Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
Shall they therefore empty their net? - shall they be allowed without interruption to enjoy the fruits of their violence?
Therefore - seeing that they attribute all their successes to themselves, and not to Thee. The answer to the prophet's question, he by inspiration gives himself in Habakkuk 2:1-20.
Remarks:
(1) The servants of Yahweh are deeply grieved in being constrained to behold violence and iniquity, strife and contention, so prevalent (Habakkuk 1:2-3). But instead of complaining to men, as is the way of the world, they, like the prophet, pour out their sorrows and distress before God, who is "a very present help in time of trouble" (Psalms 46:1).
(2) Where "the law is slacked," there of necessity "wrong judgment proceedeth" (Habakkuk 1:4). The firm maintenance of the law is the security of "the righteous" against "the wicked." In this fallen world much injustice is practiced, even in comparatively well-regulated communities. The children of God, therefore, long for the happy time when the Lord shall come to reign in righteousness, and to judge with equity (Isaiah 11:4). Meantime we must not be impatient because anomalies abound in a world disordered by sin. We must beware of arraigning the justice of God by premature murmurings. Let us only wait believingly, and the Lord, in His own good time, will vindicate His righteousness by terribly punishing the wicked and gloriously delivering His saints.
(3) The Chaldeans, God informs His servant when supplicating before Him, were to be the "bitter" instruments of inflicting vengeance on the guilty Jews. Their past unbelief (Habakkuk 1:5) was soon to give place to stupefied horror at the dreadful judgment which should overwhelm them. As "violence" and "iniquity" were Judea's crying sins (Habakkuk 1:2-3), so, in righteous retribution, "violence" and "iniquity" perpetrated against herself were to be her condign punishment (Habakkuk 1:9; Habakkuk 1:13). "They shall come all for violence," is God's declaration concerning the coming Chaldean invaders. The Jews had "sown the wind," therefore they must "reap the whirlwind" (Hosea 8:7). Their enemies were about to sup up all before them, as the destructive "east wind;" and the elect nation, to whom belonged the promise that its numbers should be "as the sand which is upon the seashore" (Genesis 22:17), was now about to be swept away into captivity "as the sand" carried along before the storm (Habakkuk 1:9).
(4) Here was to be the turning point in Judah's calamity. Babylon's triumph tempted her to overweening pride. Prosperity is the ruin of many. And so it proved to the Chaldeans. Elated with their successes, they "passed over" all bounds of moderation, and took to themselves the glory of "the power" which belongs unto Yahweh alone. This blasphemous self-deifying haughtiness was the signal for their destruction, and for the deliverance of the captive Jews. How many there are who have been humble and thankful in a lowly position, but become puffed up with pride when exalted to a high station! Change of station in such cases too often brings with it a "change" of "mind" for the worse (Habakkuk 1:11).
(5) The Lord's "everlasting" nature (Habakkuk 1:12) is the believer's refuge and consolation amidst present and impending troubles. If we are able to call God in Christ, "My God, mine Holy One," then we may with strong confidence say, "we shall not die," however chastised we may be for a time. Faith shows the believer, amidst his sufferings from men, that these are but the instruments "for correction" in the hands of the "mighty God." Resting on "the Rock" of ages, the saint can feel assured that God is "of purer eyes than to behold evil:" and that, though God "keep silence" (Psalms 50:21) for a time, while "the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he" (Habakkuk 1:13), it will not always, nor even for long, be so.
(6) The world is like a troubled sea with its fish-the weaker therein are devoured by the stronger. The mighty ones use the hook to oppress individuals one by one, the net and the drag to sweep away multitudes. They exult in their success: for crimes which are crowned with success at the time are not though crimes, but matters for boasting. They admire their own cleverness and prowess. Even in lawful successes, how apt we all are virtually to "sacrifice unto our net, and burn incense unto our drag" - that is, to attribute the glory of our prosperity to the intellect and skill employed in attaining success, rather than to the God who alone gives it, and without whom no intellect or might could avail. Let us beware of idolizing self or man. Especially let us beware of exulting in successes obtained by the misery of others. For in the speedily coming judgment those who now pray on others shall be themselves a prey to the "worm that dieth not," and to "the fire that is not quenched."