F2 A1 1:1-2:20. The Burden of Habakkuk.
A2 3:1-19. The Prayer of Habakkuk.
Of Habakkuk [pronounced Habak'-kuk] nothing can be really known besides what he says of himself. From this it is clear that he lived in evil days, and was perplexed with the silence and forbearance of a holy God in permitting the evil to continue. Cp. Ps. 73.
His prophecy takes the form of a colloquy with Yahaveh; and Yahaveh answers his cry by revealing the fact that a time will come when the evil will be visited upon Judah by the Chaldean successors of Assyria [1:6], and the Dispersion of Judah [1:5-11].
The prayer in ch.3 is very important as being a summary of Yahaveh's dealings with His People from the passage of the Red Sea to the prophet's own time.
The prayer is important also, as being the model [together with Isa. 38], outside the Psalter, of the proper construction of a Psalm, with (1) the super-scription, (2) the text, and (3) the sub-scription; and also, of the meaning and use of the word "Selah".
The prophecy is undated; but we have a clue afforded in 1:5,6. It is given to Habakkuk before the fall of Nineveh, which placed Babylon at the head of the Gentile world. According to traditional or "received" dating, this took place in 625 B.C., but, according to the chronology given in the details of the Prophets and Kings, it was 515 B.C., or 110 years later.
If the hints given in 1:3,11 are to be accepted on the above lines, we may date the prophecy of Habakkuk as being given [as a whole], or at any rate commenced, in the year with which Jeremiah begins: viz. in the 13th year of Josiah, 518 B.C., i.e. 3 years before the destruction of Nineveh.
In this case, supporting one among those Habakkuk addressed to be 20 years old, he would be 42 in Jehoiakim's 4th year and Nebuchadnezzar's 1st. At the carrying away to Babylon he would be 49; and at the destruction of Jerusalem he would be 61.
A1 A 1:1-4. The prophet's cry.
B 1:5-11. Yahaveh's answer.
A 1:12-2:1. The prophet's cry.
A 2:2-20. Yahaveh's answer.
Habakkuk = to embrace [embrace the truth]. Describes the destruction of Nineveh, a type of Babylon. Its an example of what is going to happen at the appointed time. See 1 Cor. 10:11. God never changes. There is nothing new under the sun.
518 B.C.
Habakkuk 1)
1 The burden (see Nah. 1:1) which he saw, Habakkuk the prophet.
2 O LORD (Yahaveh), how long shall I cry for help in distress (see Pss. 18:6,41; 22:24. Cp. Job 19:7. Jer. 20:8. Showing that the cry is not personal, but made in the name of all who suffered from the evil times. Dignity lost, no respect, confrontation), and You will not hear! even cry with a loud voice (implying the complaint) to You of violence, and You will not save! (How long until You return?)
3 Why do You show me trouble (having special reference to the nature and consequence of evil-doing), and cause me to behold oppression (or injustice)? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. (Children will even be involved in violence. These will always be with us until the appointed time. Learn how to deal with them. Precedents grow more lax. Justice is never done. Church law superseding God's Law.)
4 Therefore the law is benumbed, and justice does never go forth (plea bargain instead of strict law. The use the law of precedent): for a lawless one (looking forward from the Chaldeans to the future Antichrist) do compass about the just one; therefore perverted judgment goes forth.
5 Look you (for emphasis, introducing the change to Yehovah's answer) among the nations, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which you will not believe, though it be told you. (Quoted in Acts 13:41. Cp. Isa. 29:14)
6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans (Babylonians. Ref. Deut. 28:49,50 ), that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling-places that are not his. (Confusion and deception shall cover the whole earth like never before.)
7 It is terrible and dreadful: his judgment and his elevation shall proceed of itself. (Cp. Isa. 10:8-11,13,14. They do as they wish.)
8 His horses (put for power, always out for the kill, the media) also are swifter than the leopards, and are keener than the evening wolves: and his horsemen shall spread themselves, and his horsemen shall come from far; it shall fly as the eagle that hastes to eat. (Ref. Deut. 28:49,50. Cp. Ezek. 38,30.)
9 It shall come all for violence (i.e. not for conquest, but for destruction): his intent (or eagerness) shall swallow up (as in Job 39) as the Palestine burning east wind (a hot wind) withers up and destroys all green things.
10 And it shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn to it (laugh at your elected officials): it shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap up mounds, and capture it (i.e. every stronghold. Compare GAT., NAFTA.).
11 Then shall his spirit change, and he shall pass through, and offend, imputing this his power to his god. (I.e. his object of worship, false god. See 2:1-3)
12 Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? (Note the change of subject) we shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them for judgment; and, O Rock (cp. Deut. 32:4,15,18,30. 1 Sam. 2:2. 2 Sam. 23:3. Pss. 18:2,31,46; 19:14,&c.), You have established them for correction. (He begins to remember God's words rather than crying in his soup, or like many today caught up in the evil of today. God told you about the one world system, did you read it?)
13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil (Habakkuk is sort of apologizing), and can not look on perverseness: wherefore look you upon them that deal treacherously, and hold your tongue when a lawless one devour the man that is more righteous than he? (The Antichrist will try to destroy or convert.)
14 And make men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? (They follow anything that tickles the ear. They do not know they have a destiny.)
15 It (the one world system) takes up all of them with the hook, it catches them in his net, and gather them in his fish-net: therefore it rejoices and is glad.
16 Therefore it sacrifices to his net, and burn incense to his fish-net; because by them his portion is fat, and his meat plenteous. (Liberalism of the world, ready to swallow anything. They must believe in something because church has been given a bad reputation. No accident, its real, its been planned to have little fishes swim away from the Word of God. Many times men were lied about to bring down their reputation and character, and they were not strong enough to kick in the teeth the offender, and push them away from them. Liars cannot prevail against the truth.)
17 Shall it therefore empty his net (will it let the fishes go?), and not spare continually to slay the nations? (Not until Christs returns.)