Matthew Henry on Habakkuk 1:1-11

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

The servants of the Lord are deeply afflicted by seeing ungodliness and violence prevail; especially among those who profess the truth. No man scrupled doing wrong to his neighbour. We should long to remove to the world where holiness and love reign for ever, and no violence shall be before us.

God has good reasons for his long-suffering towards bad men, and the rebukes of good men. The day will come when the cry of sin will be heard against those that do wrong, and the cry of prayer for those that suffer wrong.

They were to notice what was going forward among the heathen by the Chaldeans, and to consider themselves a nation to be scourged by them. But most men presume on continued prosperity, or that calamities will not come in their days.

They are a bitter and hasty nation, fierce, cruel, and bearing down all before them. They shall overcome all that oppose them. But it is a great offence, and the common offence of proud people, to take glory to themselves.

The closing words give a glimpse of comfort.

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commentaryThe Sins of the People. (b. c. 600.)THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE. (B. C. 600.) We are told no more in the title of this book (which we have, Habakkuk 1:1) than that the penman was a prophet, a man divinely inspired and commissioned, which is enough (if that be…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Habakkuk 1:1A prophet's burden. I. THE PROPHET. 1. His name. Habakkuk—"Embracing," which might signify either "one who embraces" or "one who is embraced." Accepting the former sense, Luther notes the suitability of the prophet's na…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Habakkuk 1:1The title. This introduces us to the writer and his work. Note— I. HIS NAME. Habakkuk i.e. "One who embraces"—a name singularly appropriate in its significance to the man who "rested in the Lord, and waited patiently fo…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Habakkuk 1:1-4The cry of a good man under the perplexing procedure of God. "The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thee wilt not sa…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Habakkuk 1:1§ 1. The inscription of the book. The burden (see note on Nahum 1:1). The prophet (Habakkuk 3:1). This title, which is added in the inscriptions only to the names of Haggai and Zechariah, and cursorily to that of Jeremi…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Habakkuk 1:2-4The elegy. In this brief and plaintive strain we have— I. AN EARNEST HEART REFLECTING UPON THE PREVAILING INIQUITY. Whatever may have been the exact date of this prophecy, it is clear that the writer stood connected wit…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Habakkuk 1:2The lamentation of a good man. I. OVER THE RELIGIOUS DEGENERACY OF HIS AGE. Not merely for himself, but as the representative of the godly remnant of Judah, Habakkuk expostulates with Jehovah concerning the wickedness o…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Habakkuk 1:2-42. The prophet complains to God of the iniquity of his own nation, and its consequence.Joseph S. Exell and contributors