Chapter two of Habakkuk is God’s answer to the prophet’s
dramatic pleading with God which starts at the beginning of
chapter 1: 2 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do
not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate
wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is
strife, and conflict abounds (NIV throughout). Habbakuk bemoans
the traumatic tragedy which is the Bablyonian conquest of Israel
at the end of the First Temple period. Putting words in God’s
mouth, Habakkuk gives a very clear description of why he is so
angry toward God: 5 “Look at the nations and watch— and be
utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that
you would not believe, even if you were told. 6 I am raising up
the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep
across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own. 7 They
are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.