Habakkuk
Theme
Habakkuk asks God hard questions about injustice and the perversion of the Teaching.
God answers he works all things out, however Habakkuk must wait and trust.
The righteous shall live by faithfulness.
Chapter 1
Habakkuk’s Complaint
Why, O Lord, is there injustice in our land? What will you do about it? (my paraphrase)
God has shown Habakkuk injustice (1.3) but he does not understand why this is shown to him. Or why it’s allowed to continue. Why is God’s Torah debased and justice perverted? How long? (Cf. Apocalypse 6.10)
God’s Answer
Marvel at marvelous things and be annihilated! I am working a work in your days that you would not believe if someone told you. (NETS)
God answers that he will send the Chaldeans upon the land. Yet Chaldea will think that they are working this conquest themselves. They do not care for justice and are doing it to enlarge their borders (1.7).
1.11 In NETS and LES from the Greek it reads:
Then he will have a change of spirit/then the spirit will have a change
and will pass through and will appease (atone).
This strength belongs to my God.
with NETS attributing the last line to Habakkuk as the start of his response and LES attributing it to God as the final part of his answer.
But from Hebrew it reads:
Then they sweep like the wind and pass on;
they become guilty, whose might is his god! (LEB)
The Greek reads in a fashion similar to Tolkien’s account of his devil figure (Melkor/Morgoth) where although he seeks to cause discord and destroy the works of God [Ilúvatar], he will but prove to be his instrument. Silmarillion: Ainulindalë
And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me [Ilúvatar], nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.
Habakkuk’s Response or Second Complaint
Habakkuk responds that the Lord is holy and has appointed Chaldea for judgment. He trusts that Judah will not die.
But how can the Lord do this, who cannot behold evil? The Chaldeans are worse than the Judeans. The Chaldeans will sacrifice to their own ability (burn incense to his fishing net) and not worship God. But rather will keep on killing the nations.
But Habakkuk states he’ll await the Lord’s answer (2.1) and keep watch at the watchpost.
Chapter 2
God’s Second Response
The Lord gave Habakkuk a vision and tells him to write it down.
He gives a vision for the end, for the appointed time.
It will require waiting, but when it comes it will not delay.
The just man shall live by God’s (Greek) faithfulness.
(Or his own faithfulness [most English translations, but the NET notes there is some ambiguity in the Hebrew text].)
St Paul quotes this in Romans 1.17 in the context of the Gospel as the power of God for salvation. This is the Day of the Lord that Habakkuk was commanded to wait for.
And again in Galatians 3.11 where he contrasts the Torah which can not justify but rather the righteous live by faith and now Christ and his Gospel is the power unto salvation.
And the author of Hebrews quotes Habakkuk 2.3—4 matching the Greek text. He encourages us to endurance for those who shrink back are destroyed but those who keep faith preserve their souls (Hebrews 10.36—39). Note this faith cannot be mere belief or mental assent as it’s contrasted with shrinking back (being unfaithful). Following this is the whole chapter 11 where St Paul shows those through the whole Scriptures were faithful in God, yet ‘did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.’
This is the salvation Habakkuk waited for on his watchpost. For Christ is the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12.2).
The wicked person has a hunger like Hades and cannot be satisfied.
Yet:
God pronounces woes on the Chaldeans and all like them.
Woe to those who increase for themselves from things they did not own. Those who plundered will be plundered by those who were plundered. Subjected peoples will rebel against their rule.
Those who build a house or town in iniquity will have the stone, wood, and even beetles cry against them.
The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as water covers the sea.
Woe to those who expose their neighbor’s nakedness with drink. (Cf. Noah’s son Ham (Genesis 9).) They too shall drink --- the cup in the right hand of the Lord! Their shame shall be exposed. (Drinking the cup of the Lord is a theme throughout the Scriptures.)
Their idols are of no use; there is no breath in them. They have no power.
But the Lord is in his temple; let all earth do reverence (Greek) / keep silent (Hebrew) before him. (See also Psalm 10.4/11.4, Zephaniah 1.7 and Zechariah 2.13)
In the Orthodox Church the Cherubic hymn for Holy Saturday (and for the Consecration of a Church) is taken from this line. “Let all mortal flesh keep silence and with fear and trembling stand.”
Chapter 3
Habakkuk’s Psalm
Habakkuk responds in songful prayer, echoing themes the Lord has revealed. (This is Ode 4 in Orthodox Matins.)
While he heard of the Lord’s renown and was astonished, he sees that he will be recognized at the right time. (Incarnation theme: the one between the living creatures (Greek reading) shall be revealed at the appointed time. The living creatures probably refer in context to the cherubim on the ark of the covenant [at least this is my initial reading], but the typology is seen in the Ox and Ass at the manger, and Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration, the two thieves at the Cross, but also the Theotokos and St John the Baptizer and Forerunner at the Throne (Deësis Supplication) icon.)
See the article Habakkuk 3:2—3 in Liturgical Texts for more. Also City of God 18.32 by St Augustine.
The Lord will execute justice, and it will be terrible to behold.
The fig tree fails (note the typological reading of Christ cursing the fig tree during Holy Week) and the olive declines, and generally everything seems to be broken. Yet Habakkuk will rejoice in God his savior, who establishes his feet until the end.