Judah’s Injustice
Category: Failure of covenant faithfulness
Could endure: Live by God’s law, pursue justice.
“The law is not slack, but the righteous will live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4, principle contrast)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Micah 6:8.
Chose wrongly: Filled the land with violence and corruption.
“Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?” (Habakkuk 1:3)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 59:14–15; Jeremiah 5:28.
Endured (negatively): Invaded by Babylon.
“I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people.” (Habakkuk 1:6)
Cross-Refs: 2 Kings 24:2; Lamentations 1:5.
Why (wrong motive): Selfishness, greed, lawlessness.
“The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” (Habakkuk 1:4)
Cross-Refs: Amos 5:12; Romans 1:29.
Result: Taken captive, land devastated.
“They sweep past like the wind and go on—guilty people, whose own strength is their god.” (Habakkuk 1:11)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 28:49–52; Jeremiah 25:9.
Babylon’s Arrogance
Category: Failure of humility
Could endure: Recognize God as sovereign, rule justly.
“The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” (Habakkuk 2:20)
Cross-Refs: Daniel 4:37; Psalm 2:10–12.
Chose wrongly: Trusted in power, worshiped their own strength.
“They are guilty people, whose own strength is their god.” (Habakkuk 1:11)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 10:13; Obadiah 3–4.
Endured (negatively): Marked for judgment.
“Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!” (Habakkuk 2:9)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 51:24–25; Revelation 18:5–8.
Why (wrong motive): Pride, greed, oppression.
“Indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave.” (Habakkuk 2:5)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 27:20; James 5:1–5.
Result: Ultimate destruction.
“The cup from the LORD’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.” (Habakkuk 2:16)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 47:7–9; Revelation 18:2–3.
The Oppressor
Category: Failure of justice
Could endure: Treat nations with fairness and compassion.
“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!” (Habakkuk 2:12)
Cross-Refs: Genesis 9:6; Ezekiel 22:27.
Chose wrongly: Built empires on violence.
“Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion!” (Habakkuk 2:6)
Cross-Refs: Amos 5:11–12; Micah 2:2.
Endured (negatively): Plundered in return.
“Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you.” (Habakkuk 2:8)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 33:1; Revelation 13:10.
Why (wrong motive): Greed, conquest, lust for power.
“Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain.” (Habakkuk 2:9)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 15:27; James 4:1–2.
Result: Empire collapses, shame follows.
“The stone will cry out from the wall, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.” (Habakkuk 2:11)
Cross-Refs: Luke 19:40; Galatians 6:7.
The Idolater
Category: Failure of worship
Could endure: Worship the living God.
“But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.” (Jeremiah 10:10)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 20:3–5; Acts 17:29.
Chose wrongly: Crafted lifeless idols.
“Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’” (Habakkuk 2:19)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 44:9–20; Psalm 115:4–8.
Endured (negatively): Exposed as foolish.
“Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.” (Habakkuk 2:19)
Cross-Refs: Jeremiah 10:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4.
Why (wrong motive): Trust in created things, not the Creator.
“They worshiped their own net and burned incense to their dragnet.” (Habakkuk 1:16)
Cross-Refs: Romans 1:23–25; Revelation 9:20.
Result: Silence before God’s glory.
“The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” (Habakkuk 2:20)
Cross-Refs: Zephaniah 1:7; Revelation 8:1.