Habakkuk 2 Commentary

Habakkuk 2 begins with the prophet concluding his second question, where he asks how a righteous God can favor a people even more wicked than Judah to bring discipline to Judah. The LORD disclosed to Habakkuk in Chapter 1 His decision to use the Chaldeans—a ruthless and ferocious nation—to discipline Judah, after Habakkuk had asked God his first question, why God was taking so long to answer his petition to bring chastisement upon Judah for its wickedness.

The prophet asks God honestly, but fully recognizes he is speaking with God. So in Chapter 2 he promises to wait eagerly and vigilantly to receive the LORD's answer to his complaint. He knows God is God, and the prophet recognizes that he will likely be chastised himself. In displaying this attitude, Habakkuk provides a good example of a human pursuing God honestly while retaining humility, knowing his place.

Then, the LORD answers the prophet by telling him that the wicked shall perish, but the righteous shall live by his faith. This will include Babylon as well as Judah. This principle forms the primary message of the Apostle Paul, who quotes verse 4 in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews.

Though the wicked seem to prosper, divine justice shall prevail in due time, God's time (not ours).The chapter ends with the LORD's description of the fate of the wicked Chaldeans through a mocking song containing five stanzas. The outline of the passage is as follows:

1. Habakkuk remains alert to receive God's answer to his complaint (v. 1).
2. The LORD responds to Habakkuk's complaint by assuring him that divine justice will ultimately triumph (vv. 2–5).
3. The LORD provides a mocking song to condemn the arrogant attitude of the Chaldeans. All the nations plundered by Chaldea will witness her fall and sing the song to mock her (vv. 6–20).