Yahweh’s Answer to Habakkuk’s Complaint (Habakkuk 1:5-11)

I remember my younger son coming from a workout and jokingly saying in front of a mirror as he flexed, “I am a god.” When we are strong we can feel invincible, we can feel god-like, we may even worship ourselves. The unstoppable might of the conquering Babylonians made self-worship seem feasible. They did not know that it was Yahweh who was empowering them, but now Habakkuk knew.

⁵ “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe, even if you were told.
⁶ I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own.
⁷ They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves
    and promote their own honor.
⁸ Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like an eagle swooping to devour; ⁹ they all come intent on violence.
Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand.
¹⁰ They mock kings and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities; by building earthen ramps they capture them.
¹¹ Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—
    guilty people, whose own strength is their god.” (Habakkuk 1:5-11)

Habakkuk has been concerned that Yahweh seems to be doing nothing to address the lawlessness of his own people, Judah. In fact, however, Yahweh has been doing something, something He had foretold through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:4-6, et al), Isaiah (2 Kings 20:17,18) and other prophets He would do. He is “raising up” the Babylonians, giving them strength and direction to utilize their strength, the gobbling up of the nations, one of which will be Judah. This is God’s punishment of sin in His people and sin in the nations surrounding Judah.

Yahweh’s description of the Babylonians is telling. They are ruthless and violent and taking land not their own. They are fearsome in that they do not follow any law but themselves and seeking glory in their conquering ability. And their strength is formidable. They are faster than leopards, more rapacious than wolves on the hunt, swift and powerful like eagles who capture and eat their prey. The nations are falling to them so quickly that they make fun of any kings or rulers who oppose them. Even fortified cities are easily captured because of the “earthen ramps” they can construct to get them over the walls.

Their “own strength is their god.” Totally ignorant that Yahweh is using them, they think that their own power has gotten them these victories, made them the ruler of the world. King Nebuchadnezzar’s own words were, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). This is their own indictment, that they would be so arrogant as to believe that they are god. Many a mighty nation has succumbed to this temptation and met their own destruction.