"The best prayers I have ever heard in our prayer meetings, have been those which have been fullest of argument. Sometimes my soul has been fairly melted down where I have listened to the brethren who have come before God feeling the mercy to be really needed, and that they must have it; for they first pleaded with God to give it for this reason, and then for a second reason, and then for a third reason, and then for a fourth reason and a fifth until they have awakened the fervency of the entire assembly." You see what Spurgeon is saying? He is talking about arguing, bringing a case, and making an argument before God. Not just using platitudes.
That is not what Habakkuk is doing here. He is bringing a case; he is making an argument. And his case is: Lord this is not fair! This is not right! And the reason this is not right is that you are of purer eyes than to behold evil. There is something about this that seems to be wrong. It is known as a complaining prayer. Now we do not want to be complainers. Usually when we use say someone is a complainer, we do not mean that as a complement. But there are occasions when it is right to complain. And there is an honesty about it. That is what I find refreshing, that Habakkuk is really speaking how he thinks.1
Derek W. H. Thomas
13 You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?