The LORD was coming but this time judgment. Against the enemies of Israel. In is glorious might and power he would destroy Babylon.
But for now there was judgment against Israel. By the hand of Babylon.
“In your wrath remember mercy” (v. 2).
I think it would be safe to assume that this is Habakkuk’s plea for mercy was for Israel. But on the flip side there was a definite desire for the Babylonians to be destroyed. And that was the complaint of Habakkuk. How can you use Babylon to judge us and take us into exile when they are more evil than us?
God’s answer is that in his time he would deal with him also.
And when he did he bring a mighty hand of judgment against them. He would come with his power and might to deliver his people:
“You march across the earth with indignation; You trample down the nations in wrath. You come out to save your people, to save Your anointed” (v. 12-13).
Habakkuk trembled before the power of the Lord. Then he says this:
“Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us” (v. 18).
Then with that he enters into a glorious form of poetry.
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
What is Habakkuk’s joy? That the LORD will deliver them. That more wicked Babylon will receive their just judgment.
As I see the wickedness exploding in the. world, on a small scale it’s not so hard to get. Sometimes you just want God to deal with all the evil in the world. The Lord says he will, but in his time.
Yet when it happens, he will come with a mighty roar to deliver his people. Evil will never win in the long run.
That is encouraging.
