Habakkuk 1:13

“[Thou art] of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look upon iniquity, etc.] The Lord with his eyes of omniscience beholds all things good and evil, and all men good and bad, with all their actions; but then he does not look upon the sins of men with pleasure and approbation; since they are contrary to his nature, repugnant to his will, and breaches of his righteous law: and though sin in general may be included here, yet there seems to be a particular respect had to the “evil” or injury done by the Chaldeans to the Jews, in invading their land, spoiling their substance, and slaying their persons; and to the “iniquity”, labour, or grievance, by which may be meant the oppression and…”

“purer . . . than to behold evil--without being displeased at it. canst not look on iniquity--unjust injuries done to Thy people. The prophet checks himself from being carried too far in his expostulatory complaint, by putting before himself honorable sentiments of God. them that deal treacherously--the Chaldeans, once allies of the Jews, but now their violent oppressors. Compare "treacherous dealers," (Isa 21:2; Isa 24:16). Instead of speaking evil against God, he goes to God Himself for the remedy for his perplexity (Psa 73:11-17). devoureth the man that is more righteous--The Chaldean oppresses the Jew, who with all his faults, is better than his oppressor (compare Eze 16:51-52).”

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil - The prophet repeats his complaint (as troubling thoughts are accustomed to come back, after they have been repelled,), in order to answer it more strongly. All sin is hateful in God’s sight, and in His Holy Wisdom He cannot endure to “look toward iniquity.” As man turns away from sickening sights, so God’s abhorrence of wrong is pictured by His not being able to “look toward it.” If He looked toward them, they must perish Psalms 104:32. Light cannot co-exist with darkness, fire with water, heat with cold, deformity with beauty, foulness with sweetness, nor is sin compatible with the Presence of God, except as its Judge and punisher. Thou canst not…”

“of: Job 15:15; Psa 5:4, Psa 5:5, Psa 11:4-7, Psa 34:15, Psa 34:16; Pe1 1:15, Pe1 1:16 iniquity: or, grievance wherefore: Psa 10:1, Psa 10:2, Psa 10:15, Psa 73:3; Jer 12:1, Jer 12:2 deal: Isa 21:2, Isa 33:1 holdest: Est 4:14; Psa 35:22, Psa 50:3, Psa 50:21, Psa 83:1; Pro 31:8, Pro 31:9; Isa 64:12 the wicked: Hab 1:3, Hab 1:4; Sa2 4:11; Kg1 2:32; Psa 37:12-15, Psa 37:32, Psa 37:33, Psa 56:1, Psa 56:2; Act 2:23, Act 3:13-15 Habakkuk 1:14”

“The believing confidence expressed in this verse does not appear to be borne out by what is actually done by God. The prophet proceeds to lay this enigma before God in Hab 1:13-17, and to pray for his people to be spared during the period of the Chaldaean affliction. Hab 1:13. "Art Thou too pure of eye to behold evil, and canst Thou not look upon distress? Wherefore lookest Thou upon the treacherous? and art silent when the wicked devours one more righteous than he? Hab 1:14. And Thou hast made men like fishes of the sea, like reptiles that have no ruler. Hab 1:15. All of them hath he lifted up with the hook; he draws them into his net, and gathers them in his fishing net; he rejoices…”