Habakkuk Chapter 1 Help from the Book of Habakkuk

Habakkuk 1: [1] The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. [2] O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! [3] Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. [4] Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

1) The Record of Habakkuk (1-4)

The Prophet Habakkuk ministered to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

Habakkuk served during the days of King Josiah, King Jehoahaz and King Jehoakim.

Habakkuk writes “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.” A burden is a heavy weight.

Habakkuk is heavily burdened by seeing a world filled with sin and wickedness.

He served when King Josiah and Judah served the LORD, but now the nation had turned their back on GOD.

Now, the prophet Habakkuk sees a world where the good suffer evil and the evil rejoice in prosperity.

Let’s study Judah’s history. It tells of a great king named Hezekiah and GOD blessed the kingdom greatly.

Then his son Manasseh took over and had a 55 year reign of wickedness. (2 Kings 21:1-9)

2 Kings 21:10-16

[10] And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,
[11] Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:
[12] Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.
[13] And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.
[14] And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;
[15] Because they have done that which was evil in my sight,and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.
[16] Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

When King Manasseh died, his son Amon reigned for 2 years but he was assassinated.

Amon’s son Josiah began to reign at the age of 8. He brought a great reform to Judah.

King Josiah brings a return to the Word of GOD, a destruction of false altars & cleansing of the kingdom.

2 Kings 23:1-3, 24-25

[1] And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.
[2] And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.
[3] And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

[24] Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
[25] And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

Nevertheless, the judgment of GOD was still pending for the sins of Manasseh.

2Kings 23:26

[26] Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

King Josiah was killed in battle and his son Jehoahaz reigned 3 months until Pharaoh bound & killed him.

Then the brother of Jehoahaz was made king, his name was Jehoakim and he was evil.

Habakkuk ministered during the reforms of Josiah and during the following days of sin and corruption.

Habakkuk is burdened over the sins of a nation.

Habakkuk is also burdened because he is shown the future as GOD would judge the sins of the kingdom of Judah.

In verse 2, Habakkuk knowing of the glory days, cried out to GOD for a revival.

Yet it seemed as if heaven was brass and GOD remained silent.

Habakkuk complained “Lord will you not hear, will you not spare us!”

The name Habakkuk means “to embrace” or “to cleave.” Habakkuk is clinging to hope for a revival.

In verse 3, Habakkuk asked “Why?, Why as we pray do you allow this iniquity to continue?”

There is iniquity abounding. Iniquity is great injustice, extreme immorality, vanity and unrighteousness.

There is grievance which is sorrow caused by extreme troubles on every hand.

There is spoiling which is ruin and destruction caused by the havoc of sin.

There is violence which is forceful cruelty and criminal activity.

There are those who raise up strife. Strife is controversy and quarreling continually.

There are those who raise up contention which is endless discord.

In verse 4, Habakkuk says that the law of the land is not obeyed and seems powerless to stop wickedness.

It is as if judgment or justice never is done and the nation is left wallowing in sin.

Habakkuk wonders how GOD can just sit back and do nothing to stop the evil of the day.

Habakkuk 1:[5] Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. [6] For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. [7] They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. [8] Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. [9] They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. [10] And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. [11] Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.

2) The Reproof of Habakkuk 5-11

Suddenly, GOD, who has been silently listening and observing, gives His answer.

In verse 5, GOD would have Habakkuk to pay close attention and watch the heathen nations.

GOD wants Habakkuk to open his eyes and watch the activities of the surrounding nations.

GOD says “I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe.”

Many think GOD is doing something “too good to be true” but He is allowing something “too bad to be true.”

If Habakkuk will pay attention, GOD is doing something about sin.

He has already had Israel, the N. Kingdom taken away into captivity.

He has allowed Egypt and Assyria (Nineveh) to be crushed by the powerful nation of Babylon.

In verse 6, GOD says that He will raise those Chaldeans (Babylonians) up against Judah.

GOD will use the Babylonians as His instrument of judgment for the sins of Judah.

Babylon is a “bitter and hasty” nation, which means they are cruel without mercy and quick to action.

Babylon will invade Judah by marching into the land and possessing the very homes of Judah.

In verse 7, GOD says Habakkuk you are wondering about judgment (vs4) well I am sending it.

Babylon is terrible and dreadful and judgment shall come through them.

Babylon is a people that only observe the law of their own will.

Babylon is a people who are filled with pride and expect that all nations must reverence them.

In verse 8, GOD says the Babylonians are like ravenous animals and ferocious birds.

The hunger for power will cause the Babylonians to be swift and fierce.

In verse 9, GOD says the Babylonians are a formidable army that cannot be stopped.

The Babylonians will take multitudes into captivity.

In verse 10, GOD says the Babylonians will laugh at the kings and powers of Judah.

Babylon will put any resistance to a quick end.

In verse 11, GOD says after Judah is conquered by Babylon then Babylon will give credit to false gods.

Daniel 4:30 tells us Babylon’s King, King Nebuchadnezzar was driven to insanity because of pride.

Daniel 4:30

[30] The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
[31] While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

This condition lasted 7 years and then King Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses & gave glory to GOD!

Daniel 4:36, 37

[36] At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

[37] Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Habakkuk 1:[12] Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. [13] Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth 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] They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. [16] Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. [17] Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

3) The Response of Habakkuk 12-17

Habakkuk says “Lord, you are my GOD and you are the everlasting GOD.”

Habakkuk is stating that there is only one GOD and He is what Habakkuk and Judah will need.

In verse 12, Habakkuk says “we shall not die.”

In this statement Habakkuk is trusting GOD who is faithful to all His promises.

GOD had promised that the Messiah would come and Habakkuk knew that GOD would keep His word.

Habakkuk knows that Judah will not utterly be destroyed because GOD is faithful to His Word.

Habakkuk realizes that GOD has ordained the Babylonians to bring judgment to Judah.

This judgment would surely be a corrective action to Judah.

In verse 13, Habakkuk confesses that these corrective actions bring more questions.

Habakkuk knows the Holy character of GOD.

GOD cannot look upon iniquity!

This being true, how can GOD judge the sin of Judah by allowing a more sinful people to take over?

How can GOD possibly allow chastisement that would bring Him glory through a people that blaspheme?

Habakkuk knew Judah had sinned terribly, but how could GOD use a nation more wicked to chastise Judah?

Habakkuk knew judgment was coming but now complains about the agent of judgment, Babylon.

Many of us complain about the sad status of present day America. We know that judgment is coming.

What if GOD should allow a communist invasion to fix the problem?

Then would we complain further by saying the cure is worse than the disease?

In verses 14 through 16, Habakkuk questions how can GOD allow the cruel Babylonians to conquer?

Habakkuk compares Judah to fish and Babylon to one who catches fish with a hook or a net.

Judah as the fish, is powerless against the net or the hook.

Like a fisherman, the Babylonians have no regard for the life of their prey and brag about their catch.

The Babylonians drag away their victims into captivity.

In verse 17, Habakkuk continues his line of questioning.

Shall the Babylonians be allowed to fill and empty their nets continually?

Will the LORD allow Babylon to slay all the kingdoms of the world?

How long will this continue? How long shall the wicked prosper?

* King Manasseh was sent into captivity some 40 years prior as a foreshadowing of Judah’s captivity.

Then Manasseh called on the LORD and was delivered as a foreshadowing of Judah’s release.

2 Chr 33:9-13

[9] So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
[10] And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
[11] Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
[12] And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
[13] And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

Habakkuk 2: [1] 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.

4) The Resolution of Habakkuk 2:1

Habakkuk will stand ready and await GOD’s answer to his questions.

Habakkuk expects that GOD will answer.

Then Habakkuk expects that GOD will send reproof to Habakkuk for corrective purposes.

Habakkuk is not demanding an answer, he is expecting an answer.

Habakkuk is not questioning GOD because Habakkuk thinks GOD is wrong.

Habakkuk is questioning because Habakkuk does not understand and wants GOD to correct Habakkuk’s thinking.

Concl: Many may wonder why the Lord has not done something about the evil of our day.

Friend GOD has done something about sin.

GOD sent His son to bear my sin, and made him to sin for me, that I might be saved.

2 Cor 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of

God in him.

Therefore GOD allowed a much worse thing to bring correction for my sin.

It was the only way!

It was just right!

Bless His good way!