Habakkuk's Second Complaint

Habakkuk, a prophet of God, is deeply troubled by the moral and spiritual failure of both the civil and religious leaders in Judah. He voices his complaints to God, frustrated by what he perceives as God’s apparent indifference to the widespread evil around him.

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint [along with ours] Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

Vs 12 "Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them [the Chaldeans] as a judgment [severe punishment through invasion], and you, O Rock, have established them [the Chaldeans] for reproof [to inflict Judah with destruction, though not complete destruction]." Habakkuk knows God is sovereign over Judah as well as the Chaldeans, and his complaint is how can a holy God use unholy people without compromising His own holiness to punish Judah! Today’s Christians prayer complaint, “God, “How can You use people, nations, and movements that are openly hostile and evil toward You be instruments of discipline toward Your Church?”

Vs13 “You who are of pure eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? Habakkuk is saying that God cannot even look at evil without being angry and disapproving. By doing nothing, you [God]  are making things worse because they [sinners] seem to be getting away with it-it’s making them more confident that they are going to get away with breaking the law because you are not stopping it.  Today's Christians’ prayer complaint, “God, I know you hate evil, but why does it seem like you're just letting evil people continue to get away with everything?—Where are You?”

Vs14 “You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler”. Habakkuk uses fish and crawling creatures to illustrate the apparent lack of leadership—everything is chaotic, and there’s a sense of helplessness in solving anything: there is no order or rules. Society seems ungovernable. Leaders are corrupt; corruption is everywhere, and crime, even by leaders, is widespread. Chaos continues with no end in sight.  Christians' prayer complaint, “God, people are defenseless, right and wrong don’t matter, and the weak and vulnerable are exploited or ignored.  Why are you not stopping it!”

Vx15  “He brings them all up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad.” Habakkuk describes Babylon as a fisherman catching fish [Judah] with a hook and dragging it into their boat. It is an image of conquest, deportation, and domination. At their own will, unhindered, the Chaldeans make whole nations their prey, using their armies as fishing tools to gather countries, peoples, and riches. How does using the Babylonians solve the problem of Judah doing the same to its own people? It’s kind of a lesser-of-two-evils dilemma.   Christians’ prayer complaint, “God, the rich and powerful are treating people like prey through corrupt means, and they are getting away with it! Can you not stop this?”

Vs16,17 “Therefore, he [Chaldeans] sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever?” Habakkuk asks, “Is this going to go on forever?” They [Chaldeans] worship the tools of power—they worship themselves! They love violence and oppression. They reward themselves like the gods do—with money, domination, and unlimited power. Christians’ prayer complaint, “Lord, can’t you see what they are like? Look how they openly reward themselves for their evil deeds! Why aren’t you destroying them?”

Chapter 2:1 “I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower and look out to see what he [God] will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.” Habakkuk ends his prayer with a sigh. Prayers can sometimes feel so small compared to the problems we face. Habakkuk doesn’t give up completely but resigns himself to wait for God to answer; what case will God present to him regarding His sovereignty and perfect justice concerning Judah and His use of the evil Chaldeans.