Chapter two contains the vision God gave Habakkuk in response to his questions of chapter one. God would reveal to Habakkuk what was yet to happen to Babylon, but he did not promise that Habakkuk himself would see it take place (vs. 2-3). Although Habakkuk is relatively unknown to many Christians, verse four is quoted three times in the New Testament – “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). Like Abraham bargaining for Lot (Genesis 18), Habakkuk was concerned that Babylon would destroy the faithful Jews along with the rebellious ones. God promised Habakkuk that, no matter what happened, the righteous would live because of their faith. Paul emphasized the spiritual aspect, noting that life is more than simply earthly existence. The rest of the chapter contains God’s assessment of the Babylonian king (either Nebuchadnezzar or his father, Nabopolassar). God promised that the king would certainly be judged because of his wickedness, his violence, and his idolatry.
