Habakuk 1:13-17, Habakuk 1:3, Habakuk 1:4 BDS

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:13

Verse 13 The Prophet here expostulates with God, not as at the beginning of the chapter; for he does not here, with a holy and calm mind, undertake the defense of God’s glory, but complains of injuries, as men do when oppressed, who go to the judge and implore his protection. This complaint, then, is to be distinguished from the former one; for at the beginning of the chapter the Prophet did not plead his own cause or that of the people; but zeal for God’s glory roused him, so that he in a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:14

Verse 14 He goes on, as it has been said, in his complaint; and by a comparison he shows that the judgement would be such as though God turned away from men, so as not to check the violence of the wicked, nor oppose his hand to their wantonness, in order to restrain them. Since, then, every one would oppress another as he exceeded him in power, and would with increased insolence rise up against the miserable and the poor, the Prophet compares man to the fish of the sea,—“What can this mean?” he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:16

Verse 16 The Prophet confirms the closing sentence of the last verse; for he explains what that joy was of which he had spoken, even the joy by which the wicked, as it were, designedly provoke God against themselves. It is indeed an abominable thing when the ungodly take delight in their vices; but it is still more atrocious when they deride God himself. Such, then, is the account now added by the Prophet, as though he had said, “Not only do the ungodly felicitate themselves while thou sparest... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:17

Verse 17 This is an affirmative question, “Shall they therefore;” which, however, requires a negative answer. Then all interpreters are mistaken; for they think that the Prophet here complains, that he presently extends his net after having made a capture, but he rather means, “Is he ever to extend his net?” that is, “How long, O Lord, wilt thou permit the Assyrians to proceed to new plunders, so as to be like the hunter, who after having taken a boar or a stag, is more eager, and immediately... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-13

The eternity, providence, and holiness of Jehovah. "Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction," etc. In this passage the prophet refers to the eternity, the providence, and the holiness of the Jehovah of the Jewish people. I. HE REGARDS HIS ETERNITY AS AN ARGUMENT FOR THEIR PRESERVATION . "Art thou not from everlasting, O... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

§ 4. The prophet, in reply, beseeches the Lord not to suffer his people to perish, seeing that he has deigned to be in covenant with them, but to remember mercy even during the affliction at the hand of their rapacious enemies. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

The triumph of faith. I. HABAKKUK 'S GOD . ( Habakkuk 1:12 , Habakkuk 1:13 .) 1 . Eternal. From everlasting ( Psalms 93:2 ), and therefore to everlasting ( Psalms 90:1 ); hence immutable ( Malachi 3:6 ), without variableness or shadow cast by turning ( James 1:17 ), in respect of his being ( 1 Timothy 1:17 ), character ( Isaiah 63:16 ; Psalms 111:3 ), purpose ( Job 23:13 ), and promise ( Hebrews 6:17 ). 2 . Holy. In himself the absolutely and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:13

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil (comp. Habakkuk 1:3 ). God cannot look with complacency on evil ( Psalms 5:5 , Psalms 5:6 ). Iniquity; Septuagint, πόνους ὀδύνης , "labours of pain." Injustice and the distress occasioned by it. God's holiness cannot endure the sight of wickedness, nor his mercy the sight of man's misery. And yet he permits these evil men to afflict the holy seed. This is the prophet's perplexity, which he lays before the Lord. Them that deal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:14

The prophet appeals movingly to God by showing the indignity with which the people are treated. As the fishes of the sea. Dumb and helpless, swept off by the fisherman. That have no ruler ever them. None to guide and protect them (comp. Proverbs 6:7 ; Proverbs 30:27 ). So the Jews seem to be deprived of God's care, and left to be the prey of the spoiler, as if of little worth, and no longer having God for their King (comp. Isaiah 63:19 , Revised Version). The "creeping things" are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:14-17

Rapacious selfishness in power. "And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them. They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad," etc. In Nebuchadnezzar you have rapacious selfishness in power. He is here represented by implication as treating the Jewish people as a fisherman treats the fish in the sea. His aim is to catch them by "angle," "net," and... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Habakkuk 1:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Habakkuk 1:14-17

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