First light on the flat walkway atop a town wall: a watchman’s post with a rough lean-to of poles and matting, a water jar and a folded cloak against the parapet, the hill road running north into haze.

Write the vision

Habakkuk 2

What do you do while you wait for God to answer?

20 verses≈ 4 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1:1–4How long, O LORD?Violence in Judah, about 605 BC
1:5–11The Chaldeans are comingGod’s first answer
1:12–17Why are You silent?How can a holy God use Babylon?
2Write the visionThe righteous will live by faith; five woesChapter 2
3Habakkuk’s prayerIn wrath, remember mercy; yet I will rejoice

The LORD Answers Again

Habakkuk

I will stand at my guard post

and station myself on the ramparts.

I will watch to see what He will say to me,

and how I should answer when corrected.

God

Then the LORD answered me:

“Write down this vision

and clearly inscribe it on tablets,

so that a herald may run with it.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

God

First light on a long empty road winding over the Judean hills toward the viewer, the far ridges still blue, the road’s dust untouched.

For the vision awaits an appointed time;

it testifies of the end and does not lie.

Though it lingers, wait for it,

since it will surely come and will not delay.

God

Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—

but the righteous will live by faith—

Habakkuk 2:4

God

and wealth indeed betrays him.

He is an arrogant man never at rest.

He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,

and like Death, he is never satisfied.

He gathers all the nations to himself

and collects all the peoples as his own.

Woe to the Chaldeans

God

God

Will not all of these take up a taunt against him,

speaking with mockery and derision:

‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his

and makes himself rich with many loans!

How long will this go on?’

God

Will not your creditors suddenly arise

and those who disturb you awaken?

Then you will become their prey.

God

Because you have plundered many nations,

the remnant of the people will plunder you—

because of your bloodshed against man

and your violence against the land, the city,

and all their dwellers.

Question

Quick question

Habakkuk climbed to his post to wait for God’s answer. Look back at verse 2 before you answer.

What did the LORD tell Habakkuk to do with the vision?

God

A small settlement of tents and low stone shelters on a high ledge of a red sandstone cliff, goats on the narrow path up, the desert far below.

Woe to him who builds his house

by unjust gain,

to place his nest on high

and escape the hand of disaster!

God

You have plotted shame for your house

by cutting off many peoples

and forfeiting your life.

God

Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed

and establishes a town by iniquity!

God

God

Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts

that the labor of the people only feeds the fire,

and the nations weary themselves in vain?

God

For the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14

God

Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,

pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk,

in order to gaze at their nakedness!

God

You will be filled with shame instead of glory.

You too must drink

and expose your uncircumcision!

The cup in the LORD’s right hand

will come around to you,

and utter disgrace will cover your glory.

God

God

For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you,

and the destruction of animals will terrify you,

because of your bloodshed against men

and your violence against the land, the city,

and all their dwellers.

God

What use is an idol,

that a craftsman should carve it—

or an image,

a teacher of lies?

For its maker trusts in his own creation;

he makes idols that cannot speak.

God

On a ledge in a dim Canaanite shrine, a row of small idols: a carved wooden figure, a rough stone one, a small silver statuette and a gold-leafed one, with an oil lamp burning beside them.

Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’

or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’

Can it give guidance?

Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,

yet there is no breath in it at all.”

Habakkuk

Still first light on the temple ridge of Jerusalem: the long plain stone temple with its two bronze pillars, the altar before it sending one thin line of smoke straight up, the court empty and silent.

But the LORD is in His holy temple;

let all the earth be silent before Him.

0:06

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Lord, You are in Your holy temple. Teach me to wait for what You have said, and to live by faith when I cannot yet see it. Quiet my heart before You.

Five woes, one temple

Whiteboard

Five woes on the proud, and one place where all the earth falls silent.

You’ve experienced

Habakkuk 2

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A verse to carry with you

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:14

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