Habakkuk 1

(1) Habakkuk laments over the violence and perversion of judgment among the Jews

Habakkuk 1:1-4

(2) God shews him the terrible punishment thereof by the desolating ravages of the Chaldeans

Habakkuk 1:5-11

(3) After celebrating the eternity and infinite holiness of God, and the stability of his purposes and church, Habakkuk bewails the treachery, barbarity, and pride, of the Chaldeans

Habakkuk 1:12-17

THE *burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. Before Chriss cir. 680, or 800. 2 O LORD, ‘how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out * Is. 13. 1. & 15. 1. & 21. 1. & 22. 1. & 21 7. Jer. 12. 1. & 20. 8. Ps. 73. 3. & 37. 1, 7. * 2 Pet. 2. 8. Ps. 119. 136. 3 — CHAP. I. Ver. 2—4. Lord, how long must I complain to thee of the oppression and other wickedness which every where prevail, before thou takest any course to restrain it and deliver the oppressed? Why is my lot cast in such times and places, in which I must always behold such injuries, oppressions, and groundless contentions? and in which, through delay of just punishment, men harden themselves in their wickedness, and grow worse and worse? Thy law is continued and disobeyed, and common justice is scarcely ever executed; but the wicked, by their numbers or influence, quite overpower and oppress the godly, and pervert judgment as much as they please. 5—11. Behold, with terror and astonishment, how I, who am now punishing the Heathen nations, will shortly punish you with a more tremendous destruction, which ye will never believe till ye feel. By my direction, the cruel, fierce, and dreadful Chaldeans, who shall rule every thing according to their own will, shall furiously invade your country, seize your wealth, and murder or enslave your persons. Regardless of all the opposition that you can make, they shall destroy or lead captive your princes, and waste your cities: and, puffed up by their conquests, Nebuchadnezzar and his subjects shall become more and more insolent, self-confident, and idolatrous, ascribing their victories to their idols. 12—19. Overlasting God, who hast for many ages been the God of the Jews by peculiar covenant relation, and who wilt not utterly destroy us, thou wilt indeed raise up these Chaldeans to correct us, but thy infinite holiness can never permit thee to approve their wicked designs. Why then wilt thou give them success, in treacherously oppressing and destroying thy own people? Alas! why wilt thou permit men to act as stupid and savage animals, which, without any order or government, destroy such as are better or weaker than themselves? And who therefore ascribe all their success, wealth, and honour, to their own power and policy: Wilt thou then always permit them to hoard up what they have gotten, and to proceed in their murder and devastations!

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—Faithful ministers must often bear heavy messages of wrath to God’s professing people. And it is grievous to them to behold iniquity abound, while they can do nothing to repress it. Especially to see men diabolically turn tormentors of one another. In the most fearful manner vengeance follows wickedness; and violence is returned for violence, and fraud for fraud. And success in sin tempts men to become more and more wicked. But happy is it in evil times to have the eternal God our own, and on our side, by special covenant; and to live in the firm faith of the holiness and equity of his whole providential dispensations, and that sin shall not always escape unpunished. And it is highly becoming to ascribe due praise to him, let men injure us as they will.—Sound and well-established principles are great supports to a distressed mind; and, though God correct his people, yet he will not utterly destroy them. Whatever difficulties we therefore apprehend in God’s providences, we must cast all our care upon him, and wait patiently for his salvation. Instruments of God’s wrath may for a time bring awful desolation among men. But, however little account they make of men’s lives, God will at last reckon with such conquerors as the most arrant robbers and most bloody murderers of mankind