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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - Habakkuk 1:12 - 1:12
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Art thou not from everlasting? in being, thou art that God who art not like the gods of the nations, upstart and novel, but before the mountains were brought forth thou wast God; thou hast permitted, borne with, restrained, overthrown, and punished such proud, bloody, and sacrilegious wretches. In thy works of old, before this proud Chaldean monarch was thought of, thou wert as now, wonderful, just, and good, and thy saints found support in the remembrance thereof, Psa_74:12 77:5,11 143:5 Isa_45:21. In covenant with thine Israel, which covenant is not of late years, it is an ancient covenant, and as it hath, it still shall be kept for our good.
O Lord; the Sovereign Lord and Ruler of the world, who only art Jehovah.
My God; Judge and Vindex by office; as Judge, engaged to defend, rescue, and avenge the oppressed; and my God or Judge. Whether the prophet speaks only in his own, or in his people’s name, he hath a respect to that peculiar relation he or they had to God, much like that Isa_63:19. He refers to the ancient covenant relation which God had taken them into, and implies his hope and expectation of help from God, their Judge and Vindex.
Mine Holy One; holy in thy nature, law, and government, in thy mercies, and in judgments, who dost intend to make thy holiness appear in due time by saving us; though thou seem to forget, or at least to delay the work, yet thou art the Holy One in the midst of us, Isa_12:6, and we wait for thee.
We, who are thine, and oppressed, threatened, and exposed to the avarice and cruelty of the Chaldean,
shall not die; be utterly cut off and destroyed, for the death of a nation is the destruction or desolation of it. Thou who hast made us thine by an everlasting covenant of mercy, wilt show us such mercy that we shall outlive the rage of our enemies.
O Lord: with humble veneration he doth look towards God, and discerneth what quieteth his spirit, and confirms his faith and patience.
Thou hast ordained, set up, maintained, and designed, them, the Chaldean kingdom, as Hab_1:6.
for judgment; to execute this judgment, which is ever attempered with mercy, which ever betters, never destroys thy people: see Isa_10:5, &c. Babylon, as Assyria, was the rod of God’s indignation, &c.
O mighty God: this he repeats for confirmation and illustration, and intimateth God to be his people’s rock and refuge.
Thou hast established, strengthened and fortified, them for correction; to chastise and discipline, not to destroy.