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. 3:19-26 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, 17). The urgent need for the dictum is stated in Rom. 1:18;3:20, 21 and 2 Tim. 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. 9:10 JND).
Second Coming of Christ
In Hab. 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. 2:3, 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. 2:3 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. 2:5-8)
"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. 3:10.
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. 4:30. 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. 4:31.
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)
"Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity!" All the peoples' labor is for the fire, and the nations exert themselves to no purpose. The purposes of God will be superimposed on all the failure of mankind (Hab. 2:14; Dan. 4:35; Isa. 11:9).
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. 51:7. 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, 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. 14:6-8). 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. 8:21-25).
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. 44:10,11). Nebuchadnezzar, when his reason was restored, confessed God (Dan. 4:37).
"But the Lord [Jehovah] is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him." Hab. 2:20.
W. N. Bothwell