 Then he sweeps by like the wind, and goes on. He is indeed guilty, whose strength is his god."

• (i) The Prophet comforts the faithful that God will also destroy the Babylonians, because they will abuse this victory, and become proud and insolent, attributing the praise of this to their idols.

1:12 Aren't you from everlasting, Yahweh my [2] God [See Habakkuk Footnotes 2], my Holy One? We will not die. Yahweh, you have appointed him for judgment. You, Rock, have established him to punish.

• (k) He assures the godly of God’s protection, showing that the enemy can do no more than God has appointed, and also that their sins require such a sharp rod.

1:13 You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously, and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,

1:14 and make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?

• (l) So that the great devours the small, and the Chaldeans destroy all the world.

1:15 He takes up all of them with the hook. He catches them in his net, and gathers them in his dragnet. Therefore he rejoices and is glad.

1:16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.

• (m) Meaning that the enemies flatter themselves, and glory in their own strength, power, and intellect.

1:17 Will he therefore continually empty his net, and kill the nations without mercy?

• (n) Meaning, that they would not.