Habakkuk has asked one question and received God's response. And he's asked a second question and is standing guard waiting and watching to hear God's second response.
I will stand on my guard post
And station myself on the rampart;
And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
And how I may reply when I am reproved. Habakkuk 2:1
Habakkuk's confidence in the Lord is not in vain.
Take some time to consider your relationship with the Lord. Can you think of a time when you sincerely had a question for Him. You knew you weren't entitled to an answer; but you cried out to Him anyway. Longing for an answer- knowing He is good; but needing help understanding why things are going a certain way? Maybe that time is now?
The Lord answers, starting in verse 2.
Write your vision in stone. It's not here yet; but it is coming. And those who read it should run!
Notice He doesn't leave any caveats. This thing is coming and it will not fail, but it will be in My time. Not great news when the thing coming is the Chaldean army!
Verse 4 starts a new paragraph and a more specific topic. The Lord speak of "the proud one", probably Nebuchadnezzar, the leader of the Chaldeans (Babylon). The Lord states that this leaders heart is not right, but the righteous ones of Judah will live because of the steadfastness of this leader. We know from the events in Daniel that the Lord has taken an active role in shaping Nebuchadnezzar so that this man will do exactly what the Lord wants but will not do what he shouldn't. We have to remember that the Lord is active well outside our field of vision; but we can trust that He is sovereign and taking care of business that we have no clue about and no control over.
My Ryrie Study Bible has a footnote that sent me to Hebrews 10:38 where Paul, or whoever wrote it, quotes this verse--meaning that the righteous can have faith and be saved! Amen!
Verse 5 closes out that paragraph by emphasizing that the Chaldeans are haughty and drunk with an appetite for conquering and death.
In response to this coming destruction, the people of Judah will:
- taunt and mock the enemy
- take advantage of his fellow man by trying increase his wealth in the crisis
- try to collect debts in the crisis
- try to plunder among their own
- loot and be looted
They brought violence on others and now it will be brought on them.
This addresses Habakkuk's claim against fairness. The Lord makes it clear that this coming calamity is fair. It will reach the wicked. And the wicked will prove themselves scavengers of their own people even amid the chaos and crisis. He goes on to describe the "woes" for this terrible and just cause and effect in verses 9-17:
- Some will use their house for selfish gain; thinking it makes them safe.
- Some will use violence and bloodshed as the basis of their labors. It almost sounds like slavery or indentured servants abused in labor for evil people. God emphasizes that God will bring knowledge to these evil doers. That a lesson we should all pray to miss out on. It sounds like He is saying, "mess around and find out!"
- Woe to those who get their neighbors drunk so they can take advantage sexually. To this, God promises to expose these perverts in a manner similar to what they dish out. Again, answering Habakkuk's cry for justice among the evil of his own people.
- There is also a woe for those who abused God's creation. It sounds like Judah cut down all of the forest of Lebanon and their cattle. Now Judah will experience the same. All of creation shows God's glory. It's not just our sins to other humans, but also any callous waste or destruction shows a lack of awe for the God who provided all of the things found on earth.
This chapter ends, in verses 18-20, with a reminder of why this coming calamity has been well-earned and a long time coming. Verse 18 asks us to consider how helpful our idols will be in the coming storm. What will our handiwork profit us when the enemy is upon us? Will it save us? Will is cure us? Porvide for us? Protect us? Verse 19 demonstrates the vanity of screaming out our wooden idols to wake up and do something when we are in need. Even those idols of great value, covered gold and silver still have no breathe and no ability to save us.
"But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all of the earth be silent before Him." Habakkuk 2:20
I love that, even though it makes me shiver in awe and fear.
God. Is. On. His. Throne.
Full stop.
We can fuss and fight; cry and wail. He'll listen. And sometimes He'll even explain Himself. But at the end of the day His answer is...I am. I am on My throne. I am God and you are not.
And He's proven that He is good. He is Just. He is Holy.
That's the real answer.
Amen.