Habakkuk 1:7-The Babylonians Were Terrifying and Feared and a Law unto Themselves

Habakkuk 1:1 The following is the message which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet: 1:2 How long, Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, “Violence!” But you do not intervene! 1:3 Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife. 1:4 For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted. 1:5 “Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned. 1:6 Look, I am about to empower the Babylonians, that ruthless and greedy nation. They sweep across the surface of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.” 1:7 They are frightening and terrifying; they decide for themselves what is right. (NET)

In Habakkuk 1:2-4, we noted that the prophet Habakkuk on behalf of himself and the faithful remnant of Judah complains that the Lord had failed to judge the unrepentant, apostate individuals in the southern kingdom of Judah.

However, in Habakkuk 1:5-11, the Lord responds to these complaints by asserting that He will send the Babylonians as His instruments to judge these unrepentant, apostate individuals in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Habakkuk 1:7 contains three more descriptions of the Babylonians.

The first asserts that they were terrifying and the second asserts that they were feared.

These two descriptions solemnly emphasize with Habakkuk and the faithful remnant of Judah that the Babylonians terrified those nations and peoples whom they attacked.

Thus, they struck fear in these peoples and nations.

The third description of the Babylonians is that they determined for themselves their own justice as well as their own authority.

In other words, they recognized themselves as the supreme authority on earth and did not recognize God’s sovereign authority over them.

This is indicated by the cruel treatment of other nations and peoples.

In other words, they were a law unto themselves.

Or, we could say that they were so proud and arrogant that they considered that anything they did was right and lawful.

Or, they were so proud and arrogant that they considered that nothing they did was wrong or unlawful.

This seven-fold description of the Babylonians in Habakkuk 1:5-7 and the description of this nation in Habakkuk 1:8-11 reveals that they epitomized evil, which in its essence, is independence from God (cf. Isa. 14:12-14).

They were a reflection of the temporary god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) and his kingdom, namely Satan.

This is understandable since the nations of the earth are under the power of Satan and his cosmic system in that he deceives the entire world (cf. 1 John 5:19; Rev. 12:9).

Now, despite the fact that the Babylonians like the rest of the nations on planet earth were under the power of Satan’s cosmic system and deceived by this system, the God of Israel was using them as His instrument to discipline other evil nations like the southern kingdom of Judah.

The Babylonian empire led by Nebuchadnezzar was serving God in that they were the instrument used to judge Judah and Jerusalem.

In Jeremiah 25:9, and 27:6, the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah describes Nebuchadnezzar as His servant because this king and his empire were the Lord’s instrument in judging Judah and Jerusalem.

God used Nebuchadnezzar to discipline the nation of Israel for their disobedience.

Jeremiah 25:1-11 also teaches that the Lord delivered Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s power because of their idolatry.

Also, a comparison of Leviticus 25:1-12, 26:32-35, 43, Jeremiah 25:11, 29:10 and 2 Chronicles 26:21 indicates that the Lord delivered Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s power because they failed to respect the Sabbath Day and the sabbatic year in which every seventh year they were to let the land rest.

Therefore, by using Babylon to judge the unrepentant, apostate citizens of the southern kingdom of Judah, God was using evil to judge evil.

The Babylonians were unregenerate, deceived by the devil and living independently of God.

On the other hand, despite being in a covenant relationship with God, the unrepentant, apostate citizens of Judah were also involved in evil because they unrepentantly disobeyed the commands and prohibitions found in the Mosaic Law.

This third description of the Babylonians in Habakkuk 1:7 which asserts that they determine for themselves their own justice and their own authority or in other words, they were a law unto themselves reveals this nation’s great pride and arrogance.

Pride is often emphasized as the cardinal sin of the nations, resting in their own power and opposing Yahweh (e.g., Isa 14:13–15; Jer 48:29; Ezek 28:1; compare note on Isa 2:12–18).

In the Scriptures, pride is a great evil because it involves pretending to a greatness and glory that belongs rightly to God alone.

It is condemned as evil (1 Samuel 15:23; Proverbs 21:4; James 4:16; cf. Mark 7:22-23; Romans 1:29-30; 2 Corinthians 12:20; 2 Timothy 3:1-2; 1 John 2:16).

It is a characteristic of Satan (Ezekiel 28:2; 1 Timothy 3:6; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:4, the antichrist).

There are warnings about pride in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 16:5, 18; cf. Proverbs 3:7, 34; 6:16-17; 11:2; 25:6-7, 27; 26:12; 27:1; 29:23) as well as elsewhere in Scripture (Psalm 119:21; cf. Leviticus 26:19).

God is said to be opposed to the proud (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6; Proverbs 3:34).

Arrogance is an attitude of the heart (Mark 7:21-22; cf. Job 35:12; Psalm 10:2-11; 73:3-12; 86:14; 94:3-7; Malachi 3:15; Romans 1:28-31).

It arises from self-confidence (Isaiah 9:9-10; Daniel 4:29-30; Revelation 18:7; cf. Exodus 15:9; 1 Kings 20:11; 2 Kings 14:10; 2 Chronicles 25:19; Isaiah 28:15; Ezekiel 16:49; Hosea 12:8; Habakkuk 2:4-5; Luke 18:9; Acts 8:9-10; 2 Peter 2:10-12).

Arrogance expresses itself in words (Psalm 17:10; 119:51; James 3:5; cf. 1 Samuel 2:3; Psalm 31:18; 119:69; 123:4; Proverbs 17:7; 21:24; Jeremiah 43:1-2).

Arrogance is essentially rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 1:43; 1 Samuel 15:23; cf. Nehemiah 9:16-17,29; Job 36:8-9; Psalm 5:5; 119:85; Hosea 5:4-5; 7:10; Zephaniah 3:1-4).

It may even be found in the church (2 Corinthians 12:20; cf. 1 Corinthians 4:18; 1 Timothy 6:17).

The Christian should reject arrogance (Proverbs 8:13; Jeremiah 9:23-24; cf. Jeremiah 13:15; Romans 11:20; 1 Corinthians 1:28-31; 4:7; 13:4; Ephesians 2:8-9).

God punishes the arrogant whether they are a believer or a non-believer (Isaiah 2:17-18; Exodus 18:11; 1 Samuel 15:23).

There are several examples of pride in the Bible and the most notable are Satan (Ezek. 28:11-19; Is. 14:12-14), and Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4).