(The Book of Habakkuk was the eighth of the twelve books that made up the minor prophet section of the Old Testament. Habakkuk was a prophet after the time of Isaiah and concurrent with Jeremiah. Chronologically, the Book of Habakkuk occurred after the previous seven books of the minor prophet section. In this short book, Habakkuk was focused on God's Holiness (Right and Just) and its vindication in the coming judgment of Judah. This book documented a conversation between Habakkuk and God concerning Judah.)
Habakkuk 1
1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
(The burden (mournful and weighty prophecy) which Habakkuk saw. Habakkuk lived during the twelfth or thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, the sixteenth king of Judah. 2 Kings 22 showed Josiah was the greatest Old Testament king over Judah (2 Kings 23:24). When the book of the Law was read to him, he tore his clothes and took down the high places that Solomon had set up. Josiah was killed at the future site of the battle of Armageddon. The subsequent king (Jehoahaz) did evil and Nebuchadnezzar was led by God to bring judgment on Judah (2 Kings 24) during the reign of the eighteenth king of Judah: Jehoiakim.)
2 O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save.
(It seemed as though Habakkuk had been interceding for Judah for some time. Habakkuk did not think God was hearing his cry.)
3 Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up.
4 Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.
(Habakkuk saw that injustice and wickedness had taken over the land and people. Habakkuk wanted God to remain Right and Just by bringing judgment. Next, it was God's turn to respond.)
5 Behold ye among the nations, and look, and wonder marvellously; for I am working a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.
(God said He would perform a work that would not be believed, even though He foretold it. Acts 13:41 recorded that Paul referenced this verse during his sermon in Antioch of Pisidia.)
6 For, lo, 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.
(The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were raised up by God to bring judgment to the people.)
7 They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.
8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.
9 They come all of them for violence; the set of their faces is forwards; and they gather captives as the sand.
(The Babylonians were a physically strong people who sought out captives.)
10 Yea, he scoffeth at kings, and princes are a derision unto him; he derideth every stronghold; for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it.
(The Babylonians would laugh mockingly at every stronghold in Judah.)
11 Then shall he sweep by as a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, even he whose might is his god.
(God's response was that He would vindicate His Nature (Right and Just) by having the Babylonians judge Judah. Next, it was Habakkuk's turn to respond.)
12 Art not thou from everlasting, O Jehovah my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Jehovah, thou hast ordained him for judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast established him for correction.
(The Babylonians were established for the correction of the Jews.)
13 Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;
14 and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
15 He taketh up all of them with the angle, he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth them in his drag: therefore he rejoiceth and is glad.
16 Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.
17 Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?
(Habakkuk testified as to God's Nature being Right and Just. Habakkuk and God were in agreement about God's Nature.)
Habakkuk 2
1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint.
(Habakkuk stated he was ready for God to continue speaking to him.)
2 And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.
(God answered. He told Habakkuk to write the vision because the vision was for an appointed time. The following events would occur.)
4 Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.
(Pride prevented fellowship with God. The righteous (just) shall live by faith - Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38.)
5 Yea, moreover, wine is treacherous, a haughty man, that keepeth not at home; who enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples.
6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and that ladeth himself with pledges!
7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booty unto them?
8 Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.
(Those who gained for the wrong reason (pride) and at the expense of others (not loving) would be judged.)
9 Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!
10 Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast sinned against thy soul.
11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.
12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity!
(A warning of judgment to those who built with a wrong how and why.)
13 Behold, is it not of Jehovah of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
(The nations were weary because they coveted towards things which were unprofitable.)
14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.
(God's purpose for the earth was for it to be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of Jehovah.)
15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, to thee that addest thy venom, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
16 Thou art filled with shame, and not glory: drink thou also, and be as one uncircumcised; the cup of Jehovah's right hand shall come round unto thee, and foul shame shall be upon thy glory.
17 For the violence done to Lebanon shall cover thee, and the destruction of the beasts, which made them afraid; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.
(A warning to those who hindered their neighbors through drunkenness. They would be judged.)
18 What profiteth the graven image, that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he that fashioneth its form trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
(There was no profit in idols.)
19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise! Shall this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
(A warning to those who committed idolatry.)
20 But Jehovah is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
(In this chapter, God's response presented several causes for Him to bring judgment: pride, not loving others, building with a wrong how and why, causing others to fall through drunkenness, and committing idolatry. All of these things prevented people from achieving God's purpose for this earth: to be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of Jehovah.)
Habakkuk 3
1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to Shigionoth.
2 O Jehovah, I have heard the report of thee, and am afraid: O Jehovah, revive thy work in the midst of the years; In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.
(Habakkuk's response to God's answer was to pray for Israel to be revived. A prayer of Habakkuk set to "Shigionoth." The word Shigionoth meant "hymn." In the context of Habakkuk's prayer, it meant that Habakkuk was praying/crying aloud to God. Habakkuk requested that God, in His wrath, remember mercy.)
3 God came from Teman, And the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of his praise.
(This referred to God leading the Israelites out of Egypt through Teman and mount Paran.)
4 And his brightness was as the light; He had rays coming forth from his hand; And there was the hiding of his power.
(God was light and power went forth from His Hands.)
5 Before him went the pestilence, And fiery bolts went forth at his feet.
(Habakkuk continued proclaiming God's greatness (through verse 15)…)
6 He stood, and measured the earth; He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; And the eternal mountains were scattered; The everlasting hills did bow; His goings were as of old.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
8 Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers, Or thy wrath against the sea, That thou didst ride upon thy horses, Upon thy chariots of salvation?
9 Thy bow was made quite bare; The oaths to the tribes were a sure word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
10 The mountains saw thee, and were afraid; The tempest of waters passed by; The deep uttered its voice, And lifted up its hands on high.
11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, At the light of thine arrows as they went, At the shining of thy glittering spear.
12 Thou didst march though the land in indignation; Thou didst thresh the nations in anger.
13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, For the salvation of thine anointed; Thou woundest the head out of the house of the wicked man, Laying bare the foundation even unto the neck. Selah.
14 Thou didst pierce with his own staves the head of his warriors: They came as a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
15 Thou didst tread the sea with thy horses, The heap of mighty waters.
16 I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble in my place; Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us.
(This word from God had tremendous effects on Habakkuk's body.)
17 For though the fig-tree shall not flourish, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
(Although the land was bearing no fruit, Habakkuk was still rejoicing in the Lord. He was being a man: focused on the causes regardless of the effects.)
19 Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength; And he maketh my feet like hinds' feet, And will make me to walk upon my high places.
(God was Habakkuk's strength and swiftness.)
(The Book of Habakkuk was the eighth of the twelve books that made up the minor prophet section of the Old Testament. Habakkuk was a prophet after the time of Isaiah and concurrent with Jeremiah. Chronologically, the Book of Habakkuk occurred after the previous seven books of the minor prophet section. In the first chapter, Habakkuk was focused on God's Holiness (Right and Just) and its vindication in the coming judgment of Judah. In the second chapter, God's response presented several causes for Him to bring judgment: pride, not loving others, building with a wrong how and why, causing others to fall through drunkenness, and committing idolatry. All of these things prevented people from achieving God's purpose for this earth: to be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of Jehovah. The third chapter consisted of Habakkuk's prayer for Israel's eventual revival.)
Day 275
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