When we think of disciplining someone usually there is an instrument by which we discipline him or her. We might put a child in timeout, we might take someone’s driver’s license away if he gets a DUI, or we might force a person to resign after repeated failures in her job.
As God answers Habakkuk’s questions God reveals the instrument he will use to discipline Judah. Habakkuk asks God questions in Habakkuk 1:1–4 about how God will deliver justice for the evil and wickedness Habakkuk sees in Judah. God’s answers are recorded in Habakkuk 1:5–10. Habakkuk 1:5 is an introduction to the oracle of judgement[1] and Habakkuk 1:6–10 is the explanation.
God’s explanation includes destruction by the Babylonians.[2] “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans” (Hab 1:6a).[3] The Hebrew word, kasdim, is translated as “Chaldeans” in the NASB but this group of people is better known by another name: Babylonians. The Babylonians were a tribe within the Assyrian Empire that rose up and overtook the Assyrian Empire. Nabopolassar rose to power in 625 BC and Nebuchadnezzar inherited the powerful kingdom in 605 BC.[4] This was surprising for two reasons. One, that a small group within the nation of Assyria could rise up and overtake Assyria. Two, that God would allow a foreign nation which was wicked and evil to punish the nation of Judah.
God’s explanation includes a description of the Babylonians. Their size is described, “That fierce and impetuous people who march throughout the earth to seize dwelling places which are not theirs” (Hab 1:6). Their status is described, “They are dreaded and feared; their justice and authority originate with themselves” (Hab 1:7). Their speed is described, “Their horses are swifter than leopards and keener than wolves in the evening. Their horsemen come galloping, their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swooping down to devour” (Hab 1:8). Their success is described, “All of them come for violence. Their horde of faces moves forward. They collect captives like sand” (Hab 1:9). Their scoffing is described, “They mock at kings and rulers are a laughing matter to them. They laugh at every fortress and heap up rubble to capture it” (Hab 1:10).
What we learn from God’s response to Habakkuk’s questions is that God is just in how he deals with Israel in a specific way. God had a unique relationship with Israel. He made a promise with Abraham marking out one family and one nation (see Gen 11:10—Exod 18:27).[5] God also gave the Mosaic Law which was 613 laws for a life of obedience following God (see Exod 19:1—Acts 1:26).[6]
The goal of the law was to make Israel unique, “and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod 19:6).[7] Before Moses died he gave two promises to Israel. The first promise was for blessings on the nation of Israel if they followed God’s laws faithfully (Deut 28:1–14). The second promise was of curses that would come upon Israel if they disobeyed God and his word (Deut 28:15–68).[8]
I say all of this because we—as Americans—shouldn’t insert ourselves into these prophecies in Habakkuk because God hasn’t made a promise with America like he did Israel.[9] While God is just in how he deals with Israel in a specific way, he is gracious in how he deals with us in a specific way. That will be the topic of next week’s article on Habakkuk 1:11.
[1] The word, “oracle” (מַשָּׂא) in Habakkuk 1:1 literally means “burden” and is “a pronouncement or message from God to people.” Leland Ryken, Symbols and Reality (Wooster, OH: Weaver Book Company, 2016), 31. In the Old Testament there are three types of oracles:Judgement, blessing, and salvation (Ryken, Symbols and Reality, 32-43.).
[2] Outline for this section is slightly adapted from J. Ron Blue, “Habakkuk” in Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, edited by John Walvoord and Roy Zuck (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 1985), 1510.
[3] 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.
[4] B. T. Arnold, “Babylon” (pp. 53-60) edited by Mark J. Boda and Gordon J. McConville, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets (Downers Grove, IL; Inter-Varsity Press, 2012), 59.
[5] Charles Ryrie, Dispensationalism (Chicago, IL: Moody, 2007), 61-63.
[6] Ibid., 63-64.
[7] “Their role thenceforth would be to mediate or intercede as priests between the holy God and the wayward nations of the world, with the end in view not only of declaring his salvation but also of providing the human channel in and through whom this salvation would be effected.” (Eugene H. Merrill, Kingdom of Priests, 2nd ed. [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008], 98.
[8] There are four times as many curses as there are blessings, either to follow ancient Near Eastern treaties or to foreshadow the future failure of Israel to keep the covenant.
[9] Israel’s prophets warned them that God would allow Gentiles to overrun Judah because of their disobedience to God (Deut 28:49–50; 1 Kings 11:14, 23; Jer 4; 5:14–17; 6:22–30; Amos 6:14), but the people did not believe this would happen (Jer 5:12; 6:14; 7:1–34; 8:11; Lam 4:12; Amos 6). Therefore God allowed Gentile nations to conquer them. God was doing to Israel what he told Israel he would do if they refused to return to him. God was dealing with them because God had warned them.