Habakkuk Chapter 1 verses 7 thru 12

According to the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, Habakkuk means (embrace). This book would be the eighth, in order, of the Minor Prophets. Of the facts of the prophet's life, we have no certain information.

One important aspect of the ancient Old Testament order of the Hebrew Bible is that the 12 prophetic works of Hosea through Malachi, sometimes referred to as the Minor Prophets, were designed as a single book called The Twelve. Habakkuk is the eighth book of The Twelve.

Habakkuk lived in the final decades of Judah, Israel’s southern kingdom. It was a time of injustice and idolatry, and he saw the rising threat of the Babylonian empire on the horizon. Unlike the other Hebrew prophets, Habakkuk doesn’t accuse Israel or even speak to the people on Yahweh’s behalf. Instead, all of his words are addressed to Yahweh. The book of Habakkuk tells us about Habakkuk’s personal struggle to believe that Yahweh is good when there is so much tragedy and evil in the world.

Habakkuk sees the darkness of the world as an invitation to have faith in Yahweh’s promise to one day set things right. Living with such faith means trusting that Yahweh loves this world and works to one day eliminate all evil forever.

So far in this study we have seen Habakkuk crying out to Yahweh, ‘O Yahweh how long shall I cry and Thou wilt not hear?’

Folks, there is nothing new under the sun. By now you have heard about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. As Habakkuk cried out in his days, we are crying out today. How long Yahweh does the violence continue against the innocent? Yahweh why do you show me the evilness that lurks throughout this nation? Why do you allow me to see injustice throughout this land, a land that was ‘One Nation under God?’

Just as in the days of Habakkuk, we see the evil circling around the righteous, bringing about injustice. 

Just as we read about the world rejoicing over the killing of the 2 witnesses there in Revelation 11, we hear about news reporting on the multitudes rejoicing the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Beginning in verse 5 Yahweh begins to answer Habakkuk cries.  

In verses 7-11 we see the strength and speed of the Babylonian army.

7.   They are terrible and dreadful = Habakkuk wondered where Yahweh’s judgment was against sinful Judah. Yahweh told him that the judgment would indeed come, and when it came through the Babylonians it would be terrible and dreadful.

 judgment = decision, verdict. 

dignity = seh-ayth'; an elevation or leprous scab; 

their judgment and ... dignity ... proceed of themselves = that is, they recognize no judge except themselves, and they get for themselves and keep their own “dignity” without needing others’ help.

8    evening wolves = wolves famished with fasting all day and so most keen in attacking the fold under covert of the approaching night (Jerm. 5:6; Zeph. 3:3; compare Gen. 49:27). 

spread themselves = proudly; as in Jerm. 50:11, and Mal. 4:2, it implies strength and vigor.

shall fly as the eagle = Once again Reference to the Old Testament (Deut. 28:49, 50).

their horsemen ... come from far = and yet are not wearied by the long journey.

9    all for violence = The sole object of all is not to establish just rights, but to get all they can by violence. i.e. not for conquest, but for destruction. 

faces = aspect, intent, or eagerness, 

as the east wind = the ‘simoon’, which spreads devastation wherever it passes (Isa. 27:8). 

Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!

 Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com