The Lord answered the prophet’s question with a vision
Write the Vision, and make it plain for those who read it.
In the first chapter of Habakkuk, we read about the prophet’s frustration with the declining spiritual condition of the Nation of Judah. There were corrupt judicial systems, increasing levels of violence, and the general acceptance of immoral behavior over sound moral choices.
There were declining numbers of citizens who missed the ‘good old days’ when morality and equal justice under the law, were considered virtues. The similarities of his culture with our cultures today are striking but not surprising. It’s a human thing. We tend to mess up what we touch.
A vision of the future
Habakkuk made a simple request to the Lord in the first chapter. I’ll paraphrase it. Help, please! Can you do something about this? God gave him an answer, but Habakkuk didn’t like what he heard. The Lord was sending Babylon to completely wipe out the country. That was not the answer he was looking for.
In this chapter, we are given more details about why God answered in the way he did. The Lord gives a vision and tells the prophet to write it down. In it, we see two spectacular verses and one passage that discusses vulgar nakedness that I will choose to gloss over because it’s rather embarrassing to discuss even in this format.
https://thewritelife.tech/2017/11/08/psalm-four-hear-prayer-o-god-now-let-me-rest-in-sleep/
Habakkuk 2:1 The Prophet waits for God’s answer
“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.”
We see a wise and humble response in this opening verse. He doesn’t like the answer, in fact, we could say he was dumbfounded by it. But, all of us can and should learn from his good example. We can’t change the mind of the Lord. He does know best though we often object to that notion. When we show patience, listen to the Lord, and watch for the fruit of his decisions, our faith will grow.
Pulpit Commentary
Habakkuk speaks with himself, and, mindful of his office, he waits for the communication which he confidently ex-poets (Jeremiah 33:3). I will stand upon my watch(Isaiah 21:6, 8). As a watchman goes to a high place to see all around and discern what is coming, so the prophet places himself apart from men, perhaps in some secluded height, in readiness to hear the voice of God and seize the meaning of the coming event. Prophets are called “Watchmen” (comp. Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:2, 6; Micah 7:4).
Habakkuk 2:2 Make the vision plain
“And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it.”
The Lord answered by giving the prophet a vision. Now, he gives him important instructions. “Write the vision,” write it clearly, so that others will understand it and be able to “run” with the message to alert others of the impending doom.
Many people run with unclear messages regarding God’s intentions. Over the last two thousand years, numerous individuals and groups have claimed ‘special knowledge from God’ about impending doom. Virtually all of them have been proven wrong. Today, across the internet, hysterical claims are put forward on a daily basis. We need more prophets like Habakkuk. He received a genuine vision from God, he wrote it down and began to share it without the hysteria. (here’s an example of that hysteria.)
More articles of God’s vision to his prophets.
The nations turn on Satan’s rule
The glory of the kingdoms fades.
Habakkuk 2:3 Wait for the vision, it will surely come
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
The vision was “for an appointed time.” This is a big problem for ‘prophecy-minded’ people today. So many want things to happen yesterday if not sooner. We cannot hurry up the plans of God. He told Habakkuk that time would have to run its course before things happened. “Wait for it,” he said but trust that it will indeed happen.
The wording in this verse appears confusing. He says the vision will not tarry and then it will. With a little digging and some common sense, we can come to an understanding of the meaning. It will not happen right away, so it will tarry in that sense. It will happen eventually so despite the delay you can have faith that the vision will take place as the Lord declared.
Habakkuk 2:4 The just shall live by faith
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”
Waiting for the vision to transpire would take faith. The prophet would have to endure a continued decline and spiritual decay of the nation. He also would have to see the developing threat of Babylon, knowing full well, the Lord assured him they would eventually destroy the Jewish nation. It required strong faith to believe this was best for the nation.
This verse is the backbone of the Christian Reformation. “The just shall live by faith.” That truth sent shockwaves through the Apostle Paul, Martin Luther, and the Catholic Church.
Pulpit Commentary
The great principle is taught that the proud shall not continue, but the just shall live by faith. The prophecy commences with a fundamental thought, applicable to all God’s dealings with man. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him; literally, behold, puffed up, his soul is not upright in him. This is a description of an evil character (especially of the Chaldean) in opposition to the character delineated in the following hemistich. One who is proud, presumptuous, thinks much of himself, despising others, and is not straightforward and upright before God, shall not live, shall not have a happy, safe life; he carries in himself the seeds of destruction.
Habakkuk 2:5 Hell never has enough
“Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, So that he does not stay at home. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, And he is like death, never satisfied. He also gathers to himself all nations And collects to himself all peoples.”
Proud men and women are easily betrayed by alcohol. We are well aware of the adverse effects of excessive drinking. The Bible has numerous passages warning of the dangers of its abuse. But, the Bible does not say drinking alcohol is wrong or sinful. There is a strong enticing deception that comes with alcohol or drug use. It can steal sound thinking from otherwise intelligent people. This verse adds a sobering context to the subject. (The pun is intended.) When we use things that alter our capacity to think clearly, we often end up making choices we regret. Sheol, or Hell, is never satisfied with its number of inhabitants. There’s always room for more. One too many drinks can lead to a drive off a cliff and a quick entrance into Sheol. There’s just not a nice way to say that.
Habakkuk 2:6 The Babylonians receive a taste of their own medicine
“Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him, Even mockery and insinuations against him And say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his– For how long– And makes himself rich with loans?’”
As the prophet continues to write, he turns his attention to the Babylonians. God will use that nation to attack Israel, but they will not escape God’s hand of judgment either. They take what isn’t theirs, and make themselves rich by stealing from those less fortunate. God keeps a record of such abuse.
Habakkuk 2:7 The plunderer will be plundered
“Will, not your creditors rise up suddenly, And those who collect from you awaken? Indeed, you will become plunder for them.”
One day, Babylon would have to pay for their sins against others. They plundered every nation they could reach with their military power. Eventually, the plunderer would be plundered. God’s justice is always fair, though we often have to wait long to see those results.
I like the following translation, it makes it clear what the vision portends for Babylon.
New Living Translation
Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.
Habakkuk 2:8 A vision of Revenge for the blood and violence
“Because you have spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil you; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.”
The people who suffered under the brutal but brief reign of Babylon retaliated against them. Blood for blood, brutality for brutality, has been a time-honored tradition among tribes and nations for centuries.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 8. – The law of retaliation is asserted. All the remnant of the people (peoples) shall spoil thee. The remnant of the nations subjugated and plundered by the Chaldeans shall rise up against them. The downfall of Babylon was brought about chiefly by the combined forces of Media, Persia, and Elam (Isaiah 21:2; Jeremiah 1:9, etc.); and it is certain that Nebuchadnezzar, at one period of his reign, conquered and annexed Elam; and there is every probability that he warred successfully against Media (see Jeremiah 25:9, 25;
Habakkuk 2:9 Don’t try to find an escape…there is none
“Woe to him that covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!”
In every ‘successful society,’ there are those in it who rise far above the common person. We can call them the rich or the elites if we like. Whatever or whoever they are, they always see themselves as above the fray. They find ways to exclude themselves from the unfortunate issues of life like poverty, hunger, or inconvenience of any kind. In this verse we see those elites looking for a way to escape the unfortunate time of judgment. They set their “nest on high,” to escape the “power of evil.” God said the vision would be delayed but it would be fulfilled. This meant that those who tried to escape would not succeed.
Habakkuk 2:10 You have sinned against your own soul
“You have consulted shame to your house by cutting off many people, and have sinned against your soul.”
The things people do against others will turn back onto themselves. When people have money, power, or notoriety and use it to take advantage of others, they store up an increasing list of things against their own souls. It all comes back on them.
Habakkuk 2:11 In the Vision, No place to hide
“For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.”
If someone has something to hide in their personal life, this verse could make them very nervous. We all have things we don’t want others to know. I once stole some gum from somebody. OH, no. I just revealed my deep secret. 🙂
But seriously, we all have skeletons, but this verse is directed at the proud who don’t think they can be touched by God’s hand of judgment. They are wrong.
Habakkuk 2:12 Woe to the bloody conquerors
“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed And founds a town with violence!”
The Babylonians used slave laborers to build their cities and monuments. They conquered other cities and nations and expanded their empire and reach and left tens of thousands dead in the wake of their conquests.
Pulpit Commentary
Verses 12-14. – § 10. The third woe: for founding their power in blood and devastation. Verse 12. – The Chaldeans are denounced for the use they make of the wealth acquired by violence. That buildeth a town with blood (Micah 3:19, where see note). They used the riches gained by the murder of conquered nations in enlarging and beautifying their own city. By iniquity. To get means for these buildings, and to carry on their construction, they used injustice and tyranny of every kind. That mercy was not an attribute of Nebuchadnezzar we learn from Daniel’s advice to him (Daniel 4:27)
Habakkuk 2:13 People strove to build a vain Empire
“Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labor in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?”
The slaves labored to build Babylon’s empire. As the building and expansion continued, God claims they built it in vain and essentially added fuel to the fire of their eventual judgment.
Habakkuk 2:14 The Knowledge and vision of God’s glory will cover the earth.
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
Beneath the earth’s surface there lies buried many centuries of civilizations that strove for greatness. They strove for greatness, but now they lie in the dustbin of history, and their former glory is only found in history books or artifacts on museum shelves and in displays.
God’s glory will reign supreme at the appointed time. The vision will not tarry forever. There will be unexpected delays. Oh, how we hate to hear that sentence. It has been a long delay so far, but the knowledge of God’s glory will cover the earth. Today, there is increasing disdain for the knowledge of God. He will have the last say in the matter. In the future, all who live on the earth will know and believe in God.
That’s one of the most outlandish things the Bible suggests. Wait for it…it will happen.
Habakkuk 2:15 Drunkenness and naked shame
“Woe unto him that gives his neighbor drink, that puts the bottle to him and makes him drunk also, that you may look on their nakedness.”
This verse needs no explanation so I won’t bother to give it any.
Habakkuk 2:16 Disgrace and shame
“You will be filled with disgrace rather than honor. Now you yourself drink and expose your own nakedness. The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, And utter disgrace will come upon your glory.”
This verse is even a little more down and dirty into the naked shame category. The real meaning of the verse is obscure in most Bible translations. I don’t want to get into that here so I’ll leave it at that.
Habakkuk 2:17 What happened in Lebanon will happen to you
“For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, And the devastation of its beasts by which you terrified them, Because of human bloodshed and violence done to the land, To the town and all its inhabitants.”
There is debate among scholars on this reference to Lebanon. Some say it refers to the wood used to build the temple in Jerusalem. The leaders of Lebanon made an agreement with King Solomon to provide cedarwood to help build the temple.
Other scholars say the meaning is more simple. Babylon wiped out Lebanon. The nation of Judah would get the same treatment. I prefer the second suggestion. It fits the context better. Context is always one of the most important factors when considering the meaning of a passage.
Habakkuk 2:18 What good are your idols?
“What profit comes from the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?”
The vision now covers a familiar topic. Idol worship was a big taboo for the people of Israel. All of the surrounding nations were idol worshippers. All of them. When the Israelites reached out to neighboring countries in peace efforts, they often resorted to accepting idol worship as a means of making peace. Of course, Babylon was a big fan of idols. Their kings even made statues of themselves and demanded worship.
Habakkuk 2:19 Your idols can’t speak or teach.
“Woe unto him that says to the wood, Awake, to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is covered with gold and silver. And there is no breath at all in the midst of it.”
Idols are a really stupid Idea. I apologize to any idol worshippers reading this article. But really, they carve out an idol from wood or stone and then somebody is going to bow down to it and ask it to make it rain Okay, if that makes sense to you I won’t judge you. But God will because the vision will not tarry, though it might tarry for just a little bit.
Habakkuk 2:20 A vision of the Lord sitting in his temple
“But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”
And here is the capper for the whole story. In the end, all the efforts of mankind to push aside God will be to no avail. It won’t do any good. The small empires or kingdoms will all come to nothing and God will reign supreme. As Habakkuk modeled for us, we should sit quietly and silently before God.
Worship only Him.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 20. – The prophet contrasts the majesty of Jehovah with these dumb and lifeless idols. His holy temple. Not the shrine at Jerusalem, but heaven itself (see Psalm 11:4, and note on Micah 1:2). Let all the earth keep silence before him. Like subjects in the presence of their king, awaiting his judgment and the issue to which all these things tend (comp. ver. 14; Psalm 76:8, etc.; Zephaniah 1:7; Zechariah 2:13). Septuagint, Αὀλαβείσθω ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, κ.τ.λ, “Let all the earth fear before him.”
Let me know what you think.