Habakkuk 2:9

Habakkuk 2:9 says, Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!  Habakkuk begins to pronounce the woe of God on them.  Though Habakkuk was speaking to a particular group of people at that time, the message is for all people who have come since.  Habakkuk warned against the evil of covetousness.  We often think of coveting as wanting something that someone has that is better than what we have.  I believe that this applies to wanting anything that belongs someone else, even those that have less than we do.  Habakkuk warned those who were rich against taking from those who were poor in order to increase their own wealth.  Verse ten adds, Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.  Habakkuk said that instead of bringing honor to themselves, that those who became rich by mistreating others brought shame on their house, or family name.  What we have to realize is that this has not changed.  God's expectations of His people is always the same.  Verse eleven continues, For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.  Habakkuk said that the injustice was so great that even the stones in the walls would cry out.  Those who built their houses from the labor and sufferings of others might feel safe, but Habakkuk said creation itself would witness against them.  Verse twelve states, Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!  I believe that Habakkuk was saying that might does not make right.  When houses or cities or even countries are built on iniquity, or outside of God's will, they will never last.  When God's judgment does come, all that is built outside His will shall be destroyed.  Verse thirteen adds, Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? This is a warning that those things gained through injustice will prove to be worth nothing.  They will even tire those out who gain them.  We know that those who live for the riches of the world will never be satisfied.  Verse fourteen continues, For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.  Habakkuk stated that judgment was coming and that afterwards the world would be filled with the knowledge of God, like the waters that cover the sea.  Though this happened in a limited extent to Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom, we are still awaiting the full implementation of this prophecy, which will occur at Christ's return to claim His people.