CHAPTER ONE

 

 

1:2:  “cry. . . violence” = The Hebrew for “cry” is, “shavah,” meaning, “scream,” and for “violence,” is “hamas,” which does mean “violence,” but in this context would better mean “injustice,” which would better be translated to “even scream out unto Thee of all this injustice.”

 

1:3:  “Why” = the entire verse is screaming, “Why are You not doing something about this Lord?”

 

1:4:  “slacked” = Meaning that the law is ineffectual, paralyzed; chilled.

 

1:5:  “Behold ye among the heathen” = Although Habakkuk is saying to Israel that even the heathen will be surprised at your demise, Paul uses this verse in Acts 13:41 to describe the dispersion of the Jews at Antioch and the reaction of the people towards Jesus, The Christ.  A prophet sees type in the antitype (a latter event).

 

1:6:  “Chaldeans” = In B.C. 626 Nabopolassar came to the Babylonian throne.  In B.C. 606 Nebuchadnezzar his son defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt in the “Battle of Carchemish,” and thus was established the Neo-Babylonian Empire of Daniel, Chapter Two.  Assyria at this point was and had become irrelevant.

 

1:8:  “leopard. . . wolf. . . eagle” = The Babylonian cavalry are compared to a leopard, wolf, and eagle -- three predators whose speed and power bring a violent death to their prey; indicating that they would come swiftly and without mercy.

 

1:11:  “imputing this his power unto his god” = Meaning either:

 

1) Sacrilegious arrogance, in ascribing to his idol, “Bel,” the glory that belongs to God alone, or:

 

2) Saying that his power is of his own, as one who is a god to himself.

 

1:12:  “Thou hast established them for correction” = The rest of this Chapter has Habakkuk confused that God would use a more wicked nation than Israel for judgment purposes.

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

 

2:ALL:  No less than five woes (see below) affirm the message that Babylon’s doom is sealed.  The punishment on the enemy will be in accordance with the “as you have done unto others, so shall it be done unto you,” principle.  What the wicked do to their victims will, in the end, be done to them.  They will reap what they have sown.

 

Woe 1:  Habakkuk 2:5-8 = Proud Ambition.

Woe 2:  Habakkuk 2:9-11 = Covetousness.

Woe 3: Habakkuk 2:12-14 = Ruthlessness and Cruelty.

Woe 4:  Habakkuk 2:15-17 = Debauchery.

Woe 5:  Habakkuk 2:18-19 = Idolatry.

 

2:3:  “it will surely come” = There is always a point where God says, “Enough already.”  Close of Probation language.

 

2:4:  “the just shall live by his faith” = See Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:16; 3:11; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 10:38.

 

2:5:  “hell, and is as death” = Here is my Revelation 20:14 Note:  “death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” = Temporal death does not hinder eternal life; for all die (= “death”).  However, those who die without loving God (= “death and [those who will go to] hell”) will be “cast into the lake of fire,” which means they will experience “the second death,” equaling never to live again.

 

2:6:  “ladeth himself with thick clay” = Loan records were kept upon clay tablets.  The phrases meaning is, “And maketh himself rich with loans.”

 

2:7:  “For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber” = Meaning, the things they are devoted to will soon fall apart.  Are the things you are devoted to, will they fall apart?

 

2:14:  “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD” = Is this not the ultimate purpose of the Godhead?  The Book of Matthew uses the phrase, “The Kingdom of Heaven,” 33 times.  But it should be translated, “The Kingdom From Heaven.”

 

2:16:  “dumb idols” = We become like the “idols” we worship.  Are you materialistic? Are you. . .?

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

3:ALL:  According to Habakkuk 3:19, this Chapter (and possibly the entire Book) was to be a song.

 

3:1:  “Shigionoth” = Here is my Psalm 7:1 Note:  Meaning a plaintive song or elegy (which is a sad, mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially sung at a funeral or a lament for the dead).  The word is used only here and in Habakkuk 3:1.  It’s a wandering or charming song.  The matter and composition of the several parts being different, but artificially put together.

 

3:3:  “Teman” = Teman (see Num. 20:21 & Jer. 49:7), was a city of the Edomites, who settled in what is today Syria.

 

“Paran” = In Numbers 10:12; 12:16; 13:3 & 26; Deuteronomy 33:2, “Paran” is discussed in reference to the wanderings in the wilderness, overshadowed by God in His cloud.  Thus, the Arabian Peninsula was privileged to have the “glory” and “brightness,” verse 4, of God descend and touch it.

 

“Selah” = Meaning, “Stop; Listen; Ponder; Pause.”

 

3:4:  “He had horns coming out of His hand:  and there was the hiding of His power” = This text is used to promote the Biblical implication of “horns” meaning “power.”

 

3:7:  “Cushan” = Meaning, Ethiopia.

 

3:8-12:  “horses” = Here is my Revelation 6:2 Note:  “white horse” = The reason I believe this to be Christ is because in the Book of Revelation, whenever Christ is seated, it is on something “white.”  Here in this verse, He is seated upon a “white horse.”  In Revelation 14:14 He is seated upon a “white cloud.”  In Revelation 19:11 He is again seated upon a “white horse,” which clearly defines that this is Christ also in this verse.  And in Revelation 20:11 He is seated upon the “great white thrown.”

 

Habakkuk 3:8 gives reference to our Lord ridings on “horses and chariots of salvation.”  Though “white horses” (Rev. 6:2), is not mentioned, the reason for riding these “horses” is for the “salvation” of His people.  Also, Habakkuk 3:9 & 11 speak of our Lords “bow” and “arrows,” which according to Habakkuk 3:12 is for “thresh[ing] the heathen in anger.”

 

3:13:  “Thine Anointed” = Here, Habakkuk sees Joshua (compare Hab. 3:11 to Jos. 10:12), as a type of Messiah, in that he was used to save Israel.  With this, Habakkuk is looking for a future Messiah to save Israel from their sins.

 

3:18:  “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD” = Though in calamities, will you “rejoice in the LORD,” as did Job?  The heart of a true warrior is not known until he is set in his foxhole.  See First Thessalonians 1:9.

 

3:19:  “hinds’ feet” = A “hind” is a female deer.  As the “Targum” puts it, “swift as they.”  In other words, fast enough to escape their enemies, or swift enough to overrun them.

 

“high places” = These are places of exaltation.  Places where one is recognized as having achieved the victory or authority to be there.  In other words, the right, or better, the God given right to be there.

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