The prophet Habakkuk asked God how long injustice and violence would continue? He trusted God yet still wondered why his holy Yahweh would send the even more evil nation of Babylon to overtake Judah. In response God instructed Habakkuk to watch and wait for the coming events. He promised that those who were righteous and faithful would live.
God continued to describe the wicked Babylonians and their fate through a taunt song—“a public mocking of impending doom to be remembered and sung by its audience” (Wilund pg 160). This particular taunt song consists of five stanzas of three verses each. Each stanza starts with “woe” (alas). It “conveys grief, alarm, or impending judgment. The prophets employ [this word] to awaken complacent hearts, announce covenant curses, and call God’s people to repentance.” (Strongs Topical)
Woe 1: Greed
First, God “condemned Babylon’s insatiable lust for power, heaping up wealth, success, and glory at others’ expense.”1
Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, "Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?"
Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.
Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. (Hab 2:6–8)
What the wicked do to others will come back on them (Prov 22:16; Jam 5:1-3). Wilund explains, “They’re like those who make themselves rich by taking out loans. Eventually, they have to pay up with interest.” (Wilund pg 163)
Rather than amassing worldly wealth (which will disappear), Jesus calls us to:
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mat 6:19-21).
How can you practically store up treasures in heaven?
Woe 2: False Security
Second, God condemned “Babylon’s cruel method of rule designed to insulate themselves from any challenge to their power, wealth, and control.”2
Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin!
You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.
The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it. (Hab 2:9–11)
Those who exploit others will discover they are not safe from harm. The prophet Obadiah has a similar warning:
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD. (Obad 1:3-4)
Rather than getting rich by any means possible in order to insulate ourselves against harm, the apostle Paul teaches us to find our refuge in God:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Tim 6:17)
How can you cultivate contentment and trust in God’s provision?
Woe 3: Violence
Third, God condemned “Babylon’s tyranny—destroying others to gain for themselves.”3
Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!
Has not the Lord Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Hab 2:12–14)
Those who gain unjustly and by violence will discover they labor in vain because all they have built will be destroyed.
Rather, the believer doesn’t build his own kingdom at the expense of others nor gain from violence toward his fellow humans. He allows the Lord to build and recognizes that God’s glory—his majesty, holiness, righteousness, and saving power—alone prevails.
Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. (Ps 127:1)
Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. (Dan 2:20-22)
How can you determine if you labor for the glory of the Lord?
Woe 4: Intoxication
Fourth, God condemned “Babylon’s cruel treatment of their captives as one who intentionally gets their neighbors drunk to delight in their shame.”4 Wilund says, “Woe to the intoxicated, drunk on their own power and lust. God will cause their evil to fall back on themselves.”
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!
You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed! The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.
The violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. (Hab 2:15–17)
Though they laugh at their victims’ humiliation and imagine they are crowned with glory, God will sober the Babylonians. Instead of glory, they will be filled with shame. The violence done to others will come back on them.
On the other hand the righteous one’s shame has been removed by the blood of Jesus.
For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (1 Pet 2:6)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Pet 3:18)
Are you living in shame or in the glory of the Lord?
Woe 5: Idolatry
Fifth and finally, God condemned “Babylon’s idolatry, the senseless and self-destructive worship of anyone or anything other than the one true God.”5
Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.” (Hab 2:18–19)
The prophet Isaiah also warned Israel about the futility of idol worship. Here God repeated the same message to Babylon. They will only receive lies—not guidance or help—from a lifeless man-made creation.
Instead of counting on human inventions, the believer worships and trusts the living, all powerful Creator-God.
The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. (Hab 2:20)
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (2:14)
How might you be trusting in something man-made more than your heavenly Father?
Conclusion
The Lord’s woes came to fruition when Medo-Persian forces conquered Babylon in 539 BC, bringing the proud empire to nothing.
Yet I feel like these same woes apply to our generation—our governments, leaders, politicians, and billionaires.
Bible Hub’s Study Bible summary of this section of Habakkuk comforts me: “Human empires rise in pride, violence, and idolatry, but none can prevent the Lord from accomplishing His purpose for all nations. … In the future fulfillment, knowledge of Him will not be confined to Israel or hidden from the nations. The world will recognize the justice of His judgments, the faithfulness of His promises, and the authority of His Messiah.” (https://biblehub.com/study/habakkuk/2-14.htm)
PRAYER
Lord God, thank you for being Lord over all nations and rulers. Please take down evildoers. Show me if any of these woes apply to me in any way. Defend the innocent and helpless. Bring about that time when all peoples everywhere will worship you and follow your righteous way.
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