Matthew Poole and continuators on Habakkuk 1:12

12 ¶ Art thou not from everlasting , O LORD my God , mine holy one? we shall not dye : O LORD thou hast ordained them for judgment , and O mighty God y, thou hast established them for correction .

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, born with, restrain'd, overthrown and punisht such proud, bloody and sacrilegious wretches. In thy works of old, before this proud Chaldean Monarch was thought of, thou wert as now, wonderfull, just and good, and thy Saints found support in the remembrance thereof, Psal. 74.12. and 77.6, 12. and 143.5. Isa. 45.21. In Covenant with thine Israel, which Covenant is not of late years, it is an anti[illegible: 1 letter]nt Covenant, and as it hath, it still shall be kept for our good.

The Sovereign Lord and Ruler of the World, who only art Iehovah.

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 peoples 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 antient Covenant relation which God had taken them into, and implyes his hope and expectation of help from God, their Judge and Vindex.

Who are thine, and opprest, threatened and exposed to the avarice and cruelty of the Chaldean.

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 shew us such Mercy that we shall outlive the rage of our enemies.

With humble veneration he doth look towards God, and discerneth what quieteth his Spirit, and confirms his Faith and Patience.

Set up, maintained and designed.

The Chaldean Kingdom, as verse 6.

To execute this Judgment, which is ever attempered with Mercy, which ever betters, never destroys thy people, Vid. Isa. 10.5. &c. Babylon as Assyria was rod of God's Indignation, &c.

Strengthened and Fortified.

To chastise and discipline, not to destroy.

Holy in thy Nature, Law and Government, in thy Mercies, and in thy 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.

This he repeats for confirmation and illustration, and intimateth God to be his peoples Rock and Refuge.

Marginal references: Heb. Rock. Deut. 32.4.; Heb. founded.