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.

Habakkuk 2:1

Habakkuk 2:1 says, I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Habakkuk said that he would stand upon his watch and set upon his tower to see what God would do.  We today need to be just as vigilant and alert to see the work of God in the world.  We cannot become impatient, because God will act in His own time.  We cannot become indifferent, or we may fail to see God working at all.  Verse two adds, And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  God answered Habakkuk and gave him a task.  In verse sixteen of chapter one, Habakkuk had asked if sinful people would always rule cruelly over just people.  As Habakkuk said he would wait and watch alertly, God begin to give him the answer.  When God answers us today, we need to be ready to do what He asks us to do.  Verse three continues, For 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.  God told Habakkuk to be patient, that the vision he was to see was not going to happen immediately.  Still, Habakkuk could put his faith in it happening.  We today need to simply live secure in the knowledge that God will bring the final judgment on sin at His appointed time.  Verse four declares, Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.  God said that those who lived by self pride, not acknowledging God, were not upright.  No matter how exalted a person may feel themself to be in the world if they do not acknowledge and follow God, the will never be upright in God's judgment.  The second part of the verse states that the just shall live by his faith.  This is not faith in ourselves, but faith in God.  Verse five adds, Yea 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:  This verse speaks of the overpowering greed of many people who only look to themselves for purpose in life.  All they are concerned with is their own happiness.  Verse six continues, Shall 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!  When people begin to increase their wealth from the misuse of others, God's people should cry out against them, yet too often we hold them up in honor.  Matthew Henry says that gold and silver are but colored earth.  In God's eyes, silver and gold are as valuable as clay.  Habakkuk said we should question how long the things gained by dishonest or greed driven means would last.  Verse seven says, Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?  When people put their faith in their wealth, especially that obtained at the cost of others, and deny God's will for and power over their lives, then their riches are temporary.  Someone bigger and more powerful will eventually take away what they have, and if not in this life, then God will strip away all things that are not gained from following His will.  Verse eight adds, Because 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 warned of God's pronouncement of judgment because of their actions.  People may live long lives built on greed, but one day God's judgment is coming, and those things gained by mistreating others will be gone.

Habakkuk 1:12

Habakkuk 1:12 says, Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.  Habakkuk delivered God's message to His people, then He addressed God with his own questions.  First, Habakkuk asked if God was not the eternal God.  Even if God allows evil to triumph for a time, especially when His people have ceased to be obedient to His will, He is no less the only true, eternal God.  Then, Habakkuk pronounced God as his God.  If we are to understand God at all, we must know Him personally as our God.  Until we come to God through faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord, we can never understand the ways of God.  Then Habakkuk asked if God had ordained the Chaldeans for judgment and correction.  God's desire is never to punish, but to correct everyone, especially those who are His people.  Verse thirteen adds, Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?  Habakkuk seems to be praising God while at the same time questioning Him.  He proclaims God to be too holy to look on evil and iniquity.  Then, Habakkuk asks how God can hold His tongue when the wicked devour those who are more righteous than them.  We need to acknowledge that righteousness comes from God and that the standard is not whether we are more righteous than someone else, but whether we are true to our relationship to God.  We hear a lot today about God's people suffering at the hands of those who deny God, but we must remember that this suffering is but temporary.  Verse fourteen continues, And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?  God said that people were looked on as of no more value than the fish of the sea and as the creeping things that have no ruler.  Verse fifteen states, They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.  People are caught in the snare of sin, and those in power rejoice.  People today often rejoice at the failings of others, especially those who are God's people, or at least profess to be.  It is possible for those who follow Christ to fall into sin, but they must repent and ask for forgiveness when they do, otherwise the lost of the world will have reason to rejoice. Verse sixteen adds, Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.  After snaring people in the nets of sin, those who snare them then worship the net.  When people today are caught up in sin and are still living the good life, they worship many different idols claiming that they brought them success.  Verse seventeen continues, Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?  Habakkuk asked if those who were evil would be allowed to continue in power.  We know the answer is no.  There was coming a day of judgment then, and there is coming a day of judgment one day when all evil acts will be judged.  Our only hope for forgiveness comes through our relationship to Christ.

Habakkuk 1:1

Habakkuk 1:1 says, The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.  Matthew Henry places the time of Habakkuk's prophesies during the reign of Manasseh, one of the most evil of Israel's kings.  Though they were God's people by His calling them into a covenant relationship, they were not His in action, especially in their leadership.  This was a common situation in the Old Testament world, and we as followers of Christ must insure that it doesn't happen in our lives.  Habakkuk said that what he saw was a burden to him.  When we see evil and injustice occurring in the world today, it should be a burden to us if we are following God's will.  Verse two adds, O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!  Habakkuk felt that God was not listening when he cried out to Him.  This too is a common feeling of God's prophets.  When nothing happens immediately, they question whether God is listening or not.  We today may have prayed about something and feel that God is not listening, but we can be certain that when we as His followers speak to Him, He always hears and answers.  The answer may not come immediately, and if it is not what we want it to be we may not acknowledge it, but God's answer will come.  Verse three continues, Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.  Habakkuk wanted to know why all he saw was iniquity.   This sounds a lot like what goes on in much of the world today.  We don't even have to look to the rest of the world, because it is happening even here, where we call ourselves a Christian nation.  Verse four states, Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.  Habakkuk said that there was no fair judgment and that the wicked had power over the righteous.  Even though this may have been true, God still had power over everyone and everything.  Just because we may see mostly evil when we look at the world today, we need to remember that God has promised His people everlasting security.  Verse five adds, Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.  In this verse, God begins His answer to Habakkuk.  God tells the heathen, those who are not a part of His kingdom, to behold the work that He was about to do against Judah, or His people.  When we who call ourselves God's people allow evil and injustice to become the norm of our lives, then we should not be surprised when God allows us to suffer defeat.  Verse six continues, For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.  God told Judah who was going to defeat them.  Again, we can debate whether God empowered the Chaldeans or simply removed His protective hand from His people.  I believe He removed His protection knowing what would happen without it.  When God removes His protection from someone due to their disobedience, then they are powerless against the forces of the world.  Verse seven says, They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.  Then verse eight adds, Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.  Habakkuk speaking God's word told the people how powerful and terrible the Chaldeans were.  When we are outside God's will and protection, then we face some powerful and terrible enemies with only our own strength to rely on.  Verse nine continues, They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.  Verse ten states, And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.  Verse eleven adds, Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.  Without God's protection, the people of Israel were helpless, and so are we as followers of Christ today.  In their pride and victory, the Chaldeans would even give credit to their god.

Nahum Review

As we look at the lessons learned from Nahum, the first is that just because one generation repents and turns to God doesn't mean that the coming generations are secure in their relationship to God.  The city of Nineveh had escaped destruction earlier because the people had honestly repented and turned to God, but the coming generations did not continue to follow God.  We may call ourselves a Christian nation today, but being a Christian nation cannot be based on how preceding generations believed and lived in relationship to God.  Unless the majority of the current generation are followers of Christ, then we cannot be a true Christian nation.  Next, though Nineveh was still a thriving city, their days of wealth and power were soon to end. We today may still be a rich and powerful nation, but unless we are living by God's standards, we can be certain that this will not last.  Even if we are still a rich and powerful nation when Christ returns, those things attained outside of God's will can never last.  Next, we see that those who are called God's people cannot find security outside of following His will, and those who do not claim to be God's people certainly cannot.  Nineveh felt secure in their alliances, but they found out that it was a false security.  We today may feel secure in our national strength and alliances, but if we are not following God's will, then we also have a false security.  We also see that allowing the worship of idols led to God destroying not only those who worshipped them, but also the idols themselves.  The things that people worship instead of God today will ultimately be totally destroyed.

Nahum 3:11

Nahum 3:11 says, Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.  Nineveh was to be reduced to a state of drunkenness.  Those who are drunk cannot be expected to act rationally. They would look for a place to hide in from their enemies, but none would be found.  When we make God our enemy through sin, we are as illogical as a drunk, and there is no place to hide from His judgment.  Verse twelve adds, All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the first ripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.  God said that all their strongholds would be devoured by others.  They may have been rich and powerful, but others would take all that away.  Verse thirteen continues, Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.  At the risk of being called sexist, this says that the men of Nineveh would be as weak as women and all their defenses would be destroyed.  Verse fourteen states, Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.  Nahum's prophecy from God was that the people of Nineveh prepare for a siege.  When we are in defiance against God, we may lay up stores to see us through life, but they will ultimately be destroyed.  Verse fifteen adds, There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.  This is a continuation of the warning of the coming total destruction of Nineveh.  Verse sixteen says, Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.  Though Nineveh was exceedingly rich, their riches would soon be spoiled and fly away.  Anything we gain outside the will of God will be the same.  No matter how much we accumulate in this world, it will eventually pass away.  Only those things done for God will last.  Verse seventeen adds, Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.  The rulers and military leaders were going to flee when trouble came.  They thought of themselves as powerful men, but Nahum said God saw them as grasshoppers.  That is the total of our strength before God.  Verse eighteen continues, Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.  God said that those who were supposed to protect and care for the people were asleep.  They felt secure in their own power and were not prepared for the coming destruction.  People may be asleep in their sinful nature and feeling secure today, but God has already sent His warning that judgment is coming.  Verse nineteen concludes, There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?  Nahum concludes God's prediction of the coming destruction saying that there was no healing for them.  When someone rejects God's gift of salvation there is no healing for them.  Though God is patient in love, He will not wait forever for a person to accept His gift of salvation.

Nahum 3:1

Nahum 3:1 says, Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;   Nahum begins to pronounce God's reasons for His judgment against Nineveh.  The city was full of lies, robbery, and violence.  That sounds like many cities that we know of today.  If God pronounced judgment on Nineveh, then we should not be surprised if He pronounces judgment on cities, or countries, today.  Still, the ultimate destruction will not come until the return of Christ.  Verse two adds, The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.  The city of Nineveh had relied on their military might to suppress their people.  The rulers had no concern for those they ruled over but only wanted what would enrich themselves.  When a country's rulers begin to favor the rich at the expense of the poor, I believe that God still warns that woe is coming to them.  Verse three continues, The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: I believe that this was just a continuation of a list of the ways that those in power abused those that they were to rule.  God expects rulers to govern in fairness and concern for even the poorest and weakest of citizens.  Verse four states, Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.  The people of Nineveh were devoted to witchcraft and led other people to follow witchcraft.  Whether it is witchcraft or idolatry, God will ultimately destroy both and those who follow these practices will be punished.  Even if they are successful during their whole life, they will be separated forever from God in the coming judgment.  Verse five adds, Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.  God declared Himself to be against Nineveh and that He would expose their shame.  When God is against a nation or a person, He will eventually reveal their shame, their sinful nature, to the world.  Verse six continues, And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.  This is just a continuation of how low Nineveh would become in the eyes of those around them.  They were proud of their wealth and finery, but they were to be reduced to a vile gazing stock.  So it is with all sin driven life.  One day, God will reveal the true nature of sinful people, those who have refused to acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord.  Verse seven says, And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?  The destruction of Nineveh was to be so terrible that everyone would flee when they saw what had happened to it.  No one would mourn nor offer comfort to them.  When God sends His judgment on sin, there is no reason to mourn and no comfort can be found except for the forgiveness and comfort available through Christ.  Verse eight adds, Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?  Nahum was referring to another city that had felt secure in the world.  Verse nine continues, Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.  This city thought themselves to be safe and secure because of their alliance with other countries.  We may feel that we have strength in numbers when we align ourselves against God, but that will never be the case.  Verse ten concludes, Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.  When we rely on anyone or anything for our strength other than our relationship to God, we will be carried away captive by sin.