THE BURDEN (HABAKKUK 1)
An elderly man with a very large ego went to an art gallery with his wife and some friends. Although he was quite near-sighted, he took great pride in his ability as an art critic. Unfortunately, the man had forgotten his eyeglasses, but this did not deter him as he stood before a large frame and began to expound for the benefit of his friends.
“In the first place,” he stated, “the frame is all wrong. It is not in keeping with the subject. And as for the subject itself, “It is altogether too homely or too ugly in fact to make a good picture.” Hearing this, the man’s wife edged her way to his side and tried to whisper something to him. But the husband just kept on expounding: “It’s a great mistake for an artist to paint so homely a subject against such a background.
Again the wife tried in vain to get her husband’s attention. “Moreover,” declared the husband, “if the artist does choose such a homely subject, the face should at least show some character.”
At this point the wife nudged him hard enough to get his attention and put an end to his ego trip. “You’re looking into a mirror, you know,” she quipped.
Habakkuk the prophet was alarmed, argumentative and aggrieved with what was happening around him. The prophets are a rich source of poetry, prophecy, prayers, parables and even protests. Prophets raged against the princes, the privileged and the powerful. Sometimes, however, their disillusionment and their disenchantment are against God – their Creator and Commissioner, their Sovereign and Sender. The most popular protester in the Bible is Jonah. The most heartbroken protester is Jeremiah in his book of Lamentations. The most strident of them all might just be Habakkuk. Jonah is disgruntled prophet, the weeping prophet doom He’s been called the doubting prophet. Habakkuk supposedly lived about 610-600 B.C. shortly before the exile in 586 B.C.
What is your instant reaction when things go wrong in the world– blame others, yourself or God? What perspective do you have other than panic? Given the chance, how would you correct the injustices in the world?
Bemoan the Fallen World
1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. 2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
A matchmaker corners a poor student and says, “Do I have a girl for you!” “I’m not interested,” replies the student.
“But she’s a very beautiful girl,” says the matchmaker. “Really?” says the student, a bit more interested now.
“Yes. And she’s also very rich.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course I am. Would I lie to you? And she has a long line of ancestry. She comes from a very noble family.” “It all sounds great to me,” says the student, “but why would a girl like that want to marry me? She’d have to be crazy.”
Replies the matchmaker, “Well, you can’t have everything in life!”
Indifferent to the irrational, irreconcilable and imperfect world God had revealed to him, Habakkuk began the same way as the earlier book Nahum (Nah 1:1) and Malachi (Mal 1:1) did, with “burden/prophecy” as introduction, but with one exception, that is Habakkuk had to “see,” adding to his burden– three different “see” verbs in verses 1 and 3. He also supposedly went with the people of the Jews into exile, so it was a heavy burdensome prophecy to him – taxing, tiresome and troubling; Received is “see,” an authoritative prophetic introduction in a vision (Isa 1:1, Mic 1:1). To be accurate the two heavy questions begin the chapter before the title “Lord.” (How long, Lord) The first, ‘How long,” is a vexing cry (Job 8:2, 9:2, 19:2, Ps 13), but even with the inclusion of the verb “call for help/cry” is even more frustrating. Call for help/cry (KJV) is introduced into the Bible by Job (Job 19:7) and next occurrence will reappear in Psalms in the context of distress (Ps 18:6). 4 of 21 occurrences are in Job or Psalms and the rest is in the Prophets, so it is in a pensive, pessimistic and prophetic mood. The second “cry” in the same verse (KJV) is “to shriek (from anguish or danger)” (Ex 2:23), possibly like a dove or cat cry. “Not listen/hear” and “not save” is parallel in Hebrew. It is a sad, sorrowful and stricken cry.
The second question (v 3) from Habakkuk is two-fold: “Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?” The first “look” in verse 3 is “see” in Hebrew is the natural ability but the second “tolerate/behold” (KJV) is from the noun “prophet” – supernatural ability. Verse 3’s “violence” is repeated three times (vv 2, 3, 9) in the chapter, more than any chapter in the Bible – violence from the damage, the defeat and the destruction in the city, but also the desecration of the temple, the degradation of the people and the death of loved ones. Verse 4’s “justice/judgment” occurs four times (vv 4 twice, 7, 12) in the chapter, more than any of the shorter prophetic books – no differentiation of right and wrong, no good guy and bad guy, no godly and ungodly. Verse 4’s paralyzed is rather strong – the other translations are fainted (Gen 45:26), feeble (Ps 38:8) and slack (Hab 1:4). It means short, slipping, snuffed, squeezed and starved. No solution, safety, stability, success, support.
Verse 4’s “hem in/compass” means round about (Judg 20:43), beset round (Ps 22:12), compass me about (Ps 142:7). Wickedness is rampant left and right, front and back, north and south, even in my sleep (Feb 24, 2020). The week I was about to preach this message, a friend who is a department head at a government hospital (Kwan) called me near 11 p.m. at night (February 23, 2020) and told me the coronavirus is nothing short of a humanitarian disaster. That night, I dreamed of the coronavirus rampant on the move, so I drove to the church to find out for myself, but it was alright in the end in my dream. I am sure Habakkuk had nightmares and lacked sleep too.
Behold the Fuller Picture
5 “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. 6 I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. 7 They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour; 9 they all come intent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. 10 They mock kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them. 11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on— guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”
Here are some “Letters to God” from kids, who are naturally innocent and inquisitive:
Here are some prayers from actual memos that youngsters wrote to God:
Dear God, Who draws the lines around the countries?
Dear God, I bet it is very hard for you to love all the people in the world. There are only four people in our family and I can never do it.
Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother.
Dear God, Are you a ninja? Is that why I can’t see you?
Dear God, Would you make me a little brother? I need somebody to boss around.
Dear God, My turtle died. Is she there with you? If so, she likes lettuce.
Dear God, My mother told me what you do. Who does it when you are on vacation?
The first imperatives in the book are look at, watch and utterly amazed (v 5). Look at (vv 3, 5, 13, 13, nabat) is the verb from “prophet,” as in a vision or in the future, so God is returning the verb to Habakkuk who questioned God (v 3). The second (“utterly”) and third imperatives (“amazed”) are same word in Hebrew, which is marvel (Gen 43:33), astonished (Job 26:11) and amazed (Isa 13:8). The first occurrence in the Bible refers to Joseph’s brothers who were seated according to their age. Habakkuk would be more than shock, he was shell-shocked, stunned and speechless (my favorite word nowadays). The “not believe” (v 5) attitude is dominated in the Bible by the attitude of Moses (Ex 4:1, 8, 9) and Job (Job 4:18, 9:16, 15:15, 22, 31, 29:24, 39:24).
The Babylonians or Chaldeans (v 6), of Abraham’s former home country (Gen 11:28, 15:7), were an insignificant, inferior and incomplete, unimportant, undeveloped and unproven, forces at that time (Isa 23:13), noted for their prowess in the seas (Isa 43:14) more than on the land. The verb “seize” (v 6) is the purpose clause – meaning inherit (Gen 15:7), possess (Gen 24:60), succeed (Deut 2:12), consume (Deut 28:42) and seize upon (Josh 8:7). Babylon had been subjected by the Arabs and Assyrians and in 606 B.C. finally overthrew Assyria. The most violent civilizations rang from the Aztecs (Mexico) to the Assyrians, from the Mongols to the Celts, but never the Babylonians.
V 6-7 nation V 6 to possess
V 7 proceed of themselves Authority
Arrogance
V 8 animals
- horse (trained
- leopard (jungle)
- wolves (pack)
- eagles (air) Acceleration
Agility
V 9 nature
Wind
Sand Advancement
Attention
V 10 kings and prices
- scoff
- scorn Amusement
Abuse
V 11 idols - offend Affront
Accolade
There was no understanding of God’s wisdom, His work and His ways and just as we do not foresee the immigration, unemployment and disease in 2020, that a deadly virus could possible infect 70% of the world’s population.
Believe the Final Outcome
12 Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. 13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? 14 You have made people like the fish in the sea, like the sea creatures that have no ruler. 15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad. 16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. 17 Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy?
The controversial World War II-based movie “Life is Beautiful” tells how an Italian Jew and his 5-year-old son, like many other Jews, were taken to a concentration camp. In the camp, the father Guido, tried to protect his son from being scared and scarred by the hatred of men and the horrors of war, so he told the son Giosué that he could win a real life tank if he could earn one thousand points, but could get all points deducted (1) if you start crying, (2) if you want to see your mother, or (3) if you’re hungry and you want a snack, while other quiet boys earn the extra points. The son often wanted to quit the game, but Guido persuaded him to continue. At one point the son asked his father why he was doing hard labor, the father said, “To build the tank!”
Before Guido was finally executed just as the war was over, he told his son to stay quietly in a small outdoor chamber to win the promised tank. The father comically marched like a soldier and winked to his son watching from the small room to shield the boy from fear. The boy hid as long as he could and finally came out of hiding to find an American tank arriving to liberate the camp and free the prisoners.
Sometimes God’s way is so brazen, baffling, bizarre, burdensome and baseless, but we do not lose hope, honor and heart. Habakkuk’s courage, confidence and compassion returned at the end of the chapter.
Everlasting (v 12) does not only mean future; it means eastward (Gen 2:8
Eastward), forward (Job 23:8), past (Job 29:2), old (Ps 55:19), before (Ps 139:5), ancient (Isa 19:11) and aforetime (Jer 30:20). He is unchanging, unequal and unending.
Habakkuk’s submission to God is certain. His relationship with God is endearing, enigmatic and engrossing, as in his address of Lord (Hab 1:2), O Lord mine, God, mine Holy One (Hab 1:12), and O Lord… O mighty (Hab 1:12). NIV did something horrendous in verse 12 by revising to “You will never die,” instead of “we shall not die,” as in KJV, NASB and ESV. There is no need to revise it because the author referred to Israel’s deliverance and not personal death. Everlasting and die (v 12) are past and future contrasts.
Appointed/ordained (v 12) means put (Gen 2:8), set (Gen 4:15) and laid (Gen 9:23) and ordained (v 12). It’s a set-up, a setting, set, settled and settlement, if there ever is one. The second verb “ordain” means “foundation.” It is the future (appoint) versus the past (foundation) again. Punish is reprove (Gen 20:16), rebuke (Gen 31:42) and chasten (2 Sam 7:14). Judgment is the most repeated noun in the chapter (vv 4 twice, 7, 12).
V 13’s has three contentions: tolerate (wrongdoing), tolerate (the treacherous) , swallow. The first two verbs are from prophet (nabat) and the last is silence.
silence means hold his peace (Gen 24:21), quiet (Judg 16:2), set them to ear (1 Sam 8:12), hold one’s tongue (Est 7:4) and keep silence (Ps 50:30). OT:2790
ence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness): Example is Elihu’s command for Job to be silent. Job 33:31
Verse 13 is the age-old question on the existence of God: Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? (v 13) If God is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-present, why does evil exist?” Evil can be summarized three ways:
Evil is caused by sin – God authorizes evil, but He is not the author of evil.
Evil is captive to God – Jesus confronted, confounded and condemned at the cross.
Evil is catalyst for change. You can fear evil, or you can face evil. You can obey or oppose evil . You cannot stop evil, but you can slow evil. We cannot overturn evil, but we cannot overlook evil. God has given us three treasures to face evil: courage, wisdom and goodness.
Verses 15-17 use the parable of the net to describe evil men – all men (v 14) not just Israelites - as catch (v 15), consumption (v 16) and carnage (v 17). They are inescapable, inexcusable and inferior (as in ????).
V 15 (therefore) rejoices and is glad
Catches them in his net
V 16 (therefore) sacrifice and burns incense Sacrifices to his net
V 17 (therefore) empty (nets) Emptying his net
Verse 15-17 has three “therefore” : verse 15 is (so/therefore) rejoice and is glad; Verse 16 is (therefore) sacrifice and burns incense. Verse 17 is (therefore) empty their nets. “Therefore” means it will be fulfilled, it will be final and finished - fast and furious. The net is the most primitive, popular and productive equipment in the fishing industry. Fishing nets effectively enclose, encircle, encompass, entangle and entrap the prey.
Conclusion: Have you stopped to marvel at the work (v 5) God is doing in your day and around the world? Do you envy evildoers? Fret (agitated) not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. ((Ps 37:1)
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day (Prov 23:17). Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. (Prov 24:1). The solution is to fear God, not evil.
