Verse 1
This chapter records God's answer to the second of Habakkuk's two questions raised in Habakkuk 1. The first regarded "how long" the well-deserved punishment of the wicked would be delayed. God's answer to the effect that Babylon, the great and wicked world-power soon to arise, would indeed punish wicked Israel for their sins did not fully satisfy Habakkuk. How could the holy and righteous God use a wicked state like Babylon to punish Judea, which with all of their sins were yet better than the Babylonians? Habakkuk took up his watch to await God's answer; and Jehovah promptly answered (Habakkuk 2:1-3).
Apparently, there was a terrible disappointment to Habakkuk in the revelation that the great new world power (Babylon) would be no better, in any sense, than was Assyria; and God's answer consisted of five terrible woes pronounced against the great wicked state that would destroy Judea: Woe 1 (Habakkuk 2:6-8), Woe 2 (Habakkuk 2:9-11), Woe 3 (Habakkuk 2:12-14), Woe 4 (Habakkuk 2:15-17), and Woe 5 (Habakkuk 2:18-19). These woes had the effect of describing, not merely Babylon, but all of the successive heads of the great Scarlet Beast of Revelation 13. Things on earth where rebellious humanity had broken their fellowship with God would never get any better as long as men rejected their Creator, but God was not at all being defeated in any of this; the chapter concludes with the focus upon God Himself: "But Jehovah is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him" (Habakkuk 2:20).
"I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint."
As Hailey said, "Neither the `watch' nor the `tower' are to be taken literally ... Both terms are to be considered figuratively."[1] The prophet simply meant that he would rely upon the Lord and wait for his answer.
"The figure is taken from the custom of ascending high places for the purpose of looking into the distance, and simply expresses the prophet's spiritual preparation of the prophet's soul for hearing the word of God."[2]
Habakkuk did not have long to wait. The answer was at once provided.
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