Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

a) The third woe was against Babylon for building their city by bloodshed and violence. “Bloodshed” (Hab 2:8, 17) is the Hebrew word dameem (plural, fr. da - blood) which refers to “the shedding of blood through violence and havoc resulting usually in death, as in war or murder” (TWOT). It is coupled with the word “violence” which means “violent injustice” as in Mic 3:10 and Jer 22:13.

b) Those who were not killed as a result of a Babylonian siege became the slaves that labored to build the empire. Literally, it was a city that was built on blood, sweat, and tears.

c) Nevertheless, God would be sending a “woe” of judgment upon Babylon because of their violence and injustice.

2. [13] Habakkuk now stated that even though prophets like himself can have difficulty seeing God’s invisible hand of justice, it is “indeed” a reality.

a) The judgment for such bloodshed and violence will come “from the Lord of Hosts.” The name of the Lord Habakkuk used was the “Lord of hosts.” Yahweh tsaba (or sabaoth), used some 261 times, means Yahweh the mightiest Warrior (Psa 46:7; Isa 31:4), Yahweh the all-powerful King (Psa 24:10; Isa 44:6), or Yahweh the Pantokrator (LXX, Omnipotent, cf. Isa 1:9 cf. Rom 9:29). It is the all-powerful Warrior-King, who will preserve and fight for His people.

b) The Lord of hosts causes the “peoples to toil for fire.” Fire speaks of judgment and destruction. This will be Babylon’s end even though they are obtaining great splendor. Their splendor will end up in flames. The labor and energy of the nations will be for naught because of God’s judgment (cf. Jer 51:58).

3. [14] Not only will the Lord of hosts bring judgment upon the wicked, but He will also restore His covenant people.

a) Habakkuk used familiar phrases to allude to the Millennial Kingdom.

(1) It is obvious that this is a future time wrought only by the Lord because mankind has yet to experience anything like it.

(2) The knowledge and glory of the Lord will fill the earth so that everyone will know the Lord (Num 14:21; Psa 72:19). Its extent will cover the earth like the sea (Isa 11:9)

b) After His Second Coming, Christ will establish the Millennial Kingdom where He will sit upon the Davidic Throne and rule the earth (2Sa 7:12-16). His people Israel will be restored unto their Messiah-King. This will be a fulfillment of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-37).

c) God’s reminder of the Millennial Kingdom was His promise to Habakkuk that He would restore His people in spite of their disobedience and discipline (Isa 11:1-9).

F. Woe for Indignity (Hab 2:15-17)

1. [15] The fourth woe was in reference to the the shameful manner in which the Babylonians lured their victims into shameful humiliation.

a) Keil & Delitzch understand this language as figuratively representing the indignant demeanor of the Babylonians that brought ghastly humiliation upon the subdued nations.

b) Some see literal aspects of immorality and debauchery (Lev 20:17-18) being compounded upon the Babylonian’s accumulation of sin.

c) Literal or figurative, the sin was that of causing victims to become intoxicated (“drink”) and incapacitated (“venom,” chēmah - fury or poison). The purpose was to expose their “nakedness,” humility, and subjugation.

2. [16] God’s judgment will come upon the Babylonians in such a way that will bring “disgrace” and humiliation upon them.

a) The Babylonians themselves will be brought low and will have no “honor.”

b) They will be dealt with as though they had become intoxicated and humiliated (“nakedness” aral - uncircumcised, spiritual alienation). Man is naked and incapacitated before God’s judgment.

c) They will be made to drink of the Lord’s cup of wrath (cf. Jer 25:15; 49:12; Rev 14:10; 16:19 cf. Psa 21:8). While the Babylonians gave out venomous poison, The Lord will hand out venomous fury in judgment.

d) God’s judgment will leave them naked of all honor, dignity, and “glory.”

3. [17] Babylon would pay for its devastation to the nations and especially Lebanon. Its devastation would include forests, trees, animals, and men.

a) The reference to nakedness (Hab 2:15) may also allude to the devastation of Lebanon. Lebanon was a nation north of Israel. It was known for its abundance of cedar trees and wild animals. In the building of their empire and fortresses, the Babylonians stripped and destroyed these lands (Isa 37:24) and its inhabitants.

b) They were even ruthless in their killing of the wild animals. God is not opposed to harvesting animals for food, but He is opposed to the senseless destruction of His creation (cf. Exo 23:29; Jon 4:11; Psa 36:6; Pro 12:10; Mt 10:29).

c) But God would make the Babylonians especially pay for the bloodshed and violence against men who were created in the image of God (Gen 9:6).

G. Woe for Idolatry (Hab 2:18-20)

1. [18] The fifth woe, though it is in the second stanza, is in regard to the idolatry of the Babylonians. Habakkuk asks the Babylonians what profit or teaching they could possibly get from their own hand-carved idol?

2. [19] The idols are speechless because wood, silver, or gold is not a living thing that has breath. It is ridiculous for them to think they could be taught by a lifeless inanimate object (Isa 46:1-7).

3. [20] However, in contrast, God is a living eternal Being who dwells in His holy temple (Hab 1:12; 3:6). The only appropriate response to God by the earth and its inhabitants to be silent before Him and worship Him (Zep 1:7; Zec 2:13).

II. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. The LORD Sabaoth sees injustice and will bring recompense (Jam 5:4).

1. Jam 5:4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

B. It is man who does not see and believe the LORD Sabaoth.

1. When all prophecies and all warnings become frigid, and God himself obtains no credit, while openly declaring what he will do, and when his servants consume their labor in vain by warning and crying, let now the stones come forth, and be teachers to you who will not give ear to the voice of God himself, and let the wood also cry out in its turn.” This, then, is the reason why the Prophet introduces here mute things as the speakers, even to awaken our insensibility. (Calvin)

C. It is man who must stop doubting, be silent, and have faith in the LORD Sabaoth.

1. For Habakkuk, the message was clear. Stop complaining! Stop doubting! God is not indifferent to sin. He is not insensitive to suffering. The Lord is neither inactive nor impervious. He is in control. In His perfect time Yahweh will accomplish His divine purpose. Habakkuk was to stand in humble silence, a hushed expectancy of Gods intervention. The closing verse of this woeful dirge recorded by Habakkuk serves as a link to the song of worship that follows in Habakkuk 3. (BKC)

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516