All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,
Because of men’s1 blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it.
That he may aset his nest on high,
That he may be delivered from the1 power of disaster!
That the peoples labor1 to feed the fire,
And nations weary themselves in vain?
| << Habakkuk 2:9 | Habakkuk 2:11 >> |
What Does Habakkuk 2:10 Mean?
Habakkuk 2:9-11
Second Woe: Coveting and plotting to gain. This obviously breaks the tenth commandment, "You shall not covet." It is becoming clear that the Chaldeans had a avaricious streak a mile wide!
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Habakkuk
Habakkuk 2:5-20
This section is part of God's answer to the prophet's second question, and it is primarily directed at the particular circumstances of Habakkuk's day regarding the Chaldeans. Obviously, we can derive symbolic spiritual meaning regarding ourselves and modern-day Babylonians. The passage, verses 5 through 20, is a series of five woes that God pronounces on the Chaldeans for their particular sins. The five woes are five particular infractions of the commandments that God promises to punish them for, and in the end, this consoles Habakkuk. Knowing that the Chaldeans would not get away with their depradations of Judah, he is reassured that this was indeed the God he knew and understood. The Chaldeans would get what was coming to them.
These five woes succinctly describe modern society, which in the church we call Babylon. God chooses to describe these particular sins of Babylon, and their primary theme is gain, filthy lucre. It is no coincidence that our modern society is founded on the same shaky foundation. Everybody wants to get his "due" however he can. He will get it by oppressing others, by plotting and coveting, by promoting violence, by promoting debauchery and getting other people in trouble and shaming them, and so forth. Their idol, of course, is gain.
This passage, then, has present-day implications. Just like Habakkuk, we can be comforted that, though the wicked seem to have the upper hand now, God is not blind to what they are doing. He has seen their wickedness, and they will have to give a full account for their evil deeds.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Habakkuk
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Habakkuk 2:10:
| << Habakkuk 2:9 | Habakkuk 2:11 >> |
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