There are some questions that expect a positive reply[1] and Habakkuk’s question in Habakkuk 1:12a is one of those, “Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One?” (NASB)[2] While it appears as a question, it is actually a declaration in the form of a question.[3] This is a rhetorical question that expects the answer, “Yes of course.”[4] This rhetorical question is voiced by Habakkuk as he wrestles with the message that God is going to send the wicked Babylonians to Judah to punish the people of Judah for their unfaithfulness to God.
With this perspective let’s read Habakkuk 1:12–13 and note a few key words. “Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We will not die. You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge; and You, O Rock, have established them to correct. Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?”
The name of God deserves our attention. “LORD” is used two times in Habakkuk 1:12. It’s in all capital letters in our English translation which tells us it’s a translation of YHWH[5] (or transliterated as Yahweh[6]) and was the covenant name of God (Exod 3:14). The use of this name for God by Habakkuk indicated God’s covenant faithfulness and would evoke confidence in the original hearers. Other English forms of God’s name based on the Hebrew are “God” from Elohim and “Lord” from Adonai.
The titles for God deserve our attention. Habakkuk calls God “Holy One” (v. 12b). This title describes how God transcends the affairs of people and nations. He will not allow sin to go unpunished. Habakkuk also calls God “Rock” (v. 12e).This title views God as a place where someone can go for safety from danger. It evokes feelings of permanence and stability.
The attributes of God deserve our attention. Habakkuk describes God as “everlasting” (v. 12a).This was a reminder of the Lord’s saving history in Israel. Next Habakkuk describes God’s “eyes” (13a). This is an “anthropomorphism” which is the attribution of human features to God. Here it describes God’s omnipotence in how he sees everything going on in the world.
The activities of God deserve our attention. We read that God has “established them to correct” (v. 12e). God is going to use the Babylonians to punish, but they will not overstep God’s sovereign will. (This was the message of God to Habakkuk in 1:5–11.)
Lastly, the attitude of Habakkuk deserves our attention. Habakkuk almost seems relieved to know God is active, but God had not responded the way Habakkuk wanted. This is important to note: Habakkuk does not question that God punish Judah, but Habakkuk does question how God will use an evil nation to punish Judah.
Habakkuk 1:12–13 reminds us of an important reality in the Christian life which is this: we have confidence in the eternal God. For Habakkuk things are not looking good, but Habakkuk still believes God is good. Thingshave been bad for 300 years in Israel and Judah, and they are not getting better. Yet Habakkuk still has confidence in the eternal God as seen in Habakkuk’s addresses to God as “Lord” “Holy One” “Rock” and “Everlasting.” Pastor John MacArthur writes, “Although the prophet could not fully comprehend the sovereign workings of his righteous God, he expressed his complete faith and trust.”[7] While the devastation of divine judgement was terrible, Habakkuk drew hope and consolation from God’s holiness and faithfulness.
When we read about God’s potential judgment we should reflect on God’s promises to Israel. Scripture written before the book of Habakkuk said God would remain faithful to Abraham’s family based on God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen 17:2–8; 26:3–5; 28:13–15). Scripture also revealed that God would remain faithful to Israel as they were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exod 3:3–15; Deut 7:6; 14:1–2; 26:16–18). Furthermore, God said he would remain faithful to the house of David by always having a descendant of David on the throne (2 Sam 7:12–29).[8]
While those were promises given to Israel then, God also gives promises to believers living today. God promises that nothing will separate us from his love (Rom 8:38–39). God promises that he will adopt us as sons and daughters (Gal 3:26–27). These promises give us confidence in the eternal God.
In Washington we sometimes experience snow and icy conditions in parking lots. One important element of walking on ice is to look for parts of a parking lot or sidewalk that do not have ice. When walking you look for the solid parts and step there. You avoid the slippery spots and walk on the solid parts. In a similar way, we focus on the elements of God we know for sure. We don’t know everything about God, but we stick with what we do know. Pastor J. Vernon McGee once said, “My friend, do not be disturbed if you are not thinking as God thinks. You are not God. Unfortunately many folk try to take His place.”[9] As we experience difficult trials in our lives let’s remind ourselves that we are not God. He has all the answers, we do not. He has a plan, we might not know that plan. But we can have confidence in God because of what we know about God.
[1] Habakkuk 1:12 begins with the interrogative particle, halo.
[2] Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
[3] J. Ronald Blue explains, “In Hebrew, the form of the question-O LORD, are You not from everlasting?-requires an affirmative reply. It is as much a declaration as an interrogation” (J. Ronald Blue, “Habakkuk,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 [Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985], 1511).
[4] The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005).
[5] According to one lexicon it occurs 6,823 times in the Old Testament (Brown, Francis, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977).
[6] Some believe it comes from the verb, “to be” in Hebrew.
[7] MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1996), 1289.
[8] Richard Patterson, Habakkuk, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, vol. 10 (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2008), 412.
[9] J Vernon McGee, Nahum and Habakkuk, Thru the Bible Commentary Series, vol. 30 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 80.