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Habakkuk, A Prophecy The book of Habakkuk follows a standard route for a minor prophet. The author introduces himself before going on to list the shortcomings of the nation and detailing their punishment and correction. Then there would be an appeal for Israel to reform. The culmination of the book describes an event when Israel would be victorious in battle later and a mention of the kingdom. Less standard for a prophecy is his musical references, and poetic pauses and also less standard the mention of "the just living by faith." Habakkuk was a musician in the temple as well as a prophet. One clue provided for the musical connection is in chapter 3:1 "Shigionoth" which is a musical metre. Its thought he lived at the time of King Jehoiakim one of the last kings of Judah. Only two more would follow before Jerusalem would be destroyed and Zedekiah would be the last king in David’s line. Habakkuk in a little more detail is a three‑chapter prophecy that relates the problems and wrong‑doing in Judah and in consequence, the sending of Babylon to punish and correct Israel, which would lead to the people being taken away into captivity. Habakkuk was distressed. So, he takes to his watchtower and listens. He hears of the crimes and sins of Babylon, which we will try to relate to Gospel age mystic Babylon in Revelation. He then prays for mercy. Then he sees long ahead in time to the final deliverance of Israel. He sees the kingdom and his own resurrection. The Problems in Israel in Habakkuk’s prayer There was a breakdown in the operation of the law. The wicked were flourishing; violence and theft had increased in God’s nation. There was no or little correction. Therefore, Habakkuk cries to God as if asking God why He had not intervened when things were so bad, as if He, God had turned away from Israel. Babylonian Invasion But God had been watching and listening to what was happening among the people, as in previous times in Israel when Israel had done wrong in God’s sight by not keeping the law. He was sending one of their enemies to come and attack them. It might sound harsh, but it was done to correct Israel and bring them back to God. (Hab.1:12) This time it was the Chaldeans, aka the Babylonians, who were raised for this purpose of God. Verses 5‑11 describe the invasion force complete with horses and chariots coming to defeat Judah, the southern kingdom. They would be terrible, dreadful, and fierce coming with great power. The Babylonian army is likened to predatory leopards and wolves. Babylon did overwhelm Judah; the final attack and destruction of The Temple being in 587 BC. But there would be another feature to the military defeats. The later verses describe the people of Judah as fish in comparison to the Babylonians in how easy it would be to capture them, like fishing in a trawler with nets. The Babylonians carried away the people of Judah to Babylon, especially the most royal and accomplished as well as the young hence Daniel and the three Hebrews Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Those four were taken before the fall of Jerusalem. The Babylonians were brutal in their treatment of the Royal family who they either killed or castrated. (2 Kings 20:18). Zedekiah would be taken from Jerusalem to Babylon and his eyes were blinded just after observing his sons being killed for being royal; terrible, dreadful. They had fished until the collapse of the population as if from overfishing. There began the years of desolation of the land of Judah. All appeared hopeless–was that so? Watchtower So, Habakkuk having taken his place on his watchtower listens to understand what, if anything God might tell him. Where did he wait? Albert Hudson suggests he waited, listening in the temple sanctuary. "Yahweh answered." (Hab.2:2 WEB) "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets." (WEB) It indicates that this should be on clay tablets rather than papyrus so that it would last thousands of years. Hence, we have it today. Then God tells Habakkuk when the event will take place. Habakkuk perceives the long length of time until it would finish, but probably not expecting it to be 2,500 years. It is a delay which the KJV describes as "tarrying." There was a great expectation for the coming of Messiah at the time of Jesus’ first advent.600 years later. (Luke 3:15) The disciples were puzzled when Jesus was leaving asking "Are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel." (Acts 1:6 WEB) At our end of the age the Millerites expected the kingdom to be set up in 1843 and then Charles Russell expected it in 1914. In our day many expected the kingdom to be established by now. Faith Then comes one of the famous verses in the whole Bible. The "just shall live by faith." (Hab.2:4) This is quoted by Paul in Rom.1:17 and Gal.3:11. The opening phrase of v.4 (LXX) states "but the arrogant man and the scorner, the boastful man, shall not finish anything..." or in other words "come to nothing." There is a contrast in this verse between the just who are living by faith and those without faith. We are all living by faith. Babylon Then and Now Habakkuk saw a proud, greedy, and powerful one, one ruling an empire of many nations and peoples. Someone like King Nebuchadnezzar, a war leader establishing power and rule through military battles. One who said he had done this by his own power and wealth (Dan.4:30) whereas it was really of God, by permission of God, according to his plans and purposes. This was not so even from a personal sense; countless soldiers, servants, and slaves fought his battles, built his fortresses, walls and palaces. Here are five woes, a taunt song, listing the faults of Babylon:
The first fault is usury; lending at interest often at high interest rates and taking advantage of the poor and needy to accumulate more wealth or property. Babylon was a great centre of trade and commerce on the river Euphrates. It was the sort of circumstances where usury is developed. The problem is intimated in the advice of Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar to escape punishment which was to show mercy to the poor. (Dan.4:27) Clearly the poor and needy in Babylon needed help also we can assume that the King did not act on the advice of Daniel. In the Gospel age now the world economy has never been bigger. Today there are loan sharks who lend to people who cannot use regular sources of borrowing. Credit card companies charge vast amounts of interest sometimes to those who are credit‑blind who do not understand how much interest they are paying, or think it is normal to have such substantial amounts of debt. Hedge fund managers seem to be very wealthy investing other people’s money. It is a time when the billionaires are getting richer and the gap to the poor ever larger. This woe does apply to the present time. The second woe the building of a great tower against God. There was the Tower of Babel (Gen.11), the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven ancient wonders in the world, also there was a golden building devoted to the Babylonian god Bel. Such buildings seem to have a national importance as well as a religious one. A challenge to God. This was an anathema to God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me–the one true living God. (Exod.20:3) During this gospel age the Romans had their great buildings. Could we add the Sistine Chapel to that list? Elsewhere perhaps St Paul’s cathedral, London, Notre Dame in Paris or the Empire State Building in New York. The third woe is using men to build the great city of Babylon, like Pharoah used the Hebrews as slave labour even making it harder to produce bricks. Many probably died in accidents while building or were physically worn out by hard labour These were used–used by the empire. Every empire has done the same although some more than others with slaves or low wages. Irish navies and other poor workers built even British canals, railways, and factories. Some ended up in the workhouse often suffering from injuries brought on by hard labour, others died from industrial accidents. More recently for the last Football World Cup up to 6,500 deaths were recorded after working long hours in a very hot climate. The fourth woe is drink. Drunkenness was a big problem. One example was King Belshazzar’s feast in Daniel 5. While the city and empire were under threat from Cyrus of Persia, King Belshazzar was feasting and "making merry." As a system Babylon had seduced the world they had created through the prosperity it had displayed. But such excesses were a part of its own downfall. The fall of Babylon during a feast is indicative of the state that world would be in just before its fall at the end of this present world. Revelation uses similar language concerning the woes of this age "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit...For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (Rev.18:2‑3) In this present world alcohol has been a major problem hence the Temperance movement here in Britain and in North America during the 19th century. In more recent years recreational drugs are an issue from the Houses of Parliament where signs of cocaine have been found in most bathrooms, to athletes to ordinary people who suffer from its effects. We see the accidental drug deaths of such stars as Matthew Perry, Whitney Houston, and Amy Whitehouse. It is a growing problem and indicates the depth of the world’s failings. People have become drunk on this system of greed and acquisition of goods. In a wider sense it indicates the addiction the world has to pleasure and materialism in a world distant from God. The fifth woe is idolatry. The Babylonians worshipped Bel and had idols made from wood and metal. Although in the book of Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged Yahweh after Daniel told that king his dream and its interpretation, but they did still keep their own gods and the worship at the temple of Bel. God could not approve of that. Today the gods are different–one new one is science. The invention of planes, trains, and cars as well as spaceships. These stated the problems in both the Babylonian Empires. Therefore, the first empire was to be brought down by God and permitted no more to practice evil on a large scale. In like manner the gospel age Babylon spoken of by John the Revelator will finally fall to rise no more. The Remedy Chapter 2 verse 14 describes the time of the replacement for the Babylon of Revelation. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." It is a promise. It is the time when Zephaniah wrote about "a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one consent" (Zeph.3:9) Is it the time of the New Covenant in Jer.31 and Heb.8? The Kingdom. The other hopeful verse says "the LORD is in his Temple: let the earth keep silence." (v.20) The assurance that God is aware of all that is going on. There is no place for anxiety. He is there with the solution. Plea for mercy (Hab.3:1‑2) Habakkuk was fully aware by then of the fall of the southern kingdom to the Babylonians. He was told of the extended period in which events would happen. He apprehended the evil and wrongdoing in Babylon. He apprehended the promise of God in 2:14 of the hope for the Kingdom of God. But he was still concerned for his people and the nation. How would this be? So, he does what every good Christian does now, he prays to God. He implores God to not forget Judah and all Israel about his plans and purposes. It is like us now praying "thy kingdom come." Israel and the Culmination of the Age Then the vision begins "God came from Teman.the Holy One from Mount Paran." (Hab.3:3) Where is Teman and where is Mount Paran? Teman is in the south in the land of Edom (Seir). Mount Paran is in Sinai. Deut.33:2 (ESV) says, "The LORD came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; He shone forth from Mount Paran; He came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire." This is the place where God brought the Hebrews, Israel from slavery in Egypt and from where He would give the law, establish the Tabernacle and from where they would go to the Promised land–Israel. There was the pillar of fire that led them by day and the shekinah glory that rested in the Most Holy of the Tabernacle. Verse 4 writes of "brightness," "light" and "rays." God coming to act. For God is light. (1 John 1:5) The signs of time preparatory for this event are: pestilence and disease (v.5), distress among nations large and small (v.6 mountains, hills), fear (v.7) and many leaders against God gathering themselves even to war. (v.8) Today problems increase and there are pestilences or burning diseases such as COVID‑19 which wreaked its havoc among the elderly, those with cardiac issues, and the overweight in the younger adults, the immunocompromised, chronic lung conditions amongst other medical issues. Distressed nations; initially the two world wars of the twentieth century, then two gulf wars and more recently the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, civil war; Sudan and also conflict in the Middle East People are fearful. When Russia invaded Ukraine many fearful ones left from Ukraine, and young men in Russia moved to Finland or Georgia to avoid being conscripted into the Russian army before airports and land borders are closed. In "the gathering storm" we see NATO countries pledging to spend 5% of GDP on defence although chancellors do not know where the money is coming from. An Armageddon event unfolds from the middle of verse 9.
This appears to be the same event as Ezekiel 38 and 39 and in Joel 2 and 3 when referring to the valley of Jehoshaphat. (Joel 3:12) In these God’s indignation on the heathen and godless against his anointed Israel. It appears by this late stage the Church are in heaven and complete. There is no mention of the church coming with Christ but there is another factor. Resurrection of the ancient worthies Habakkuk "will rest in the day of trouble" (v.16) and see the invasion at the time of the last battle in Israel. What a sign to the people of the world especially to remaining Christians and Jews, that Habakkuk and Joseph, Joshua, and John The Baptist will be back. Finally he rejoices in the Lord that despite the current distressed signs for the fig, vine and olive trees as well as the livestock and seeing the longer time span till the deliverance of Israel, he knows God still has a plan for Israel and the blessing of humanity in a time of resurrection. He concludes with a flourish: 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. CONCLUSION The fulfilment regarding ancient Babylon gives confidence that the prophecies yet to take place will take place. The just live by faith is a lesson now. The promise of the kingdom is repeated with the assurance and statement that the "Tarrying of the vision" matches with today so it is expected, and we are aware of that warning. There is comfort that God is in His holy Temple. NAC
The first fault is usury; lending at interest often at high interest rates and taking advantage of the poor and needy to accumulate more wealth or property. Babylon was a great centre of trade and commerce on the river Euphrates. It was the sort of circumstances where usury is developed. The problem is intimated in the advice of Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar to escape punishment which was to show mercy to the poor. (Dan.4:27) Clearly the poor and needy in Babylon needed help also we can assume that the King did not act on the advice of Daniel. In the Gospel age now the world economy has never been bigger. Today there are loan sharks who lend to people who cannot use regular sources of borrowing. Credit card companies charge vast amounts of interest sometimes to those who are credit‑blind who do not understand how much interest they are paying, or think it is normal to have such substantial amounts of debt. Hedge fund managers seem to be very wealthy investing other people’s money. It is a time when the billionaires are getting richer and the gap to the poor ever larger. This woe does apply to the present time. The second woe the building of a great tower against God. There was the Tower of Babel (Gen.11), the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven ancient wonders in the world, also there was a golden building devoted to the Babylonian god Bel. Such buildings seem to have a national importance as well as a religious one. A challenge to God. This was an anathema to God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me–the one true living God. (Exod.20:3) During this gospel age the Romans had their great buildings. Could we add the Sistine Chapel to that list? Elsewhere perhaps St Paul’s cathedral, London, Notre Dame in Paris or the Empire State Building in New York. The third woe is using men to build the great city of Babylon, like Pharoah used the Hebrews as slave labour even making it harder to produce bricks. Many probably died in accidents while building or were physically worn out by hard labour These were used–used by the empire. Every empire has done the same although some more than others with slaves or low wages. Irish navies and other poor workers built even British canals, railways, and factories. Some ended up in the workhouse often suffering from injuries brought on by hard labour, others died from industrial accidents. More recently for the last Football World Cup up to 6,500 deaths were recorded after working long hours in a very hot climate. The fourth woe is drink. Drunkenness was a big problem. One example was King Belshazzar’s feast in Daniel 5. While the city and empire were under threat from Cyrus of Persia, King Belshazzar was feasting and "making merry." As a system Babylon had seduced the world they had created through the prosperity it had displayed. But such excesses were a part of its own downfall. The fall of Babylon during a feast is indicative of the state that world would be in just before its fall at the end of this present world. Revelation uses similar language concerning the woes of this age "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit...For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (Rev.18:2‑3) In this present world alcohol has been a major problem hence the Temperance movement here in Britain and in North America during the 19th century. In more recent years recreational drugs are an issue from the Houses of Parliament where signs of cocaine have been found in most bathrooms, to athletes to ordinary people who suffer from its effects. We see the accidental drug deaths of such stars as Matthew Perry, Whitney Houston, and Amy Whitehouse. It is a growing problem and indicates the depth of the world’s failings. People have become drunk on this system of greed and acquisition of goods. In a wider sense it indicates the addiction the world has to pleasure and materialism in a world distant from God. The fifth woe is idolatry. The Babylonians worshipped Bel and had idols made from wood and metal. Although in the book of Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged Yahweh after Daniel told that king his dream and its interpretation, but they did still keep their own gods and the worship at the temple of Bel. God could not approve of that. Today the gods are different–one new one is science. The invention of planes, trains, and cars as well as spaceships. These stated the problems in both the Babylonian Empires. Therefore, the first empire was to be brought down by God and permitted no more to practice evil on a large scale. In like manner the gospel age Babylon spoken of by John the Revelator will finally fall to rise no more. The Remedy Chapter 2 verse 14 describes the time of the replacement for the Babylon of Revelation. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." It is a promise. It is the time when Zephaniah wrote about "a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one consent" (Zeph.3:9) Is it the time of the New Covenant in Jer.31 and Heb.8? The Kingdom. The other hopeful verse says "the LORD is in his Temple: let the earth keep silence." (v.20) The assurance that God is aware of all that is going on. There is no place for anxiety. He is there with the solution. Plea for mercy (Hab.3:1‑2) Habakkuk was fully aware by then of the fall of the southern kingdom to the Babylonians. He was told of the extended period in which events would happen. He apprehended the evil and wrongdoing in Babylon. He apprehended the promise of God in 2:14 of the hope for the Kingdom of God. But he was still concerned for his people and the nation. How would this be? So, he does what every good Christian does now, he prays to God. He implores God to not forget Judah and all Israel about his plans and purposes. It is like us now praying "thy kingdom come." Israel and the Culmination of the Age Then the vision begins "God came from Teman.the Holy One from Mount Paran." (Hab.3:3) Where is Teman and where is Mount Paran? Teman is in the south in the land of Edom (Seir). Mount Paran is in Sinai. Deut.33:2 (ESV) says, "The LORD came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; He shone forth from Mount Paran; He came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire." This is the place where God brought the Hebrews, Israel from slavery in Egypt and from where He would give the law, establish the Tabernacle and from where they would go to the Promised land–Israel. There was the pillar of fire that led them by day and the shekinah glory that rested in the Most Holy of the Tabernacle. Verse 4 writes of "brightness," "light" and "rays." God coming to act. For God is light. (1 John 1:5) The signs of time preparatory for this event are: pestilence and disease (v.5), distress among nations large and small (v.6 mountains, hills), fear (v.7) and many leaders against God gathering themselves even to war. (v.8) Today problems increase and there are pestilences or burning diseases such as COVID‑19 which wreaked its havoc among the elderly, those with cardiac issues, and the overweight in the younger adults, the immunocompromised, chronic lung conditions amongst other medical issues. Distressed nations; initially the two world wars of the twentieth century, then two gulf wars and more recently the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, civil war; Sudan and also conflict in the Middle East People are fearful. When Russia invaded Ukraine many fearful ones left from Ukraine, and young men in Russia moved to Finland or Georgia to avoid being conscripted into the Russian army before airports and land borders are closed. In "the gathering storm" we see NATO countries pledging to spend 5% of GDP on defence although chancellors do not know where the money is coming from. An Armageddon event unfolds from the middle of verse 9.
This appears to be the same event as Ezekiel 38 and 39 and in Joel 2 and 3 when referring to the valley of Jehoshaphat. (Joel 3:12) In these God’s indignation on the heathen and godless against his anointed Israel. It appears by this late stage the Church are in heaven and complete. There is no mention of the church coming with Christ but there is another factor. Resurrection of the ancient worthies Habakkuk "will rest in the day of trouble" (v.16) and see the invasion at the time of the last battle in Israel. What a sign to the people of the world especially to remaining Christians and Jews, that Habakkuk and Joseph, Joshua, and John The Baptist will be back. Finally he rejoices in the Lord that despite the current distressed signs for the fig, vine and olive trees as well as the livestock and seeing the longer time span till the deliverance of Israel, he knows God still has a plan for Israel and the blessing of humanity in a time of resurrection. He concludes with a flourish: 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. CONCLUSION The fulfilment regarding ancient Babylon gives confidence that the prophecies yet to take place will take place. The just live by faith is a lesson now. The promise of the kingdom is repeated with the assurance and statement that the "Tarrying of the vision" matches with today so it is expected, and we are aware of that warning. There is comfort that God is in His holy Temple. NAC |
