Habakkuk 2

Habakkuk 2:1

I Will stand upon my watch] Isaiah 21:8. Heb. I did stand. A phrase taken from watchers which were in strong and guarded places, as Isaiah 21:8. The meaning is, by prayers, meditations, and lifting up of my minde, I did desire of God some prophetick revelation, whereby I might be taught how to answer to that which profane and weake persons might oppose against Gods providence, which doth so farre favour those wicked Chaldeans.

tower] Heb. fenced place.

he will say unto me] Or, in me. Or would speake unto me: namely, by inward revelation. See Hosea 1:2.

when I am reproved] Or, when I am argued with. Heb. upon my reproof, or arguing.

plain upon tables] See Isaiah 8:1. & Isaiah 30:8.

Habakkuk 2:3

the vision] I have not yet taken away the gift of prophecie from my people: by which I will cause you to know, not only such accidents as do trouble them: but also what shall happen untill Christs coming, which is called the end of the time of the law. See Daniel 10:14. Or the matter of this vision is not to take effect presently, but in Gods due time.

surely come] Hebrews 10:37.

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold] The remedies against these calamities of the Church, is not to seek out places to secure themselves from Gods hand: as the Jews did, when they went into Egypt and other places, and there perished: nor much lesse to separate themselves from the communion of the Church by apostasie: these are only damnable errors of carnall sense, which God reproveth. But good souls having no other help, shall by a lively faith in God b maintained in the true spirituall life, which is the conjunction with God, and the feeling of his grace: and shall be defended from any thing which may hurt their salvation.

is lifted up] The Apostle, Hebrews 10:38. applyeth this to such as withdraw themselves from Christian profession.

the just shall live by his faith] John 3:36. Romans 1:17. Galatians 3:11.

Habakkuk 2:5

Yea also] Or, how much more.

by wine] If I blame my people, that thinke to save themselves by their cunning: how much more shall I condemn the Babylonians, who drowned in pleasures, and made drunk with prosperitie, do boldly contemn my threatnings? He seemeth to have relation to Belshazzars drinking feasts, Daniel 5. or to the taking of Babylon in a night of great dissolutenesse. Isaiah 21:5. Jeremiah 51:39.

who enlargeth his desire as hell] Proverbs 27:20. & Proverbs 30:16. Hath been inflamed with an unsatiable desire and ambition.

but gathereth unto him all nations] Bringeth them into his subjection, and maketh a prey of their goods, Isaiah 10:13.

Habakkuk 2:6

Wo to him] Or, Ho, he.

how long] Signifying that all the world shall wish the destruction of tyrants, and that by their oppression and covetousnesse, they heap but upon themselves more heavie burthens.

with thick clay] Namely, with earthly riches, the desire of which is the souls ensnaring, or a burthen which overcometh and smothereth him alive. See 1 Timothy 6:9-10.

Habakkuk 2:7

Shall they not rise up suddenly] That is, the Medes and Persians, that should destroy the Babylonians? Isaiah 21:2. Jer. 50. and 51.

bite thee] A phrase taken from hunting dogs.

Habakkuk 2:8

Because thou hast spoiled many nations] Isaiah 33:1.

bloud] Heb. blouds.

the violence of the land] Or, oppressing the land.

of the citie] That is, Jerusalem especially.

Habakkuk 2:9

coveteth an evil covetousnesse] Jeremiah 22:13. Or, gaineth an evil gain.

to his house] To encrease and establish his estate, so that he might be out of all danger.

power of evil] Heb. palm of the hand.

Habakkuk 2:10

consulted shame to thy house] Signifying that the covetous man is the ruine of his own house, when as he thinketh to enrich it by crueltie and oppression.

Habakkuk 2:11

shall cry out of the wall] As it were to witnesse that thou hast built thy house with violence and rapine.

and the beam] Or, piece, or, fastening. Heb. The fragment: or fastening, or brick wherewith they ordinarily built their houses in Babylon, with timber among it; Genesis 11:3. Others, the morter: which comes almost to the same sense.

answer it] Or, witnesse against it.

Habakkuk 2:12

with bloud] Jeremiah 22:13. Ezekiel 24:9. Nah. 3. 1. Heb. blouds.

Habakkuk 2:13

is it not of the LORD of hosts] Who can make any question, but that the ruine of Babylon, to the foundation, and increase of which, so many nations, for so many ages, had contributed their labour, is a singular worke of Gods vengeance?

that the people shall labour in the very fire] Jeremiah 51:58.

for very vanitie] Or, in vain.

Habakkuk 2:14

with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD] Or, by knowing the glory of the LORD. See on Isaiah 11:9. By the just and powerfull punishment of his enemies.

Habakkuk 2:15

that puttest thy bottle to him] This may be understood in the proper sense, of the dissolutenesse of the Babylonian court, in the which they did silthy and dishonest acts. Or figuratively of the dishonest practises, by which the Babylonians drew in other princes, and nations, for to spoyle them, and bring them into ignominious slavery.

Habakkuk 2:16

with shame for glory] Or, more with shame then with glory.

drink thou also] Jeremiah 25:26. Of the cup of Gods wrath, Jeremiah 25:26-27.

uncovered] Be a shamefull spectacle.

spuing] A terme taken from drunkards feasts, which do spoyle the most adorned and beautifull places. The meaning is, Gods judgements shall carry thee into most unworthy and infamous acts.

Habakkuk 2:17

violence] As he that felleth trees in a wood, is often-times crushed by them: so thy oppression and violence will cause thy ruine. See Isaiah 14:8. Ezekiel 31:16.

spoil of beasts] As oft-times wolves and other ravening beasts are surprized in the greatest heat of their slaughter, which blindeth them. so the like shall happen to thee.

violence of the land] See vers. 8.

Habakkuk 2:18

What profiteth the graven image] A scoffe at the Chaldeans vain confidence in their idols.

teacher of lies] Idols are so called, Jeremiah 10:8. 14. Zechariah 10:2. becaus that according to the opinion of idolaters, they are remembrances, and visible documents of an invisible deitie: and in the mean time, they cause mans minde to go astray from the true and saving knowledge of God revealed in his word: imprinting of false opinions of God in him, bringing him down to sensible things, and not raising him up to spirituall ones.

the maker of his work] Heb. the fashioner of his fashion.

Habakkuk 2:19

Arise] To help me.

it shall teach] That is, counsell and direct thee.

Habakkuk 2:20

the LORD is in his holy temple] Psalms 11:4. Liveth and reigneth in heaven, in glory, and is present in grace and spirit in his Temple: and it is fitting that all the world should submit to him, in all humilitie.

let all the earth keep silence before him] Heb. be silent all the earth before him. Zephaniah 1:7. Zechariah 2:13.