In this study of Habakkuk chapter two, we look at how God answers the concerns of the prophet about dealing with evil. In chapter 1, God had told him that He was going to use the Babylonians to conquer Judah and the prophet questioned the use of such an evil people.
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I will stand at my watchpost; I will station myself on the rampart. I will look to see what [God] will say through me and what I will answer when I am reproved.
At the end of chapter one, Habakkuk had asked the Lord what He was going to do about the evil of Babylon. Here, we see that he is watching and waiting for God's answer. This verse teaches us a lot about prayer and we see that, if we have questions, we should freely ask them of God. The prophet simply did not have the answer to the puzzling question of how God could use the evil Babylonians. He asked the question and then waited for God's answer. Many follow that pattern but we also see from this verse that it was not a passive waiting. The picture that we see here is of a guard walking his rounds and protecting what was entrusted to him. That reminds us that we are to put into action the things that God has shown us while we wait for Him to show us what we do not understand. We also see that the prophet knows that God has the answer and is confident that God heard and will answer him.
Then ADONAI answered me; he said, "Write down the vision clearly on tablets, so that even a runner can read it.
God began His reply by telling the prophet to write it down on tablets so that it could be read and acted upon. The running with it speaks to the fact that it was meant to be read, understood, and acted upon. The same is true for us today in that God wants us to not only read His word but to put it into practical action in our lives. This is also what James was urging us to do in his letter (see James 1:22-25).
For the vision is meant for its appointed time; it speaks of the end, and it does not lie. It may take a while, but wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
God is telling the prophet that He is going to handle the Babylonians but reminds Habakkuk that it will be in His perfect timing. God has an "appointed time" for everything in our lives and in the lives of everything. We, as people, get restless and want things to happen when we think that they should and this can lead to many false prophets telling us what we want to hear. We, like the people of Judah, must trust in God's ability to handle things at just the right time. That is what the apostle Peter was reminding us about in his second letter.
"Look at the proud: he is inwardly not upright; but the righteous will attain life through trusting faithfulness.
Pride was the very thing that caused Satan to fall from heaven and it is the same thing that was at work in the Babylonians. This same sin is at work in much of the world today as everywhere you look a man is measured by what he has or what he does. God looks after the humble (which is the opposite of pride) as they trust in Him and not their own efforts.
Truly, wine is treacherous; the arrogant will not live at peace but keeps expanding his desires like Sh'ol; like death, he can never be satisfied; he keeps collecting all the nations for himself, rallying to himself all the peoples.
Pride opens the door to other sin as we see here. Because of that pride, the Babylonians lived it up with wine and constantly wanted more and more territory. The same is true today as many think so highly of themselves that they don't believe that they will ever have to answer to anyone else for their actions. We see our fellow man grabbing for more and more of the things of this world as the system rewards those who do so but judgment is coming as we see in Revelation 18.
Won't all these take up taunting him and say about him, in mocking riddles, 'Woe to him who amasses other people's wealth! how long must it go on? and to him who adds to himself the weight of goods taken in pledge! Won't your own creditors suddenly stand, won't those who make you tremble wake up? You will become their spoil.
There is a saying that goes something like: Watch how you climb the ladder of success because you will pass those you crawl over on the way back down. This passage describes the same thing, in that, it talks of the fact that the people that the Babylonians had treated so badly were now going to celebrate the downfall of the Babylonians.
Because you plundered many nations, all the rest of the peoples will plunder you; because of the bloodshed and violence done to the land, the city and all who live there.
There are two reactions that man can have to fear. The first is to cower down and submit; the second is to stand and fight until the end. This verse describes the latter as the Babylonians were so feared that the people who had not been conquered banded together against them. Fear of anything or anyone but God is not of God and therefore has no place in the lives of His people. If you struggle with fear, then, choose now whether you will cower down and submit to the schemes of the evil one or will stand and fight with the armor that God has provided (see Ephesians 6).
"'Woe to him who seeks unjust gain for his household, putting his nest on the heights, in order to be safe from the reach of harm.
This verse speaks to the selfishness of the Babylonians and the fact that they did not care about anyone else. It seems that it could be a warning to our generation as well in that everyone is out for themselves today. Many know that the times are bad and going to get worse so they grab all they can and build themselves a place that they think will shelter them from the evil days that are to come. This can be expected of those that do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior but many Christians are doing the same things. Our answer to the tough times that are to come is our faith in Jesus Christ not a bunker or a house on a hill.
By scheming to destroy many peoples, you have brought shame to your house and forfeited your life. For the very stones will cry out from the wall, and a beam in the framework will answer them.
The Babylonians built a huge empire by attacking other peoples but they did not realize that in the process they were building up God's wrath against them. The very buildings that they built testified against them. The same is true of many in our day in that they build mansions for themselves here on earth and even justify it by calling it a blessing from God. The reality is that the very mansion that they build testifies to their lack of concern (love) for their fellow man.
"'Woe to him who builds a city with blood and founds a town on injustice, so that people toil for what will be burned up, and nations exhaust themselves to no purpose. Isn't all this from ADONAI-Tzva'ot?
The Babylonians built up a great empire by killing and conquering but, now, God is promising an end to their reign. It is a reminder to those of today, as well, that the things that we spend so much time on in this world really do not mean anything in the end. At the time of judgment, fire will be used and the things that have been built here on earth will all be burned up.
For the earth will be as full of the knowledge of ADONAI's glory as water covering the sea.
In judging the Babylonians, others were able to see the hand of a holy God in action. The same thing is coming in the last days as Jesus returns in judgment and all the earth will come face to face with the fact that God is holy and in charge (see Revelation 19).
"'Woe to him who has his neighbor drink, adds his own poison and makes him drunk, in order to see him naked. You are filled with shame, not glory. You, drink too, and stagger! The cup of ADONAI's right hand will be turned against you; your shame will exceed your glory.
It seems that this passage is even more relevant today than it was at the time it was written. In the name of business and commerce, many are peddling alcohol, drugs, etc. to their fellow man but this passage speaks to the judgment that is coming for them. For us who are in Christ, we have the freedom to do all things but we have the responsibility of being a good example for Christ (1 Corinthians 10:23-33). We are not to cause our weaker brothers and sisters to stumble and that is just what many of these peddlers are doing today.
For the violence done to the L'vanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the wild animals will terrify you; because of the bloodshed and violence done to the land, the city and all who live there.'"
As Habakkuk waits, the Lord lists the charges against the Babylonians. They simply showed no mercy to men or animal and God says that the blood is on their heads. We notice that they are called to account for their actions against the animals and the land as well as for the blood of the people. The same thing goes for each of us that are in Christ as we will give an account of what we have done with the things that God has placed under our control such as a home, a car, money, etc.
What good is an idol, once its maker has shaped it, a cast metal image and a teacher of lies, that its maker puts his trust in it, and goes on making non-gods, unable to talk?
When this judgment comes, what good are the things that man has created and placed their trust in? The great society that the Babylonians had built had no power to stand against God. The same is true for us today, in that, many are placing their trust and hope in things of this earth and the rulers of this earth. When things get difficult, those things and those leaders will let them down just as it happened with the Babylonians.
Woe to him who tells a piece of wood, "Wake up!" or a speechless stone, "Rouse yourself!" Can this thing teach? Why, it's covered with gold and silver, without the slightest breath in it!
Here, now, is the fourth time that God has declared "woe" on the Babylonians for their idolatry. We remember that, throughout the Bible, the number four is associated with trials and testing and here the court session is coming to a close as The Judge has made His decision. They have called out to the things that they have made and found no answer. We have to ask ourselves whether we are calling out (trusting) in the things we have made/done or God. We must remember that God's answer is always faith in Him and anything less is idolatry.
But ADONAI is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
Whether we acknowledge Him now or not, God is still on the throne and in charge. As with the Babylonians, all people will give an account of their lives to God and there will be no reasonable excuses.
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