Habakkuk 1:2-4

THE FIRST QUESTION. Habakkuk 1:2-4

RV. O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save. Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up. Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.
LXX. Hoy long, O Lord, shall I cry out, and thou wilt not hearken? how long shall I cry out to thee being injured, and thou wilt not save? Wherefore hast thou shewn me troubles and griefs to look upon, misery and ungodliness? judgment is before me, and the judge receives a reward. Therefore the law is frustrated, and judgement proceeds not effectually, for the ungodly man prevails over the just; therefore perverse judgement will proceed.

COMMENTS

The prophet addresses God, significantly by the name Jehovah, revealed at the beginning of Israel's national existence. During the days of the patriarchs it was unknown. (cf. Exodus 6:3) At that time He was called El Shaddai. (cf. Genesis 17:1) Habakkuk's use of Yaweh, or Jehovah, here seems calculated to imply that God is neglecting a nation to whom He owes special concern.

HOW LONG SHALL I CRY. Habakkuk 1:2

We usually phrase the question differently, How can God allow. etc. Habakkuk says How long. How long will God allow. etc. The thought is the same. If God is God, and we are His people. how, or how long can He allow us to suffer at the hands of unrighteous men or an unrighteous governmental system such as ruled Judah in the days of the prophet?

For a detailed discussion of the specific conditions that caused the prophet to so cry to God, read Amos or Micah. These wrote earlier, but the situation in Judah has not changed since they wrote, excepting perhaps to get progressively worse. Those who sought evil gain for themselves at the expense of their neighbors did not desist at Micah's warning of destruction.
Those who built the luxury of their metropolitan affluence upon the blood of the downtrodden had not repented at the preaching of the earlier prophets.
The drunkenness and excesses of the wealthy and powerful had not diminished since the Shepherd of Tekoah expressed his shock and predicted God's punishment.
Habakkuk's question is simply why doesn-'t God do something about the situation? He has more courage than we moderns. He addresses his questions directly to God Himself. He accuses God of not hearing when he prays. His prayers have lifted the specific skis of violence before God. In return he sees more and more of that about which he has prayed.

Chapter XVIQuestions

How Can God Allow Injustice to Go Unpunished?

1.

Habakkuk's opening words are calculated to established what?

2.

What is the significance of Habakkuk's use of the name Jehovah?

3.

What caused Habakkuk to ask the first of his two questions?

4.

What is God's answer? Summarize.

5.

Who were the Chaldeans?

6.

Why were the Chaldeans named here when it was Babylon who would chastise Judah?

7.

What king of Judah died in the vain attempt to preserve Assyria against Babylon?

8.

How does Jehovah describe the Chaldeans? (Habakkuk 1:7-11)

9.

What do you know of the religion of the Babylonian empire of Habakkuk's concern?