Introduction to Habakkuk Chapter Two

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/6/2016 10:23 PM

My Worship Time                                                 Focus:  Introduction to Habakkuk

John Gill writes the following on his introduction to this second chapter of the book of Habakkuk:  “This chapter contains an answer from the Lord to the expostulations, pleadings, and reasonings of the prophet, in the name of the people. The preparation of the prophet to receive this answer is described, #Hab 2:1 then follows the answer itself, in which he is bid to write and make plain the vision he had, that it might be easily read, #Hab 2:2 and a promise is made, that vision should still be continued to the appointed time, at which time the Messiah would come; and this the righteous man, in opposition to the vain and proud man, is encouraged to live in the faith of, #Hab 2:3,4 and then the destruction of the enemies of the people of God is threatened for their pride, ambition, covetousness, oppression, and murder, #Hab 2:5-12 which would be unavoidable, #Hab 2:13 and issue in the spread of the knowledge of the glory of God in the world, #Hab 2:14 and also the ruin of other enemies is threatened, for drawing men into apostasy, and for their violence and idolatry, #Hab 2:15-19 upon which would follow an universal silence in the earth, #Hab 2:20.”

“Hab 2:1-20. THE PROPHET, WAITING EARNESTLY FOR AN ANSWER TO HIS COMPLAINTS (FIRST CHAPTER), RECEIVES A REVELATION, WHICH IS TO BE FULFILLED, NOT IMMEDIATELY, YET IN DUE TIME, AND IS THEREFORE TO BE WAITED FOR IN FAITH: THE CHALDEANS SHALL BE PUNISHED FOR THEIR CRUEL RAPACITY, NOR CAN THEIR FALSE GODS AVERT THE JUDGMENT OF JEHOVAH, THE ONLY TRUE GOD (JFB Commentary).”

Dr. Wiersbe writes the following in his introductory comments on Habakkuk chapter two:  “This chapter reports an experience Habakkuk had that is similar to one recorded by Asaph the psalmist in Psalm 73.  Like Habakkuk, Asaph was bewildered at the providential working of God in this world:  he was disturbed because the wicked seemed to be prospering while the righteous were suffering.  Like Habakkuk, he reasoned with God, and then, like Habakkuk, he gave God the opportunity to reply.

‘When I thought to know this,’ he wrote, ‘it was too painful for me, until I went into the sanctuary of God (Ps. 73:16-17).  There in the sanctuary he found God’s answer to his problem, and his sighting was turning into singing.

“Let’s join Habakkuk on the watchtower, which was his sanctuary, and listen to what the Lord said to him.  When God did speak to His servant, He gave him three responsibilities to fulfill.”  As we continue looking at this second chapter of Habakkuk we will see those three responsibilities.

2/6/2016 10:36 PM