The Just Shall Live By Faith!

Habakkuk 1:2 "O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not

hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!"

This is a plea to God to hear his prayers. He sees the injustice

around him, and does not understand why God is not punishing those

involved. We have all, at some time or other, cried out "how long?".

It appears from this, that Habukkuk had prayed many times to God to do

something about the moral decay of Judah. It appears, that those who

pretended to belong to God {Judah} had strayed very far away, and

Habakkuk had prayed so much about the seriousness of the problem, he

had begun to doubt that God was hearing his prayers.

Habakkuk 1:3 "Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause [me] to

behold grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there

are [that] raise up strife and contention."

From this it appears, that Habakkuk was in the ministry. He was

like a watchman. He saw all the evil and warned the people, yet God

had not punished them. He is asking God, why He allows him to see all

of the wrong, if God is not going to change it. Habakkuk is a

righteous man, living in a society that has gone mad. He is

questioning how God can know of these sins and abominations, and not

do anything about them. I personally look at society today, and wonder

why God has not thundered in judgement against our society. This

strife and contention is speaking of those rebellious who are not

keeping God's law. Perhaps, those that question God's law are some who

should know better, because they are the leaders of the people.

Habakkuk 1:4 "Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth

never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous;

therefore wrong judgment proceedeth."

Not only are the wicked people not keeping God's law, but they

are attacking the righteous. They are actually opposed to those who

have taken a stand for God. The law which had governed even their

civil law is unequal. Habakkuk is disappointed that justice is no

longer part of their society.

Habakkuk 1:5 "Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and

wonder marvellously: for [I] will work a work in your days, [which] ye

will not believe, though it be told [you]."

Up until this Scripture, Habakkuk had been complaining to God. In

this Scripture, we see an answer to Habakkuk from God. Habakkuk is

living for God in the middle of those who do not. During Habakkuk's

lifetime, God will take care of this situation. God will work so

quickly and marvellously, that it will be difficult for Habakkuk to

believe. God will use a heathen nation to bring the chastisement upon

His people. Those of God's children who are living in sin, will not

expect their punishment to come through a heathen nation. God can use

whoever He wants to, however.

Habakkuk 1:6 "For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter

and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land,

to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs."

The Chaldeans are even more evil than Judah. God always begins

His judgement with the house of God. It is the chastisement God has

judged, that will come upon them. It is just Babylon, {Chaldeans} that

it comes by. They were a very cruel army. We must remember, that God

sent them.

Habakkuk 1:7 "They [are] terrible and dreadful: their judgment

and their dignity shall proceed of themselves."

At the time they attack Judah, they have become very powerful.

There seemed to be no one who could stop them. They will not be aware

that God sends them to attack Judah.

Habakkuk 1:8 "Their horses also are swifter than the leopards,

and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall

spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall

fly as the eagle [that] hasteth to eat."

They are a mighty world army, and they have many horses. They

will sweep across this little land quickly, bringing destruction along

the way. The comparison to "evening wolves" speaks of their ferocious

nature. Jeremiah 5:6 "Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay

them, [and] a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall

watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn

in pieces: because their transgressions are many, [and] their

backslidings are increased."

Habakkuk 1:9 "They shall come all for violence: their faces shall

sup up [as] the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the

sand."

The mention of the "east wind" is speaking of an ill wind. The

"supping up" is just speaking of total destruction. The "gathering as