God Judges Nations

MEMORY VERSE: “[God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him.” —Acts 17:26,27

HABAKKUK 1:5-13

THE principal theme of the Book of Habakkuk is God’s permission of evil. The prophet asked, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou will not save! Why dust thou show me iniquity, an cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me; and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.”—Hab. 1:2-4

Here Habakkuk is evidently describing evil and unjust conditions which existed within the nation of Israel, as was so often the case in the experiences of that small nation. He had been commissioned to serve the nation as a prophet, but was making little or no progress in bringing about reforms which were so much needed.

In answer to his inquiry the Lord informed Habakkuk that he would raise up the Chaldeans, “that bitter and hasty nation,” to invade Israel, and that this would be as a punishment upon the people. Scholars are not agreed as to the identity of this invading horde, but Habakkuk knew that it was a wicked people, and this again presented a problem to him, so he said to the Lord, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity; wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”—vs. 13

Habakkuk knew that there was much wickedness within Israel, but he knew also that the Chaldeans were even more wicked in many ways, and he could not understand why the Lord would use these wicked heathen to punish his own covenant people. There was a great deal more, of course, to Habakkuk’s reply to the Lord, but when finished, he said, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am argued with.”—ch. 2:1, margin

In reply to this the Lord said to the prophet, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”—Hab. 2:1-4

The Lord here indicated to the prophet that he would not reply to his questions directly which pertained to the immediate local situation with which he was surrounded, but indicated that he would give him a vision covering his over-all design as it related to the permission of evil, and his provision for Israel and for all nations. God explained that this vision would not speak until “the end.” In Hebrews 11:35-38 this prophecy seems to be referred to, and the indication given that it applies to the time of our Lord’s second advent and the period of his second presence. Now, as then it requires faith to recognize the justice and love of God in his plan for the destruction of evil.

HABAKKUK 2:6-8

Those who have faith in God recognize the truthfulness of the statement, “The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” (Hab. 2:20) There was much in the world in Habakkuk’s time, even in Israel, that was contrary to the righteous standards of God. The same thing is true today, but this doesn’t mean that God is indifferent, nor does it imply that he will never do anything to destroy sin and wickedness.

Certainly God is interested in the people of all nations. As our memory verse indicates, he has made them all “of one blood.” Even now we are witnessing the gradual disintegration of nations, as nations, and in due time the people of all nations will be judged and blessed individually.—Micah 4:1-4

QUESTIONS

What is the main theme of the Book of Habakkuk?

When will all mankind understand the reason for the divine permission of evil?

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