FEW prophets were more exercised in soul about the state of God’s people, and what they were passing through, than Habakkuk. It was quite a burden on his heart. He beheld iniquity, grievance, spoiling, and violence; he saw the wicked compassing the righteous, and that true judgment did not go forth. He called upon God, but obtained no answer. He made supplication for the people, but He did not save. All this he could not understand. He is instructed that God would raise up the Chaldean, a terrible and dreadful people, to march through the land, and to possess dwelling-places which were not theirs. But it should not last; for after a certain time his mind would change—he should pass over and offend, imputing his power unto his God. Still, the prophet could not make out why Jehovah should thus allow the wicked to devour the righteous, and catch them as fishes in their net. He still, therefore, appeals to God, and resolves to be on his watch-tower, and wait for His answer. He learns, therefore, that God must govern His people and deal with evil, whether it be transgressions through wine, or theft, or covetousness, prospering by unjustly doing evil to others, or idolatry; and he sees that Jehovah is in His holy temple, and that all the earth should be silent before Him. He also learns that the life of the just must be a life of faith, and that in the end there shall be blessing; “for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea;” and in meditating on God’s character and ways with His people he could rest in the day of trouble. He finds, therefore, happiness alone in being occupied with Jehovah, the God of his salvation, hover trying and disappointing things around may be, whom he found to be his strength to enable him to walk safely in his high places.