Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk chapter 2 begins with the prophet Habakkuk standing at a watchtower, having asked God a question and waiting for God’s answer. This chapter can be divided into two parts. From verses 1 to 3, it contains Habakkuk’s attitude of waiting for the response and the scene where God commands him to write down the vision. From verse 4 to the end of verse 20, God’s declarations about the destruction of the wicked, the life of the righteous, and the pronouncement of five woes follow.
1verseI 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.
2verseThe LORD answered me, “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it.
3verseFor 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.
4verseBehold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.
5verseYes, moreover, wine is treacherous: an arrogant man who doesn’t stay at home, who enlarges his desire as Sheol; he is like death and can’t be satisfied, but gathers to himself all nations and heaps to himself all peoples.
6verseWon’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?’
7verseWon’t your debtors rise up suddenly, and wake up those who make you tremble, and you will be their victim?
8verseBecause 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.
9verseWoe 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!
10verseYou have devised shame to your house by cutting off many peoples, and have sinned against your soul.
11verseFor the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it.
12verseWoe to him who builds a town with blood, and establishes a city by iniquity!
13verseBehold, isn’t it from the LORD of Armies that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
14verseFor the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.
15verse“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!
16verseYou 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.
17verseFor the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of the animals will terrify you, because of men’s blood and for the violence done to the land, to every city and to those who dwell in them.
18verse“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?
19verseWoe 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.
20verseBut the LORD is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!”
The Righteous Live by Faith (2:4)
Habakkuk 2:4 is an important verse that influences the whole Old and New Testaments; it says, “The righteous will live by his faith.” This shows the life posture of those who trust God, even when God’s justice and judgment seem to be delayed. At that time, Babylon oppressed the world through pride and violence, but God’s purpose ultimately emphasizes that He gives life to those who live by faith.
The Pronouncement of the Five Woes
- First woe: a warning to those who take what belongs to others unjustly (2:6-8)
- Second woe: those who harm others for unlawful gain (2:9-11)
- Third woe: those who build a city with violence and wickedness (2:12-14)
- Fourth woe: those who lure their neighbor with alcohol to expose their shame (2:15-17)
- Fifth woe: those who make idols and put their trust in them (2:18-20)
These five woes are meant to make us look back not only at Babylon of that time, but also at all the world’s unjust powers, human pride, and lives obsessed with material things and idols.
God’s Sovereignty and Glory in Silence
Verses 14 and 20 of chapter 2 declare that God will ultimately reveal His glory to the entire world, and in the final verse He proclaims, “The LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” This message reminds people of human limitations and the absolute nature of God’s sovereignty. It carries the meaning of waiting quietly under God’s eternal rule, even if forces of evil are present.
Meditation Points
- How is the statement that the righteous live only by faith also a challenge to me today?
- In what concrete ways does my belief that God will surely accomplish justice show itself in my daily life and faith?
- What attitude do I have toward God’s judgment on the world’s injustice and wickedness, and toward waiting in silence?
Try Applying It to Yourself
- When difficulties or injustice appear in life, make an effort to strengthen your trust in God’s timing and ways.
- May it be a time of decision to sincerely examine my heart about misguided values, idols, and pride, and return to God.
- Let us pray that my faith may mature further as I wait quietly before God who seems to be present in silence.
