(Part 1)

JBTM Paul D. Wegner
107
verbal rebuke. Although that is what Habakkuk probably deserved, God’s response is that
of a patient teacher. This is now the second part of the second cycle. But God does not
directly respond to Habakkuk’s charges. Look at vv. 2–3. God then inserts an interesting
statement in v. 4. The NASB reads: “As for the proud one, his soul is not right within him;
but the righteous will live by his faith.”
Of course, this statement refers to the Babylonians, doesn’t it? Remember that in 1:11
God states: “But they will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god.” Their proud
and hardened hearts will be punished by God. But I wonder if it doesn’t also refer to the
mouthy prophet himself, who just finished telling God how he ought to run this world. His
presumptuousness has its root in pride, and an attitude like that needs correction. Instead
of pride, a righteous person should live by faith, a concept that we saw in Hab 2:4 that is
repeated three times in the NT. Each time Hab 2:4 is quoted in the NT, a different part of
the verse is emphasized. The emphasis is on: the “righteous person” in Rom 1:17, “will live”
in Gal 3:11, and “faith” in Heb 10:38.
Although God’s response to Habakkuk’s prayer was not what he expected or could
understand, he soon learned that God is still righteous and just. How so? The rest of chapter
2 explains the proud Assyrians would be punished for their excessive actions. Five “woes”
are pronounced upon the Assyrians:
1 st Woe (2:6): “Woe to him who takes what is not his”
2 nd Woe (2:9): “Woe to him who gets dishonest wealth for his house”
3 rd Woe (2:12): “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed”
4 th Woe (2:15): “Woe to him who destroys his neighbor to shame them”
5 th Woe (2:19): “Woe to him who worships false idols”