Sermon Tone Analysis

! The Book of HABAKKUK

!! Part 5

!!!

The LORD’S Second Reply

This section is longer than the previous one’s because God’s answer is quite comprehensive.

His answer can be divided into two parts: One directed toward Habakkuk, and the other toward the nations who will attack Israel.

God, in effect, was saying the following: “/I am not only going to deal with Babylon *but *with ALL ENEMIES of my people./”[1]

!! Directed Toward Habakkak

!!  (Habakkuk 2:2-4)

First, YAHWEH directs Habakkuk to /write down/ the revelation that its message might be spread /far and wide/.[2] The next verse explains the reason for this: /Because this vision relates not only to the *present**[3]** *but also to the *future*/.[4]

The next few clauses give Habakkuk HIS instructions:

* First, it relates to the *COMING OF MESSIAH* to set up His kingdom.[5]

* Second, he is instructed to “*/wait /*/[endure patiently] *for it* [the coming of Messiah]!”*[6]*/

* Third, he is informed of two possible responses:

* Someone may be /righteous/ [liked Habakkuk] – but */SHRINK BACK*[7]*/* from following the LORD [MESSIAH].

If that occurs, Messiah will be */DISPLEASED/*/ /with him.[8]

* A /righteous person /could */LIVE BY FAITH/*/.

/This is exactly what YAHWEH was commanding Habakkuk to do – to continue living by faith.

If so, he would be *REWARDED*.[9]

!! Directed Toward Israel’s Enemies

!!  (Habakkuk 2:5-20)

God speaks directly to His enemies in this section – which, of course, were the enemies of Israel.[10]

It is divided into a series of five *WOES*.[11]

#. *WOE *to the nation that continues to *seize what is not his*[12]* *and *exacts pledges *[money or property] *for itself.*[13]*

*This relates to nations who have /shed blood /in Israel and /plundered /the land.[14]

God will cause the other nations to /rise up /and /oppress /them in retribution for their sin.[15]

[*Hab 2:5-8]*

#. *WOE *to the nation who *profits from unlawful evil gain* to try to insulate itself from future disaster*.*[16]*

[Hab 2:9-11]*

#. *WOE *to the nation what *builds cities from bloodshed*.[17]

Without doubt, this WOE speaks of God’s judgment on Babylon.[18]

But it also speaks clearly of the END TIMES.

For one thing, the term “/YAHWEH of hosts [armies]/” is often an eschatological [end times] term.[19]

And also the phrase “/the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of YAHWEH as the waters cover the seas/” clearly refers to the END TIMES.[20]

In other words, God is going to defend His people in regard to both Babylon and all future enemies.

*[Hab 2:12-14]*

#. *WOE *to soldiers who *make the enemy drunk* to humiliate and expose their nakedness.[21]

Here the judgment is expressed by the phrase “/the cup of YAHWEH’S right hand/” – which refers to God’s wrath.[22]

*[Hab 2:15-17]*

#. *WOE *to those nations who are *worshipping idols*.[23]

This undoubtedly speaks of Babylon and its unadulterated idolatry.[24]

But this WOE also should be related to “The Day of the LORD” and END TIME judgments.[25]

*[Hab 2:18-20]*

\\ ----

[1] The pattern in this chapter follows the general pattern in Scripture: JUDGMENT - first for BELIEVERS, and then for UNBELIEVERS.[Cf.

Luke 19:27, 1 Pet 4:17].

[2] Hab 2:2.

[3] Hab 2:3a: “/yet for an *appointed time*/” is speaking of God’s appointed judgments on Israel and the Babylonians [Cf.

Jer 8:7].

[4] Hab 2:3b: “/AND is a witness to the *end*/”.

The Hebrew word קֵץ /kates = end /is used repeatedly in the book of Daniel to refer to the “/latter times/” when the Messiah will come [Cf.

Dan 8:17, 19; 11:35, 40; 12:4, 9, 13].

See also Dan 10:14.

[5] Hab 2:3c.This can be demonstrated in a number of ways.

First, the Hebrew can easily be translated: “/If He tarries, wait for Him – He will not be late/.”

Second, the book of Hebrews translates it just this way (Cf.

Heb 10:37).

/ /

[6] Heb 2:3c.

The Hebrew word חכה /chacah / translated “/wait/” basically means “/patiently endure” /and is regularly used concerning LAST TIMES events [Cf.

Isa 30:18, Zeph 3:8, Dan 12:13 etc.] And, equally importantly, it was translated by the Greek verb ὑπομένω /humomeno /which means “/to stand one’s ground, endure/” in the Septuagint [the Greek translation of the Hebrew bible].

THIS is the exact word which is picked up by the writer of Hebrews in connection with the quote from Habakkuk [Cf.

Heb 10:36].

[7] Though some translations have “/Behold the PROUD/” instead of “/Behold the ONE WHO HAS SHRUNK BACK/” as we are suggesting.

The difference is in two Hebrew words which look almost the same – *עפל* /afl /= /proud /and *עלף* /alf/ = /to shrink back [become weak]/.

[This, as you can see, involves the interchange of two letters.]

But both the Septuagint [the Greek translation of the O.T.] and Hebrews 10:38 translate this word by ὑποστέλλω /hupostello= to shrink back/.

This makes it virtually certain that a scribal error occurred [probably early] in the transmission of the text.

[It could be because the scribe did not like the implication that a believer could /shrink back/ and not be rewarded by the coming Messiah – and thus purposely changed the text.]

A similar thing probably occurred in the very next verse [Hab 2:5].

In Hab 2:5 the NKJV translation reads: "/it is because of WINE that a man deals treacherously/....".

The word found in the MT is *הַיַּ֣יִן* which would be translated "/the wine"/ from the word יַיִן = wine.

HOWEVER, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls [1QpHab] reads *הוֹן* = WEALTH.

These words look almost the same so could be easily miswritten by a hasty scribe.

Further, that the Babylonians were motivated by WEALTH is documented by Jer 20:5, Ezek 29:19, II Kings 25:11-17, and II Chron 36:18.

[8] Hab 2:4a.

This translation is fully justified by not only the Hebrew word ישׁר /yashar /itself but also the translation in the book of Hebrews [Heb 10:38 and the use of εὐδοκέω /eudokeo = to be well-pleased/].

The word ישׁר is translated /please /in Judges 14:3, 7, I Sam 18:20, 26 etc.

In Heb 10:38, the Greek phrase Ὁ δίκαιος = /the righteous one /clearly indicates that a /righteous /person can “/shrink back/”.

This is entirely consistent not only with the book of Hebrews but also with the entire Word of God.

This simply indicates DISAPPROVAL at the JUDGMENT-SEAT OF CHRIST [Cf.Heb 10:39, 4:13; II Cor 5:10, Rom 14:10].

[9] Cf.

Heb 4:3.

The opposite of /displeased /is /rewarded /[see 2 Cor 5:9, Heb 12:28, 13:21].

The obvious REWARD would be to SHARE HIS RULE [Cf Luke 19:17, Matt 25:21, Heb 12:28, Rev 2:26-27, 3:21].

See also Dan 12:13.

[10] These WOES seem directed not only at Babylon [for their atrocities against Israel in Habakkuk’s day] but also at ALL ENEMIES of Israel [extending to the END TIMES].

This seems to fit the depiction of *Babylon* in Scripture as /representing /all that is an *enemy of God* [Cf.

Rev 17:5].

Isa 13-14 calls down judgment on both /literal /Babylon and /mystery/ Babylon.

Jer 25:12-26 seems to do the same.

[11] These WOES seem to fit the exact order of Hab 1:5-11 [see endnotes below].

The word translated “/WOE/” is the Hebrew word הוֹי /hoey/ which was used in funeral dirges [Cf. 1 Kings 13:30, Jer 22:18 etc.].

In this context it  could mean: “/You’re as good as *dead*/”.

[12] Hab 2:6a.

Cf.

Hab 1:6.

[13] Hab 2:6b.

This WOE extends from Hab 2:6-8.

[14] Hab 2:8.

Cf.

Hab 1:7.

[15] The history of Babylon bears this prophecy out.