You can’t get away with it forever.

I distinctly remember as a kid, the moment my mom realized that we had known what we were getting for Christmas every year for years. She had come home early from work one day right as I was finding my Christmas gifts in her closet. Caught red handed.

When thinking about the latter portion of Habakkuk 2, I couldn’t help but think about the moment I was caught finding my Christmas gifts. Obviously, there are massive differences in severity of the crime, yet I really did think I could get away with it. And if it wasn’t the Christmas gifts, it would surely be something else. I think we could all think of far too many things we thought we would get away with, regardless of how big or small.

Habakkuk 2:6-20 tells us of many things that have gone “unchecked” in this nation. As a reminder of the context of this book, Habakkuk was a theologian who knew the word of God well and who had faith in God, yet Babylon (the “Chaldeans”) was currently in power and was on the brink of an attack on Judah. They were looking at a potential invasion and destruction of Jerusalem and the temple from a nation who did not know or love the Lord. Thus far, the Lord has reassured that He is working and speaking at this time, even when it feels unseen.

This chapter warns against many things, including 5 “woes” that we are able to pull very valuable lessons from. In verses 6-8, God warns against selfish ambition that will eventually become their downfall. In verses 9-11, God warns against wealth created out of dishonesty and that this will impact their home more than they could ever predict. In verses 12-14, God warns of the consequences of exploiting others for personal gain. In verses 15-17, God warns of the danger that can arise from drunkenness and violence, that they will be disgraced. Lastly, in verses 18-19, God warns of the dangers of idolatry, that an idol has no ability to provide and is not even remotely equivalent to God and what He can do.

I could go far more into detail on each of these sections, including how they applied back then and how they could apply in today’s day and age. Realistically, in our society today, we need these lessons that have stood the test of time and to put our trust in the Lord, who is greater. However, these lessons have massive applications, and it would be near impossible for us to do them justice here.

I do want to focus on a couple of “interjections” within this passage.

Habakkuk 2:14 tells us “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the water covers the sea.” I think it’s interesting that this seems to be placed in verses 12-14, sort of “out of the blue” as the Lord is providing guidance to avoid the exploitation of others. Yet, the interjection is very appropriate. The city of Babylon was build off of slave labor and unjust treatment of their workers, and it sure was beautiful. However, this wouldn’t last. Nothing lasts. The only thing that will last is the Glory of the Lord, which will fill the earth far past the time that any city on this earth will last.

The chapter ends with Habakkuk 2:20, telling us “But the Lord is in His holy temple; let the whole earth be silent in His presence”. After all of these warnings that God has given through the prophet, Habakkuk, God reminds them of His place on the throne. All will bow before Him, and God assures Habakkuk that this will happen. In the midst of Babylon and the possibility of destruction, God assures Habakkuk that He is ultimately on the throne, and that nothing on this earth can happen without God in control of it. Applying this to our today, we must always remember that God is fully in control of our everything, whether it be big or small. Just as much as God is going to work in the lives of the people of Judah, He is working in our today, and we must trust that He is sovereign and always working.

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