Habakkuk
Summary
The prophet's dialogue with God concerning WRONG and REMEDY. it records Habakkuk's first complaint about the pervasive violence and injustice in Judah and the LORD'S startling answer that He is raising up the 'bitter and hasty' Chaldeans as His instrument of judgement. it features the prophet's second complaint as he wrestles with how a God of 'purer eyes' could use a nation even more wicked than His own people. it describes the Babylonian conquerors as a 'net' that swallows up nations like fish of the sea.
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear! even cry out to You of violence, and You will not save!
Why dost You show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Therefore the law is slacked, and judgement does never go forth: for the wicked does compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgement proceeds.
Behold you among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which you will not believe, though it be told you.
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.
They are terrible and dreadful: their judgement and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
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 hasts to eat.
They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn to them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.
Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power to his god.
are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, You hast ordained them for judgement; and, O mighty God, You hast established them for correction.
You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest You upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest Your tongue when the wicked devours the man that is more righteous than he?
And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?
They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.
Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.
Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?