The Vision
The writing of the vision begins in verse 4 of Hab. 2 "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." It is a vision of blessing to faith, but of judgment to deviousness.
The foregoing scripture could be applied to any man so characterized, but Habakkuk had Nebuchadnezzar and his wicked treatment of the three princes of Judah in mind. We refer to Dan. 3:19-2619Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire. (Daniel 3:19‑26) where the form of his visage was changed towards Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Habakkuk says of them: "The just shall live by his faith." This comment is indelibly etched into the pages of the Old and New Testament.
The Apostle Paul applied it to the "called of Jesus Christ" at Rome. It is the thesis of the book of Romans, and therein is the righteousness of God revealed on the principle of faith to faith. The righteousness of God-it is that kind of righteousness which justifies the believer in Christ. While the Lord was dealing with Israel under law, neither righteousness of God nor wrath of God from heaven was known, but they are now made manifest. The full force of the wrath of God against Gentile ungodliness and against Israel's unrighteousness is impending.
In verse 2: "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it," that is, he that readeth may run with the good news of the gospel of Christ. The vision did not tarry; it was realized about 2000 years ago in the Person of the Christ. Did not John the Baptist send two of his disciples to inquire of Him, "Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" The Apostle Paul recounts it to the saints at Rome (Rom. 1:16, 1716For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16‑17)). The urgent need for the dictum is stated in Rom. 1:18;3:20, 2118For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)
20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (Romans 3:20‑21) and 2 Tim. 1:1010But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10).
Faith or Works
In the Epistle to the Galatians (3:11), the Apostle Paul emphasizes faith in contrast to works of the law. The promise of God was to Abraham and his seed which is Christ, who came to set all things right (Heb. 9:1010Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:10) JND).
Second Coming of Christ
In Hab. 2:3, 43For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:3‑4) the reader is to wait earnestly for the vision to materialize, because it will surely come. The writer to the Hebrew Christians quotes Habakkuk in Chapter 10, verses 37,38 as follows: "For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." Here the application is to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to catch up the Hebrew saints at His second coming, therefore the emphasis is on "live".
Hab. 2:33For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:3), although similar, is not quoted in the Roman and Galatian epistles. The Gentile saints of this dispensation await the coming of the Lord to take them to be with Himself. For them it will be a first coming, if we may so speak. On the other hand, Hab. 2:33For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:3) is quoted in the epistle to the Hebrews (10:37), so that their aspect is to a second coming of Christ although it is one and the same coming for all the saints.
Charges against Nebuchadnezzar
We turn now to Habakkuk's charges against Nebuchadnezzar. Five woes are leveled against him. His ambition knew no bounds and kept him in constant warfare. He was never content unless he was abroad, and all for violence. He drank wine to the point of insensibility, as did his grandson after him. He gathered all nations to himself, as though they were his rightful possessions.
SADDAM HUSSEIN, a modern ruler of the old Babylonian territory has appeared on the world scene. He claims descent from Nebuchadnezzar, and true to character, he has taken that which is not his. He seized the wealth of Kuwait, devastated the land, and polluted the ocean and atmosphere for thousands of miles around. His violent exertions are for one purpose: to destroy completely the people of Israel.
First Woe (Hab. 2:5-85Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: 6Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! 7Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? 8Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. (Habakkuk 2:5‑8))
"Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!" to engrave it with willful pledges that fall back on himself. This comment of Habakkuk seems to refer to the unreasonable decree of Dan. 3:1010Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image: (Daniel 3:10).
Shall not the subjected people rise up suddenly and shall bite, exact usury from their former oppressors, and plunder the plunderer. (Germany paid indemnities to Israel for the Hitlerian oppressions.)
A remnant of the destroyed people shall spoil their enemies because of their constant blood shedding. The violence done to the land of Judah, to the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants shall be avenged. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
Second Woe (Verses 9-11)
"Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house." The tyrant plans to avoid the destruction, devastation, and bloodshed which he had violently imposed on others. So he boasts, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" Dan. 4:3030The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? (Daniel 4:30). As the voice of Nebuchadnezzar died away into silence there fell a voice from heaven saying, "O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee." Dan. 4:3131While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. (Daniel 4:31).
The great city was 15 miles square; the walls were 350 feet high and 87 feet thick and 35 feet into the ground. It had 250 towers, 100 brass gates, 53 temples and 100 altars to Ishtar.
Third Woe (Verses 12-14)
Fourth Woe (Verses 15-17)
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink." "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad." Jer. 51:77Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. (Jeremiah 51:7). Babylon is filled more with shame than with glory. Habakkuk, speaking for Jehovah, calls upon Babylon to drink as it had made others to drink, that it may be exposed as a nation of uncircumcised heathen, whose glory will be reviled and the kingdom taken from them. (Dan. 4:31, 3231While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Daniel 4:31‑32); Jet 25:26, 27.)
Jehovah holds Babylon responsible for the violence done to Lebanon, the destruction of beasts, and for the violence done to the land, to the city, and all that dwell there. The king of Babylon squandered the forests of Lebanon. He cut down the cedars to make forts against the cities he attacked (Isa. 14:6-86He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 8Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. (Isaiah 14:6‑8)). Nimrod is the prototype of all tyrants, and Nebuchadnezzar followed in his steps.
As to Lebanon, on May 22, 1991, a treaty of friendship between Syria and Lebanon was concluded. It is called the Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination. In effect, Syria has "annexed" Lebanon, and is presently using a Lebanese Arab army to consolidate control. The domain of the future "king of the north" is expanding after the pattern of pretended peace (Dan. 8:21-2521And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 23And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:21‑25)).
Fifth Woe (Verses 18-20)
"Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach!... What profiteth the graven image?" The time will come when the workmen shall be ashamed of their images, and though all stand up in defiance of God, they shall be afraid of the consequence (Isa. 44:10,1110Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? 11Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. (Isaiah 44:10‑11)). Nebuchadnezzar, when his reason was restored, confessed God (Dan. 4:3737Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:37)).
W. N. Bothwell