Friday, August 28, 2026 ▫ Read Habakkuk 2:6–20
Questions from the Scripture text: What two things will all the people from v5 take up against the proud man (v6)? What two things bring him under woe? Who will rise up to do what (v7)? What will Babylon have done, and what will be done to them by whom (v8)? Upon whom does v9 pronounce woe? What does he think the evil gain will do for him? But what does he do to himself and his house by thinking like this (v10)? What will testify against him (v11)? Upon whom does v12 pronounce woe? Under Whose providence do those who think that they advance themselves actually proceed (v13)? What will be the end of all their efforts (v14)? Upon whom does v15 pronounce woe? What will be the outcome of their glorying in sin (v16)? What earthly/temporal instances of wrath are pictures of this (v17)? What final folly is denounced in v18–19? Why is it so ridiculous to trust in it and listen to it? Who is completely different than this? What must all do before Him?
Why shouldn’t Habakkuk fret over the apparent success of the Babylonians? Habakkuk 2:6–20 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fifteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, despite whatever successes they may seem to have, the wicked are actually in a most unenviable condition.
From an earthly perspective, it is the peoples of the nations (v5) whom we ought to pity. But these people are the ones who will end up taking up a proverb against the proud man (Babylon) in the end (v6). Habakkuk need not fret over God’s plan to use the Chaldeans (cf. 1:5–11). They are in a most unenviable position, as the Lord’s justice stands against them.
Woe to him who takes things by force, v6–8. Though one man or nation may be more powerful than another, their power is borrowed power, and their time is borrowed time. When the bill comes due (v7), God will make the remnant of the people to plunder them (v8). All things belong, ultimately, not only to God but, under His sovereignty, to His remnant people. Don’t fret over the brute who takes things by force.
Woe to him who takes things by stealth, v9–11. This man covets “evil gain,” and he thinks to go undetected, but all creation is witness (v11). Indeed, God Himself is witness. God sees not only what is done to get the wealth, but the foolish and wicked hope that by accumulating wealth, one will put himself out of the reach of trouble (v9). One who leads according to the idea that money is a cure-all brings his family not into honor, but shame, and he sins against his own soul even more than he sins against others (v10). Don’t fret over the conspirator who takes things by schemes.
Woe to him who builds wickedly for the glory of his own name, v12–14. Babylon’s ancient beginning, Babel, is behind these three verses, and we know what came of them (cf. Gen 11:4–9). Men labor and weary themselves to establish and exalt their own name, but they will end up on the scrap heap of history, and can only accomplish the Lord’s ultimate purposes (v13). Those who operate out of such pride will be willing to commit sin to accomplish their goals (v12), but it is the Lord’s ultimate purpose that they serve: to fill the earth with the knowledge of His own glory (v14). Do not fret over the arrogant and proud who are willing to commit whatever sin they think will serve the exalting of their own name.
Woe to him who glories in sin, v15–17. Up to this point, sin was a means to an end, but here sin is its own end. He is glad to abuse whatever substance he can take, or give others, in order to silence the conscience and indulge in sin even more (v15). But the wrath of man (v17) is the smallest hint of the wrath that he will find against himself in the cup of YHWH’s right hand (v16, cf. 2Th 1:9–10). Do not envy the man who seems to take his fill of fleshly pleasure.
Woe to him who invents his own religion, v18–20. The Chaldeans’ brutality upon the nations was so lucrative that they made a religion out of worshiping it (cf. 1:15–17). But it is utter folly to trust in, or listen to, a “god” that you create (v18–19). Instead, you must trust in the uncreated Creator; and, you must keep silence before Him and listen to Him (v20). YHWH is completely other than the creature. We must humble ourselves before Him, trust in Him, and listen to Him. Do not be tempted to follow the ways of the Babylonians because they seem to have success for now. Even now, YHWH is in His holy temple; the God Who sits in the heavens laughs in scorn at the raging and plotting of the nations (cf. Ps 2:4).
So Habakkuk needs neither to fret over, nor to envy, the brute, the schemer, the worldly ambitious, the hedonistic, or the idolator. All of these are in a slippery place and shall fall all at once without remedy (cf. Ps 73:12–20). Do not fret over them; woe to them! Do not envy them; woe to them! Keep silence before YHWH in His holy temple. Trust in Him, listen to Him, and look forward, with confidence to the ultimate knowledge and praise of His glory!
Over what brute are you tempted to fret? Over what conspirators are you tempted to fret? What worldly ambitious/ successful person are you tempted to envy? Whom are you tempted to envy that take their fill of fleshly pleasure? What manmade religious practices are you tempted to think of as spiritual or instructive?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding us that everything occurs under Your providence, and answers to Your justice. We long for the day when the wicked receive the cup of Your right hand against them, and the earth is filled with the knowledge of Your glory as the waters cover the sea. Make us to keep silence before You in Your holy temple, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage” or TPH73B “Yes, God Is Good to Israel”
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