The Perplexed Prophet: An Overview of Habakkuk

by Graeme Hutchinson (N. Ireland)

PAPER 3

In 1.12-17, the prophet found it difficult to reconcile the character of His God with the thought that a nation like Babylon would be used to punish Judah for her transgressions. In the ensuing chapter (ch.2), the prophet receives an explanation. We may note:

THE ANSWER OF THE ALMIGHTY

Just as the Lord had answered the prayers of men such as Moses, Aaron and Samuel, Ps.99.6, He did the same for Habakkuk. How gracious the Lord is to allow His servants to have a little understanding of His ways and plans. However, in 2.2-3, the prophet was given prior instruction/assurance before the prophecy was unfolded. We have:

2.2a - the documentation of the message. The instruction from the Lord was clear and unmistakable: ‘Write the vision and make it plain upon tables.’ The Lord was about to unfold His plans and it was incumbent upon Habakkuk to preserve the words so that the truth could be proved in the future. This would demonstrate the truth of 1Cor.14.33: ‘God is not of confusion.’ For believers today, God has carefully preserved His full and complete revelation - the Scriptures. Having gone to such lengths, it is vital for us to read and study the Word.

2.2b - the delivery of the message. It was insufficient for Habakkuk to merely preserve the record of God’s word, it had to be publicised as well: ‘that he may run that readeth it’1. Clearly the spread of the message was a matter of great urgency and the Lord desired as many as possible to hear it. The Word of God is still of such value today that it must be spread abroad and not kept solely within any one individual. Remember the pattern of the great commission in Matt.28.19-20 is reach, preach and teach!

2.3 - the dependability of the message. God informed His prophet that the vision he was about to receive would be fulfilled, but only according to the divine timetable. As we shall observe, the prophecy related to the fact that the captors of Judah, namely Babylon, would, themselves, be punished. The prophet (and others who were righteous in the nation) could take comfort from this truthful and unerring word, Heb.6.18. It may be delayed, but it would come!

In Heb.10.37 the writer adapted the words of 2.3 to speak of the second Coming of Christ. Suffering saints, no matter in which period they live, may take comfort from the fact that the day is coming when the Lord shall reign on earth in perfect justice, and then the righteous will have no fear from persecution. Just as Habakkuk and his readers could be sure of the vision, so too we can be sure that: ‘He that shall come will come and will not tarry.’

THE FAITH OF THE FORGIVEN

Ch.2.4 is perhaps the central verse in the whole prophecy. The prophet lived in dark days and it was vital for him to live in close harmony with the Lord. Faith in the Lord and faithfulness to His word still remain the essential ingredient for those believers who stand justified/forgiven in the sight of God, 2Cor.5.7. However, given the prominence of this verse throughout the Scriptures, it is important to consider the following:

The Quotation of Hab.2.4. On three separate occasions, this verse is quoted in the NT. The OT prophet established the important principle of faith, but the NT writers then applied the principle in a number of ways. Firstly, in Rom.1.17 the Apostle Paul stated that the individual who is righteous (or just) has the possession of eternal life, not because of keeping the Law but rather because of a humble, steadfast reliance upon the truth of God’s Word - the exercising of faith! In Gal.3.11 the Apostle does much the same thing, as he argues against those who felt that the keeping of the law plus salvation was essential. Remember that the law could only bring a knowledge of sin, Rom.3.20, but salvation brings a removal of sin, Rom.3.26. Then in Heb.10.38 the writer again stresses the importance of faith, just before he develops it further in the great chapter of faith, ch.11, where many OT characters are used as examples. Therefore, throughout the NT we are constantly reminded that not only are we justified by faith, but a justified person ought to live by faith as well!

The implication of Hab.2.4. Given that faith is so important for present day Christian living, it is possible to enrich our understanding of this principle by considering what it meant to Habakkuk. Firstly, we may note THE CONTRAST. In 2.4a the character of the Babylonians is summarised: ‘behold his soul is puffed up’ (JND). They prided themselves in their own power and strength and it only inflated their notion of self-importance and self-trust. The righteous person, however, was one who willingly conformed to God and His will.

Secondly, we may note THE CONVICTION. What is faith? To be like Habakkuk, ch.2.3, and the Apostle Paul, Acts 27.25, and believe that God cannot lie nor fail. As the hymn-writer would express it ‘Where He may lead me I will go for I have learnt to trust Him so.’

Finally, we may note THE CONFIDENCE. In 3.17-18, the prophet seems to have applied the lesson of 2.4 - for he declared that irrespective of outward circumstances he was prepared to maintain his reliance (and rejoicing) upon God. Perhaps, for a spiritual man like Habakkuk, his role model was that of Abraham, the great man of faith (see, for example, Lk.19.9; Rom.4.3 and Heb.11.8-10, 17-19).

THE WOES OF THE WICKED

The Lord was able to inform Habakkuk that the mighty nation of Babylon would, like Judah, be punished for its sin and iniquity. The way in which this message was unfolded was by a series of ‘woes,’ 2.6, 9, 12, 15, 19. The term was frequently used by the OT prophets (see, for example, Isa. 5.8, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22), and it simply highlighted the distress that would be caused by God’s punishment. In considering each of these pronouncements, we may note the following:

No. 1: The Woe of the Greedy! In 2.6 the nation of Babylon is compared to those who increase their wealth by ill-gotten means. Similar to 1.2, the question was posed: "How long will this continue? The answer, in v7-8, is unmistakable. The oppressed would rise up in opposition and those spoiled would begin to spoil themselves. These verses would teach another important principle: ‘… whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap," Gal.6.7. Babylon sowed terror and so then they would reap the same. The believer does well to remember this principle in the light of his service, Gal.6.8-9.

No. 2: The Woe of the Covetous! In 2.9 the aim of the sinful nation was exposed. They sought their own self-advancement by desiring and securing the possessions of others. In order to elevate themselves above the rest, they trampled other nations down, v10. However, God would bring judgment upon the proud, v11. This would bear out the testimony of 1Pet.5.5: ‘God resisteth the proud.’

No. 3: The Woe of the Violent! In 2.12 the third woe stresses the barbaric nature of the Babylonians - murder and bloodshed were used to build their empire. However, in the succeeding two verses our attention is directed to the Lord. In v13 the Lord states that all their effort was in vain: ‘They shall weary themselves for nothing’ (Scofield), whereas in v14 the Lord’s glory would, in contrast, fill the entire earth. In 2.14 the prophet is quoting directly from Isa.11.9, where the coming millennial kingdom is described. Both prophets then anticipated the time when the Lord would establish His kingdom, a period when the Lord’s glory would be visible to all, Matt.24.30. We too look forward to this period when the claims of the Lord shall be truly vindicated.

No. 4: The Woe of the Seductive! The nation of Babylon is then pictured as one who tries to seduce other nations to follow along similar paths of sin and helplessness. These verses would remind us of what happened to Noah after the flood, Gen.9.21-25, and they demonstrate the cunning devices of the devil and his emissaries, Eph.4.14; 1Tim.4.1.

No. 5: The Woe of the Idolatrous! In the final woe of the passage, the fixation with idolatry is unreservedly condemned. How futile it is to cry ‘Awake … Arise,’ 2.19, to those pieces of wood or cold stone (see 1Kgs.18.26-29) that are completely inanimate. The contrast with the Lord is startling, 2.20, for He is in His holy temple, and instead of the need to shout at Him to awake or listen, all the world must remain in silent awe and worship before Him.

Therefore, as the final woe closes in the chapter, the prophet is called to exercise his faith. Believing that God’s word would soon be accomplished, Habakkuk’s portion was to remain patient and confident. This is what the Lord expects from all His children, 2Thess.3.5; 1Jn.2.28.

—to be concluded (D.V.)