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Habakkuk 2

1 - I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
2 - The LORD answered me, "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it.
3 - For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won't prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won't delay.
4 - Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.
5 - Yes, moreover, wine is treacherous. A haughty man who doesn't stay at home, who enlarges his desire as Sheol, and he is like death, and can't be satisfied, but gathers to himself all nations, and heaps to himself all peoples.
6 - Won't all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, 'Woe to him who increases that which is not his, and who enriches himself by extortion! How long?'
7 - Won't your debtors rise up suddenly, and wake up those who make you tremble, and you will be their victim?
8 - Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you, because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it.
9 - Woe to him who gets 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 - You have devised shame to your house, by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your soul.
11 - For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it.
12 - Woe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity!
13 - Behold, isn't it of the LORD of Hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
14 - For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of The LORD's glory, as the waters cover the sea.
15 - "Woe to him who gives his neighbor drink, pouring your inflaming wine until they are drunk, so that you may gaze at their naked bodies!
16 - You are filled with shame, and not glory. You will also drink, and be exposed! The cup of The LORD's right hand will come around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.
17 - For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals, which made them afraid; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them.
18 - "What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols?
19 - Woe to him who says to the wood, 'Awake!' or to the mute stone, 'Arise!' Shall this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all within it.
20 - But the LORD is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!"

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Habakkuk Images and Notes

The Book of Habakkuk

Habakkuk 1:13 - [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?

Habakkuk 2:4 - Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 3:16-19 - When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither [shall] fruit [be] in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and [there shall be] no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' [feet], and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

The Old Testament - A Brief Overview

Bible Survey - Habakkuk
Hebrew Name - Chavaquq "Embrace"
Greek Name - Habakkouk (Greek form of the Hebrew)
Author - Habakkuk (According to Tradition)
Date - 626 BC Approximately
Theme - The Judgement of the Babylonians
Types and Shadows - In Habakkuk Jesus will judge the oppressors

Summary of The Book of Habakkuk

The prophet Habakkuk asked God two questions: (1) Why would you allow so much  corruption to continue in the land of Judah for so long without being punished?  God told Habakkuk that he was going to do something spectacular, He was raising up the cruel and violent Babylonians to come and crush the land of Judah. (2) Why would a holy God allow such a wicked people as the Babylonians to come and ravage the land of Judah whom He loves? God told Habakkuk that the Babylonians are fearless and determined and they scoff at Kings, and they would become his instrument of judgment because of the land of Judah's wickedness for they had forsaken God. But the mighty Babylonians would have a day of judgment coming upon themselves as well. Habakkuk also gave hope to God's people of a future glory where the "earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). - The above text is © Rusty Russell - Bible History Online and must be sourced for use on a website.

There is little known about the man  Habakkuk, he began to prophesy around the same time as Jeremiah in the latter part of the seventh century BC. This was a time after the northern kingdom of Israel have fallen, and only the southern kingdom of Judah remained. They had their moments of glory yet their disobedience was uncurable, and the Babylonians were on the rise.

Outline of the Book of Habakkuk

Habakkuk makes complaints against God and God's answers to these complaints. Habakkuk exemplifies a great faith and a high conception of God, but he is perplexed because events have not taken the course which he had desired.

The first complaint which he brings is in Habakkuk 1:2-4 and he says that his preaching to the people has not resulted in repentance on their part: God's answer to this is that he is raising up the Chaldeans to punish the Jews for their disobedience (Habakkuk 1:5-11). This leads Habakkuk to his second complaint - Why would God punish His own people at the hand of a nation which is even more wicked and unholy than that which is being punished? (Habakkuk 1:12-2:1). God then assures Habakkuk that the Chaldeans are not to go without punishment and that unwavering faith on the part of the Jews will ultimately be rewarded (Habakkuk 2:2-4). Habakkuk 2:5-20 contains a condemnation and threat of punishment for aggression, violence, and idolatry. The final chapter of the book is a song of praise of God and His judgment, exemplifying belief in the principle set out in Habakkuk 2:4, "the just shall live by his faith."

The First Day. Light.

Habakkuk Resources

The Divided Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Southern Kingdom of Judah
The Assyrian Captivity
The Babylonian Captivity
The Return From Babylon
The Prophets
The Messiah

The Book of Habakkuk

More About the Book of Habakkuk
Habakkuk in the Picture Study Bible
Chart of the Prophets of Israel and Judah
Timeline of the Ancient World
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