Habakkuk 2

The Lord’s 2nd answer (vs. 2-4)—As noted in the summary of chapter 1, verse 1 of chapter 2 really belongs with the previous division. Habakkuk asks his question, “how can Jehovah use a more wicked people to punish one more righteous?” and then awaits God’s answer. The Lord commands the prophet to “write the vision and make it plain on tablets” (v. 2), for He wants understood by all. Indeed, so “that he may run who reads it”—act on it quickly and surely. What the Lord says will surely come to pass and come soon (v. 3). The answer to Habakkuk’s question, though, is really not given; he learns a far greater lesson—“the just shall live by his faith” (v. 4). “Habakkuk, you let Me take care of it, your responsibility is to trust Me.” There are many, many times in our lives when we do not understand the will of the Lord; His ways are far above ours. We simply must trust in Him to do what is right for us; and if we do, in His infinite wisdom all will work out according to His will and for our good (Romans 8:28).

Five woes against Babylon (vs. 5-20)—Why God will use the more wicked Babylon to punish Judah is not answered, but the Lord does tell Habakkuk that Babylon’s day of doom will surely come. Such a wicked people must also face judgment. Verse 5 introduces the section and provides a partial catalogue of the sins of Babylon: drunkenness, pride, insatiable conquest of other peoples—“he enlarges his desire as hell, and he is like death, and cannot be satisfied.” Hell is never full and death cannot get enough victims—a vivid description of the unquenchable appetite of Babylon for the territory of others. Eventually, however, those same people will taunt and mock Babylon for its own fall (v. 6).

The five woes start in verse 6 and are as follows:

“Woe to him who increases what is not his” (v. 6), i.e., captures and plunders other peoples. Those oppressed will someday “awaken…and you will become their booty” (v. 7).

“Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of disaster” (v. 9). Regardless of where the fortifications were built or how strong they were, there would be no escape (v. 10). Even the stones on the city walls will cry out against Babylon (v. 11).

“Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed” (v. 12). Babylon had done a lot of this, of course. God’s punishment is coming upon them (v. 13), and the news of His vengeance upon Babylon will fill the earth “as the waters cover the sea” (v. 14).

“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor” (v. 15). Babylon was a very debauched, shameless society (vs. 15-16), and “the cup of the LORD'S right hand will be turned against you, and utter shame will be on your glory” (v. 16). The same violence Babylon used to conquer others will be used on her (v. 17).

“Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' To silent stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!'” (v. 19). Idolatry was a sin that plagued nearly all ancient peoples, and Babylon was no different. “The molded image” was “a teacher of lies”; the idols were “mute” and untrustworthy (v. 18). Rather, they should have listened to Jehovah, for “the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him" (v. 20).

Few empires were ever more deserving of punishment than Babylon. But God, in His infinite wisdom and purposes, used these wicked people to punish His own. We must not think that we are safe just because other appear more vile than we.