Habakkuk Chapter 2
God Justifies His Judgment
A. The proud rebuked.
1. (Habakkuk 2:2-3) Preparation for the answer: how to publish the vision.
“Then the LORD answered me and said:
‘Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.’”
a. Write the vision and make it plain: God commanded Habakkuk to take what he received in prayer and put it into written form. This was not a message for him alone, it was meant for God’s people in every generation. It had to be clear, plain, and permanent so that he may run who reads it, meaning the one who reads it can carry it forward, live by it, and proclaim it without confusion.
Habakkuk first had to see the vision. No one can speak clearly for God until they have clearly heard from God. The preacher or teacher cannot communicate what he has not first received.
Habakkuk then had to make it known. Truth that is kept to oneself does not help God’s people. Spiritual leaders are responsible to proclaim what God reveals, using every faithful method available.
Habakkuk had to write it. Writing makes the message durable, preserved for future generations who would face the fulfillment of what God promised. Spoken words fade, written truth endures.
Habakkuk had to make it plain. God’s word is profound, but it is not meant to be confused or buried beneath unnecessary philosophical complexity. The goal is clarity, not academic obscurity. As Charles Spurgeon noted, some ministers only stir up the mud at the bottom and obscure the message, but God calls His messengers to make it plain.
Habakkuk had to make it practical — that he may run who reads it. The purpose of revelation is not speculation but transformation. The one who reads should be stirred to action, obedience, and urgency. Scripture is not for the passive listener, but for the one who runs with it.
b. For the vision is yet for an appointed time: God reminded Habakkuk that what He revealed would unfold in God’s timing, not man’s. The judgment of Babylon and the vindication of God’s righteousness would not be immediate. It was fixed for an appointed time known only to the Lord. At the end it will speak and it will not lie, meaning the prophecy would prove true when the time arrives. Though it tarries from a human perspective, God promised that it will surely come, it will not tarry from His divine schedule.
This taught Habakkuk and all believers to trust God even when His promises seem delayed. God does not operate on human impatience. His timing is perfect, and His word is certain even when fulfillment has not yet been seen.
2. (Habakkuk 2:4-8) God Knows How to Deal with the Proud
“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
Indeed, because he transgresses by wine,
He is a proud man,
And he does not stay at home.
Because he enlarges his desire as hell,
And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied,
He gathers to himself all nations
And heaps up for himself all peoples.
Will not all these take up a proverb against him,
And a taunting riddle against him, and say,
‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—how long?
And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?
Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?
Will they not awaken who oppress you?
And you will become their booty.
Because you have plundered many nations,
All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it.”
a. Behold the proud: God begins His response by showing Habakkuk that He fully sees the arrogant man and the corrupt nation. Babylon’s pride does not escape His notice. Even though they appear powerful and unstoppable, God declares that his soul is not upright in him. Pride is not just an external attitude; it is a twisted condition of the heart.
Pride is universal and can manifest in any condition of life. The rich are proud of their wealth, the poor are proud of their survival. The talented boast in ability, the untalented in hard work. The religious boast in religion, the irreligious boast in doubt. Pride is deceptive, adaptive, and comfortable in any heart willing to host it. This is why Scripture repeatedly says God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Pride is especially dangerous among God’s people. Even spiritual growth and humility can become grounds for self-exaltation. As John Bunyan noted, Satan will tempt a praying man to be proud of his prayers and a humble man to be proud of his humility.
Pride is hateful to God. Men may tolerate or hide pride, but God never does. It is His daily business to bring the proud low. Babylon may rise high in conquest, but God sees the crookedness of their soul and promises judgment.
b. But the just shall live by his faith: In contrast to the proud, God marks the righteous by a simple but profound truth — they live by faith. This is one of the most important statements in all Scripture. Habakkuk complained that the wicked seemed to triumph, but God answers by reminding him that the righteous are not preserved by power, law, or works, but by faith.
This truth is so foundational that it is quoted three times in the New Testament, each time emphasizing a different word:
Romans 1:17 — “The just shall live by faith” — focuses on who is just before God.
Galatians 3:11 — emphasizes how the just live, not by law but by faith.
Hebrews 10:38 — focuses on faith as the principle that sustains life in the face of trials.
Faith is not passive belief; it is an active trust in God’s character, promises, and timing — especially when circumstances do not make sense.
c. He enlarges his desire as hell… and cannot be satisfied: The proud man is described as greedy as the grave. Like death, he swallows endlessly but is never filled. This is the heart of Babylon — insatiable conquest, endless appetite, never content. Faith leads to contentment; pride leads to consumption.
d. Because you have plundered many nations… all the remnant of the people shall plunder you: God assures Habakkuk that Babylon will not escape justice. The very nations Babylon devoured will one day rise up and say, Woe to him who increases what is not his — how long? Babylon, who made others their spoil, will become spoil. Those who shed blood and filled cities with violence will face the same.
God is not ignoring evil. His use of Babylon to judge Judah does not mean He approves of Babylon. Their judgment is appointed. Their pride, cruelty, and greed guarantee their downfall.
B. Four woes to silence sinful man.
1. (Habakkuk 2:9-11) Woe to the greedy.
“Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house,
That he may set his nest on high,
That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!
You give shameful counsel to your house,
Cutting off many peoples,
And sin against your soul.
For the stone will cry out from the wall,
And the beam from the timbers will answer it.”
a. Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house: This woe is directed at those who pursue wealth, security, and power through sinful means. The image of setting a “nest on high” speaks of someone who tries to build a fortress of safety—like an eagle placing its nest on a high cliff where no one can reach it (Obadiah 1:3-4). Babylon embodied this arrogance. They plundered nations, took what was not theirs, and used it to fortify their empire against future judgment. Yet no amount of wealth or position can shield someone from the justice of God. Wealth gained by sin invites divine judgment.
b. You… sin against your own soul: Greed is self-destructive. The one who seeks evil gain does not merely harm others; he damages himself. He sins against his own soul. Jesus taught the same truth: “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Luke 9:25). The parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21 illustrates this perfectly. A man stored up wealth, built larger barns, and congratulated himself on his security. But God said, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you.” Greed blinds a person to eternity. It makes temporary gain look more valuable than eternal life.
c. For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the timbers will answer it: Habakkuk uses powerful imagery. The very materials used to build this luxurious, unjust mansion testify against its owner. Every stone, every timber is a witness to his greed—each one obtained through violence, oppression, or theft. Even if no human voice condemns him, the walls of his own house will cry out. This means that no sin is hidden, no injustice is forgotten, and no crime is buried deep enough that God cannot expose it. What is built through blood and greed becomes its own indictment.
Summary of the First Woe:
Greed never builds safety; it builds judgment. Men think they can secure their future with wealth, power, or reputation, but God says such attempts are foolish when built on sin. Evil gain does not protect a man—it condemns him. The house built on blood cries out against its owner. The one who seeks to save his life by greed will lose it, but the one who trusts God and lives by faith will stand.
2. (Habakkuk 2:12–14) Woe to the Violent
“Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed,
Who establishes a city by iniquity!
Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts
That the peoples labor to feed the fire,
And nations weary themselves in vain?
For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,
As the waters cover the sea.”
a. Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed:
Here God pronounces judgment on those who use violence, oppression, and injustice as the foundation of their success. Babylon was a prime example. Their empire was built on conquest, forced labor, destruction, and bloodshed. They believed power justified their actions, as long as it brought results. But God declares that whatever is built on blood is destined to fall. A city or empire constructed through cruelty is not a monument to greatness—it is evidence for the courtroom of God.
This woe expands beyond ancient Babylon. It is a warning to every person, government, or system that advances itself by exploiting life, crushing the weak, or shedding innocent blood. God sees. And He responds.
b. Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the peoples labor to feed the fire, and nations weary themselves in vain?
This is God’s declaration that all human achievements built without righteousness will ultimately fuel judgment. The phrase “labor to feed the fire” means all their toil, brilliance, warfare, and construction will end as ash in the fire of God’s justice. Man thinks he is building empires of glory; God says he is only stacking wood for his own funeral pyre.
Nations weary themselves in vain when they leave God out. Their efforts do not last, no matter how impressive they appear in their time. What is built by pride and sustained by violence will be burned by divine holiness.
c. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea:
This is the answer to human pride and violence. Evil appears to rule for a time, but it is temporary. God’s final plan is not the triumph of Babylon, or any other empire—it is the universal triumph of His glory. The knowledge of the glory of the LORD speaks of a world where God is rightly known, honored, and worshipped; where His righteousness and justice are recognized everywhere.
Just as the sea beds are completely covered by water, so one day the whole earth will be completely covered with the revelation of God’s glory. This points forward to the Millennial Kingdom of Christ and ultimately to the eternal state, when all creation acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The violent may dominate for a season, but the Prince of Peace will rule forever.
Summary of the Second Woe:
God condemns any power built by brutality or maintained by sin. Human empires built with blood are temporary and doomed to burn in judgment. In contrast, God’s kingdom is everlasting. While the violent man trusts in the sword, the believer trusts in the LORD, knowing a day is coming when the whole earth will be filled with His glory.
3. (Habakkuk 2:15–17) Woe to the Drunk and Those Who Promote It
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor,
Pressing him to your bottle,
Even to make him drunk,
That you may look on his nakedness!
You are filled with shame instead of glory.
You also—drink!
And be exposed as uncircumcised!
The cup of the LORD’s right hand will be turned against you,
And utter shame will be on your glory.
For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you,
And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it.”
a. Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor… You also—drink!:
This woe condemns not only personal drunkenness but also those who entice, manipulate, or corrupt others through it. The picture is of someone intentionally getting another drunk to take advantage of them — to expose their nakedness, shame them, or exploit them. This is more than casual drinking; it is predatory drunkenness. It speaks of Babylon humiliating nations after conquering them, stripping them of their dignity. God declares that such behavior brings not glory, but shame.
God turns the accusation back on them. “You also—drink!” The one who shamed others will himself be shamed. As Babylon forced nations to drink the cup of humiliation and defeat, God will now make Babylon drink from “the cup of the LORD’s right hand.” This is the cup of divine wrath, a frequent biblical symbol of God’s judgment (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15).
Just as they made others exposed, they will be exposed — “as uncircumcised,” meaning unclean, ungodly, covenantless, and placed under judgment.
b. The cup of the LORD’s right hand will be turned against you:
The drunkards loved their own cup of pleasure, but God has a greater cup — one of wrath and righteous repayment. This is the “cup” Jesus referred to in the Garden of Gethsemane — the cup He would drink in our place (Matthew 26:39). Babylon refused repentance and embraced sin, so they must drink the cup themselves.
c. For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you…
God reminds Babylon of the ruin they brought even to creation. “The violence done to Lebanon” refers to Babylon’s destruction of Lebanon’s forests, cities, and wildlife — especially during campaigns against Israel, whose temple was built with Lebanon’s cedar. Their cruelty extended not only to people but to land and animals. God holds them accountable for:
Men’s blood — murder, war, cruelty.
Violence of the land and the city — destruction of nations and civilizations.
And of all who dwell in it — every victim of their pride and excess.
Summary of the Third Woe:
This is not just a warning about alcohol — it is a rebuke of exploitation, manipulation, and the abuse of power. Babylon intoxicated nations to strip them of honor; God will strip Babylon of theirs. Drunkenness leads to shame, not glory. And those who use sin to control others will face the cup of God’s wrath. God avenges the shame of the innocent, the blood of the oppressed, and even the destruction of His creation.
4. (Habakkuk 2:18–20) Woe to the Idolater
“What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it,
The molded image, a teacher of lies,
That the maker of its mold should trust in it,
To make mute idols?
Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’
To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
Yet in it there is no breath at all.
But the LORD is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”
a. Woe to him who says to wood, “Awake”:
After rebuking greed, violence, and drunkenness, God now confronts idolatry — the ultimate sin beneath all other sins. Idolatry is not merely bowing to statues; it is trusting in anything other than God for meaning, power, or security. The idolater is so blind that he speaks to wood and stone as if they were alive. He carves an image with his own hands and then asks it to save, guide, or bless him. God calls such idols “a teacher of lies” because they promise protection, wisdom, fertility, or prosperity — but they cannot deliver any of it.
Idolatry was Babylon’s foundation. Their gods were lifeless, their temples filled with statues that could not speak or move. Yet they trusted in them and boasted in them. This is spiritual insanity — to trust the work of your own hands more than the living God who made you.
b. In it there is no breath at all. But the LORD is in His holy temple:
Here God draws a sharp contrast. Idols are beautifully covered in gold and silver, but they have no breath. They are lifeless. No voice. No power. No spirit. In contrast, “the LORD is in His holy temple.” He is alive, reigning, sovereign, and holy. The idol is silent because it is dead. The world must be silent because God lives and speaks.
This is a command for reverence: “Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” In other words, stop arguing, stop doubting, stop fearing — God is on the throne. Habakkuk began with questions and confusion, but God ends this section by reminding him that when human understanding ends, worship begins.
c. God’s answer to Habakkuk’s struggle:
Habakkuk was troubled that God would use Babylon — a wicked nation — to judge Judah. But through these woes, God shows that He sees every sin of Babylon:
Their pride.
Their greed.
Their violence.
Their drunken corruption.
Their idolatry.
God’s message is simple: I know their sin. I will deal with it. My justice may seem delayed, but it is not absent. The LORD is in control, and He will judge the wicked in His time.
Summary of the Fourth Woe:
Idolatry is useless, deceptive, and dead. The one who trusts in idols trusts in emptiness. But God is alive, enthroned, and all creation must bow in silence before His majesty. While idols cannot hear or save, the Lord hears every cry and will bring righteous justice. The proud, greedy, violent, drunk, and idolater will not stand — but the LORD remains in His holy temple, ruling forever.
