Jehovah Carries On an Unbelievable “Activity”

8, 9. Jehovah is carrying on what unbelievable “activity”?

⁸ In vision, Habakkuk sees the false religionists, who dishonor God. Listen to what Jehovah tells them: “See, you people, among the nations, and look on, and stare in amazement at one another.” Likely, Habakkuk wonders why God is addressing those wicked ones in this way. Then he hears Jehovah tell them: “Be amazed; for there is an activity that one is carrying on in your days, which you people will not believe although it is related.” (Habakkuk 1:5) Actually, Jehovah himself is carrying on this activity that they cannot believe. But what is it?

⁹ Habakkuk listens intently to God’s further words, recorded at Habakkuk 1:6-11. This is Jehovah’s message​—and no false god or lifeless idol can block its fulfillment: “Here I am raising up the Chaldeans, the nation bitter and impetuous, which is going to the wide-open places of earth in order to take possession of residences not belonging to it. Frightful and fear-inspiring it is. From itself its own justice and its own dignity go forth. And its horses have proved swifter than leopards, and they have proved fiercer than evening wolves. And its steeds have pawed the ground, and from far away its own steeds come. They fly like the eagle speeding to eat something. In its entirety it comes for mere violence. The assembling of their faces is as the east wind, and it gathers up captives just like the sand. And for its part, it jeers kings themselves, and high officials are something laughable to it. For its part, it laughs even at every fortified place, and it piles up dust and captures it. At that time it will certainly move onward like wind and will pass through and will actually become guilty. This its power is due to its god.”

10. Who are being raised up by Jehovah?

¹⁰ What a prophetic warning from the Most High! Jehovah is raising up the Chaldeans, the savage nation of Babylon. On its march through ‘earth’s wide-open places,’ it will conquer many, many dwellings. How terrifying! The Chaldean horde is “frightful and fear-inspiring,” terrible and dreadful. It makes its own inflexible laws. ‘Its own justice goes forth from itself.’

11. How would you describe the coming of the Babylonian forces against Judah?

¹¹ Babylon’s horses are swifter than speedy leopards. Its cavalry is fiercer than hungry wolves hunting by night. Raring to go, ‘its steeds paw the ground’ impatiently. From distant Babylon they head for Judah. Flying like an eagle speeding to a tasty meal, the Chaldeans will soon pounce on their prey. But will this be only a foray, just a raid by a few soldiers? Oh, no! “In its entirety it comes for mere violence,” as a gigantic host swarming up to wreak havoc. Their faces aglow with eagerness, they ride westward toward Judah and Jerusalem, moving as rapidly as the east wind. Babylonian forces sweep up so many prisoners that they are ‘gathering captives just like sand.’

12. What is the attitude of the Babylonians, and of what does this formidable enemy “actually become guilty”?

¹² The Chaldean army jeers at kings and derides high officials, all of whom are powerless to stop its relentless advance. It ‘laughs at every fortified place,’ for any fortress falls when the Babylonians ‘pile up dust’ by building a mound of earth from which to assault it. At Jehovah’s appointed time, the formidable enemy “will certainly move onward like wind.” In attacking Judah and Jerusalem, it “will actually become guilty” of doing injury to God’s people. After a whirlwind victory, the Chaldean commander will boast: ‘This power is due to our god.’ But how little he really knows!

14. What course has been pursued by the apostates of Judah?

¹⁴ Reflecting on his God-given vision and rejoicing in the insight it provided, the prophet continues: “O Jehovah, for a judgment you have set it; and, O Rock, for a reproving you have founded it.” God has judged the apostates of Judah adversely, and they are in line for reproof, severe chastisement, by Jehovah. They should have been looking upon him as their Rock, the only real stronghold, refuge, and Source of salvation. (Psalm 62:7; 94:22; 95:1) Yet, the apostate leaders of Judah do not draw close to God, and they continue to oppress Jehovah’s harmless worshipers.

[Picture on page 10]

Habakkuk foretold calamity for the land of Judah at Babylonian hands