Hab 1 | MHM | STEP | The Sins of the People This book opens by introducing Habakkuk as a prophet who received a message from God—a message so certain that it is called the “burden which he saw.” Unlike some books, we are told nothing about Habakkuk’s family or background; it is enough to know that he is God’s messenger. In this first section, the prophet is deeply troubled by the evil he sees everywhere among his people. He is especially upset by violence, injustice, and the lack of true religion. Habakkuk cries out to God, asking why He allows so much wrongdoing to continue unchecked. v. 1 : The book begins by stating that this is the vision which Habakkuk the prophet saw. It is a message from God, and Habakkuk is sure that it will come true.

‏ Habakkuk 1

The Sins of the People

This book opens by introducing Habakkuk as a prophet who received a message from God—a message so certain that it is called the “burden which he saw.” Unlike some books, we are told nothing about Habakkuk’s family or background; it is enough to know that he is God’s messenger. In this first section, the prophet is deeply troubled by the evil he sees everywhere among his people. He is especially upset by violence, injustice, and the lack of true religion. Habakkuk cries out to God, asking why He allows so much wrongdoing to continue unchecked.

v. 1: The book begins by stating that this is the vision which Habakkuk the prophet saw. It is a message from God, and Habakkuk is sure that it will come true.

v. 2: Habakkuk complains to God about the violence in the land. He says, O Lord, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear! He sees violence everywhere and feels that God is not listening to his prayers for help. This shows the prophet’s pain at seeing innocent people hurt and oppressed (Genesis 6:11 ^a).

v. 3: He continues, asking why God allows him to see so much evil. He sees injustice, fighting, and people constantly stirring up trouble. There is strife and division everywhere—people are always arguing and causing problems in society.

v. 4: Because of all this wickedness, the law is ignored and justice is not done. The wicked surround and overpower the righteous, and even the courts cannot fix things. Sometimes, justice is even turned upside down, and the wrong people are punished while the guilty go free. Habakkuk is frustrated that evil seems to win and that God has not yet acted to stop it. He brings his complaint to God, showing that it is right to pray and seek answers, even when we do not understand God’s timing (Psalm 73:13 ^b).

Judgment Predicted

In this passage, God answers Habakkuk’s complaint about the evil and injustice in the land. God promises that He will not ignore the sins of the people forever. A time of judgment is coming, and it will be so surprising and severe that people will hardly believe it, even when it happens. God’s response is meant to warn the people so they might turn away from their sins before it is too late.

v. 5: God says, Behold, you among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which you will not believe, though it be told you. The Lord warns that His judgment will be public and shocking, something that even other nations will notice and be amazed by. The punishment will be quick and full of God’s power. It will be so astonishing that people will find it hard to believe, even if they are warned in advance (Deuteronomy 29:24-25; Acts 13:41 ^c).

v. 6: God reveals that He will raise up the Chaldeans (Babylonians) to punish His people. The Chaldeans are a fierce and fast-moving nation. They are cruel and quick to act, showing no mercy. This foreign army will be God’s instrument to judge His people for their sin.

v. 7: The Chaldeans are described as terrible and dreadful. They are strong and feared by everyone. Their judgment and dignity come from themselves—they follow their own rules and do not care about right or wrong.

v. 8: Their horses are faster than leopards and fiercer than hungry wolves in the evening. Their horsemen spread out everywhere, coming from far away, and they attack swiftly like an eagle swooping down on its prey (Psalm 104:20 ^d).

v. 9: All of them come for violence. They gather captives as easily as gathering sand. Their faces are hard and determined, and they sweep across the land like a powerful, destructive wind.

v. 10: They make fun of kings and princes, showing no respect for rulers or strongholds. They laugh at fortresses and easily conquer them, building up ramps of earth to take any city.

v. 11: After their many victories, they become proud and arrogant. They give credit for their power to their own gods instead of the true God. This pride will eventually lead to their own destruction. God shows that while He uses the Chaldeans to punish others, their pride and idolatry will also bring judgment on themselves in the end.

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint and God’s Answer

In this section, the prophet Habakkuk struggles with a difficult question: how can God, who is eternal and holy, use a wicked nation like Babylon to punish His own people? Habakkuk is troubled because, although he knows God must judge sin, it seems wrong that an even worse nation is allowed to succeed. God’s answer will show that He is just, even when we don’t understand His ways.

v. 12: Habakkuk remembers that God is everlasting and will not let His people be wiped out. He acknowledges that God has appointed the Babylonians to judge Israel, but believes that God will not completely destroy them because He made a covenant with them. Habakkuk trusts that God is pure and cannot tolerate evil, so he is confused about why God would allow the wicked Babylonians to succeed.

v. 13: Habakkuk says that God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil, and He cannot approve of wrongdoing. Yet, Habakkuk is troubled because God seems to remain silent while wicked people devour those who are more righteous than themselves. He wonders why God allows the Babylonians to punish Israel, even though Israel’s sins are bad, the Babylonians are even worse.

v. 14: Habakkuk uses the picture of people being like fish in the sea, helpless and without a ruler to protect them. The Babylonians catch them all with hooks and nets, treating them as if they are nothing. He is disturbed that the Babylonians are allowed to conquer so easily and without resistance.

v. 15: The Babylonians are compared to fishermen who catch people with nets and rejoice in their success. They celebrate their victories and give credit to their own strength and weapons, not to God.

v. 16: The Babylonians give offerings and sacrifices to their nets, showing that they honor their own power as if it is a god. Because their conquests bring them wealth and comfort, they continue to worship their own strength instead of the true God.

v. 17: Habakkuk asks if God will let the Babylonians keep on destroying nations without mercy. He is concerned that if they are not stopped, they will continue to kill and conquer, with no one to challenge them. Habakkuk is waiting for God’s answer, trusting that God will explain how justice will finally be done.