Habakkuk Chapter 2

From The Open Bible Project

2:1 I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

• (a) I will renounce my own judgment, and only depend on God to be instructed what I will answer those that abuse my preaching, and to be armed against all temptations.

2:2 Yahweh answered me, "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it.

• (b) Write it in great letters, that he that runneth may read it.

2:3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end [fulfillment], and won't prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won't delay.

• (c) Which contained the destruction of the enemy, and the comfort of the Church. And even though God does not execute this according to man’s hasty affections, yet the issue of both is certain at his appointed time.
• This "appointed time" is also mentioned in Dan 8:17, 19; 10:14. In this verse God says the "appointed time" will take time, God says in Ezekiel 12:25 and Hebrews 10:37 that His prophecies will no longer delay and will surely come on time. -KC

2:4 Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.

• (d) To trust in himself, or in any worldly thing, is never to be at peace: for the only rest is to trust in God by faith; (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).
• God says that this prophecy was for "the appointed time" or "toward the end". It is very significant that the New Testament authors quote this particular verse three times to send their audience the clear message that they were living near the "appointed time" or "end". Look at Romans 1:17, Galations 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38. -KC

2:5 Yes, moreover, wine is treacherous. A haughty man who doesn't stay at home, who enlarges his desire as [3] Sheol [See Habakkuk Footnotes 3], and he is like death, and can't be satisfied, but gathers to himself all nations, and heaps to himself all peoples.

• (e) He compares the proud and covetous man to a drunkard that is without reason and sense, whom God will punish and make a laughing stock to all the world: and this he speaks for the comfort of the godly, and against the Chaldeans.

2:6 Won't all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, 'Woe to him who increases that which is not his, and who enriches himself by extortion! How long?'

• (f) Signifying that all the world will wish the destruction of tyrants, and that by their oppression and covetousness, they heap but upon themselves more heavy burdens: for the more they get, the more are they troubled.

2:7 Won't your debtors rise up suddenly, and wake up those who make you tremble, and you will be their victim?

• (g) That is, the Medes and persians, that would destroy the Babylonians?

2:8 Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you, because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it.

2:9 Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!

2:10 You have devised shame to your house, by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your soul.

• (h) Signifying that the covetous man is the ruin of his own house, when he thinks to enrich it be cruelty and oppression.

2:11 For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it.

• (i) The stones of the house will cry, and say that they are built from blood, and the wood will answer and say the same of itself.

2:12 Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity!

2:13 Behold, isn't it of Yahweh of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?

• (k) Meaning, that God will not defer his vengeance long, but will come and destroy all their labours, as though they were consumed with fire.

2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.

• (l) In the destruction of the Babylonians his glory will appear through all the world.

2:15 "Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies!

• (m) He reproaches by this the king of Babylon, who as he was drunken with covetousness and cruelty, so he provoked others to the same, and inflamed them by his madness, and so in the end brought them to shame.

2:16 You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink, and be exposed! The cup of Yahweh's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.

• (n) Whereas you thought to have the glory of these your doings, they will turn to your shame: for you will drink of the same cup with others in your turn.

2:17 For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals, which made them afraid; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them.

• (o) Because the Babylonians were cruel not only against other nations, but also against the people of God, which is meant by Lebanon and the beast in it, he shows that the same cruelly will be executed against them.

2:18 "What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols?

• (p) He shows that the Babylonian gods could not help them at all, for they were but blocks or stones.

2:19 Woe to him who says to the wood, 'Awake!' or to the mute stone, 'Arise!' Shall this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in its midst.

• (q) If you will consider what it is, and how it has neither breath nor life, but is a dead thing.

2:20 But Yahweh is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!"