Summary

Injustice

By their evil deeds the wicked had the upper hand. They surrounded the righteous; that is, they persecuted them. The righteous are pictured as being hemmed in by the wicked which resulted in them suffering hardship and pain. They were being opposed and felt as if they were caught in a net from which they could not escape.

The righteous referred to those who lived upright lives in the sight of God. They were righteous because of God’s work of grace in their lives. Being righteous did not mean that they were perfect people. Rather it described them as living their lives seeking to obey and honour God. But righteousness did not flourish in the society. Instead wickedness was in charge. Their evilness was so widespread and effective that it paralysed the law. It seemed that the doers of wickedness overran and controlled the law courts using them for their own advantage so that the law was perverted and ineffective. The reward for the behaviour of the righteous was that they did not receive justice and were unfairly treated.  

This was the situation in which Habakkuk lived and it tormented his soul because wickedness reigned in the place of righteousness.