Habakkuk 2:5-20

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Five Woes Pronounced Against Babylon for Wickedness

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God pronounces woe for illegal gain.

  2. God pronounces woe for stepping on others.

  3. God pronounces woe for vain glory.

  4. God pronounces woe for perversion and pillage.

  5. God pronounces woe for idolatry.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s not pull Habakkuk 2:20 out of context.

QUESTIONS

  1. Habakkuk had raised the question of evil before God. He asked, “How could a holy God allow evil and wickedness to go unjudged in Judah?” What was God’s answer?

  2. Habakkuk was confused by God’s answer. How did God assure Habakkuk concerning evil?

  3. List the five woes pronounced against Babylon for their evil ways.

  4. Are the woes pronounced on Babylon applicable for others?

  5. What kind of a song are these woes?

ANSWERS

  1. God answered that He was going to use the Babylonians to conquer and punish Judah for their sins.

  2. By telling him that evil was only for a limited time, and that it would be judged. Babylon would be judged as well as Judah.

  3. God pronounced woe for a. illegal gain b. stepping on others c. vain glory d. perversion and pillage e. idolatry

  4. Yes, both for nations and individuals.

  5. They are like verses of a taunt song.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Babylon was merciless in the way they plundered smaller nations and forced them to pay exorbitant amounts of tribute. This was wrongful gain. But they would reap what they had sown. The proud and arrogant Babylon was conquered by the Medes and the Persians about seventy years after this prophecy was written. Have you ever been guilty of illegal gain?

  2. Read in Daniel 4:30-31 how King Nebuchadnezzar bragged before he was cut down. God pronounces woe for vain glory (building for self glory and not for God’s glory). How is this true in our nation today? How about in your own life?

  3. Babylon trusted in idols that they had made. Idols are lifeless and they delude people. What are some of the idols that are worshipped today? How about your idols?

CHALLENGE

  1. In contrast to all idols, God is living and all-powerful. He is completely sovereign, so let all the earth keep silent before Him. Let’s obey this command, and stop complaining about God’s timing in dealing with sin. Let’s stop doubting God’s sovereignty over all things. Let’s stop questioning His ways. Let’s remember Habakkuk 2:20.

KEY VERSES

  • “The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” Habakkuk 2:20

  • “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14

Habakkuk, Talks, Old TestamentRon ReidHabakkuk 2:5-20