Habakkuk 1:12

“[Art] thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine holy One? etc.] The prophet, foreseeing these calamities coming upon his nation and people, observes some things for their comfort in this verse; and expostulates with God in the following verses (<350113>Habakkuk 1:13-17) about his providential dealings, in order to obtain an answer from him, which might remove the objections of his own mind, and those of other good men he personates, raised against them; being stumbled at this, that wicked men should be suffered to succeed and prosper, and the righteous should be afflicted and distressed by them: but for his own present consolation, and that of others, in a view of the worst that should…”

“In opposition to the impious deifying of the Chaldeans power as their god (MAURER, or, as the English Version, their attributing of their successes to their idols), the prophet, in an impassioned address to Jehovah, vindicates His being "from everlasting," as contrasted with the Chaldean so-called "god." my God, mine Holy One--Habakkuk speaks in the name of his people. God was "the Holy One of Israel," against whom the Chaldean was setting up himself (Isa 37:23). we shall not die--Thou, as being our God, wilt not permit the Chaldeans utterly to destroy us. This reading is one of the eighteen called by the Hebrews "the appointment of the scribes"; the Rabbis think that Ezra and his colleagues…”

“The prophet, having summed up the deeds of the enemy of God in this his end, sets forth his questions anew. He had appealed against the evil of the wicked of his people; he had been told of the vengeance by the Chaldaeans (Heading of Habakkuk 1:0). But the vengeance is executed by them who are far worse. How then? The answer is: “Wait to the end, and thou shalt see.” What remains are the triumphs of faith; the second chapter closes with the entire prostration of the whole world before God, and the whole prophecy with joyous trust in God amid the entire failure of all outward signs of hope. Here, like the Psalmists (Asaph, Psalms 73:0 Ethan Psalms 76:1-12) and Jeremiah Jeremiah 12:1, he sets…”

“Shall not die - Be utterly destroyed. Ordained - Set up, and designed. Them - The Chaldean kingdom. For judgment - To execute this judgment, which is tempered with mercy. For correction - To chastise, not to destroy. Habakkuk 1:14”

“1:12–2:1 Habakkuk found it difficult to harmonize God’s answer (1:5-11) with what he understood about God’s character. How could a holy and just God chastise Judah by using a people more unrighteous than they were? 1:12 Despite his perplexity, Habakkuk did not renounce God. With the words my God, my Holy One, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Lord before asking serious questions about what God had revealed to him. • In light of God’s character and covenant relationship with Israel, Habakkuk was certain that God would not wipe his people out. • to correct us: Cp. Heb 12:5-11. • our Rock: A common image of God’s faithfulness and strength (see Deut 32:15; 1 Sam 2:2; Ps 18:2; 1 Cor 10:4; 1 Pet…”

“thou not: Deu 33:27; Psa 90:2, Psa 93:2, Isa 40:28, Isa 57:15; Lam 5:19; Mic 5:2; Ti1 1:17, Ti1 6:16; Heb 1:10-12, Heb 13:8; Rev 1:8, Rev 1:11 mine: Isa 43:15, Isa 49:7; Act 3:14 we: Hab 3:2; Psa 118:17; Isa 27:6-9; Jer 4:27, Jer 5:18, Jer 30:11, Jer 33:24-26, Jer 46:28; Eze 37:11-14; Amo 9:8, Amo 9:9 thou hast ordained: Kg2 19:25; Psa 17:13; Isa 10:5-7, Isa 37:26; Jer 25:9-14; Eze 30:25 mighty God: Heb. Rock, Deu 32:4, Deu 32:30, Deu 32:31; Sa1 2:2; Psa 18:1 established: Heb. founded for: Isa 27:9, Isa 27:10; Jer 30:11, Jer 31:18-20, Jer 46:28; Heb 12:5, Heb 12:6 Habakkuk 1:13”

“On this threatening announcement of the judgment by God, the prophet turns to the Lord in the name of believing Israel, and expresses the confident hope that He as the Holy One will not suffer His people to perish. Hab 1:12. "Art Thou not from olden time, O Jehovah, my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. Jehovah, for judgment hast Thou appointed it; and, O Rock, founded it for chastisement." However terrible and prostrating the divine threatening may sound, the prophet draws consolation and hope from the holiness of the faithful covenant God, that Israel will not perish, but that the judgment will be only a severe chastisement. (Note: "Therefore," says Calvin, "whoever desires to fight…”