The Burden and Rejoicing of Habakkuk

“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.” [1]

What ails you?’

For Habakkuk, at first, it what he was seeing when he looked around him. But later, when he fixed his eyes on the Lord, faith entered his heart, and he rejoices.

At first, he asked the Lord…

“O Lord, how long shall I cry,
And You will not hear?
Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
And You will not save.
Why do You show me iniquity,
And cause me to see trouble?
For plundering and violence are before me;
There is strife, and contention arises.
Therefore, the law is powerless,
And justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore, perverse judgment proceeds.” [2]

The Lord’s reply to him was that a fierce invading force was about to overrun his nation.

“They are terrible and dreadful.” “They deride every stronghold.” [3]

This nation offends God… “He commits offense, ascribing this power to his god.” [4]

Habakkuk asks the Lord… “Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?” [5]

Habakkuk compares the wicked to fishermen who catch people instead of fish in their nets. The wicked delight in their catch of people because… “By them, their share is sumptuous and their food plentiful.” [6]

He asks the Lord… “Shall they therefore empty their net, and continue to slay nations without pity?” [7]

The Lord answered and said… “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” [8]

The Lord assures Habakkuk that He does not view the proud as upright. He views those who live by faith in Him as the upright.

The Lord sees the drunkenness of the proud man. He sees that he does not stay at home with his family. He sees the stealing. He promises a reversal. The oppressor will be plundered. The blood he sheds feeds the fire of God’s wrath. Woes shall be to him who makes others drunk to expose their nakedness. He will be filled with shame instead of glory. His idols of wood, gold and silver will not rescue him on the day of reversal. [9]

The Lord tells Habakkuk… “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” “The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” [10]

Habakkuk prays… “O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work amidst the years! Amidst the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” [11]

Then, he ends with a hymn of faith…

“Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there 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;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.” [12]

[1] Habakkuk 1:1
[2] Habakkuk 1:2-4
[3] Habakkuk 1:7, 10
[4] Habakkuk 1:11
[5] Habakkuk 1:13
[6] Habakkuk 1:16
[7] Habakkuk 1:17
[8] Habakkuk 2:1-2, 4
[9] Habakkuk 2:5-19
[10] Habakkuk 2:14, 20
[11] Habakkuk 3:1-2
[12] Habakkuk 3:17-19