I think I am hesitant to take that verse in Habakkuk in a literal sense, because God absolutely can and does look upon evil, he sees wickedness and he judges it. If God didn't see the evil on the earth, he would not have sent the flood. and Sodom and gomorrah, how would he have known sin was there if he can't look upon it?
It seem similar to a theory that God can't be in the presence of sin or look upon it, but we do know that Satan had a conversation with God about what to do with job twice. and after Adam and Eve had sinned God was walking in the garden and looking for them and had a conversation with all of them, including Satan. Not to mention the times that God in the Old testament appeared to / talked to people like abraham, noah, david, Samuel, moses, Samuel, etc. These were all sinful men, but God talked to them. God has been in the presence of sinful human beings, and he can indeed look upon sin. He is set apart/holy, but is not corrupted by the sight or presence of sin.
Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look favorably on wickedness. Why then do You look favorably On those who act treacherously? Why are you silent when the wicked (Chaldean oppressors) destroy Those more righteous than they? Habakkuk 1:13
In Habakkuk 1:13 I believe it could be interpreted as God's eyes are too pure to approve evil, He cannot look favorably on wickedness. Jesus saw sin all the time, but in Matthew 23 he obviously didn't look at their self-righteousness favorably. What do you think?
Yes, I agree that "look", as in the Hebrew word here (H5027) is sometimes translated as "regard", as here in Amos 5:22 "Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them, Nor will I regard (H5027) your fattened peace offerings." God sees it, of course, but not does respect it or regard it.
In the Greek, the word there epiblepo (G1914) is like James 2:3 [If you show special attention] (G1914) to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
it does seem to me that it makes more sense, as you state above, to translate this as "look favorably upon" wickedness.
*And that's a good point about Matthew 23!!! Thank you for pointing that out, I wouldn't have thought of that. SO, what does God look favorably upon, is a good question to think about in general. Good discussion, have a good day!
I think I am hesitant to take that verse in Habakkuk in a literal sense, because God absolutely can and does look upon evil, he sees wickedness and he judges it. If God didn't see the evil on the earth, he would not have sent the flood. and Sodom and gomorrah, how would he have known sin was there if he can't look upon it?
It seem similar to a theory that God can't be in the presence of sin or look upon it, but we do know that Satan had a conversation with God about what to do with job twice. and after Adam and Eve had sinned God was walking in the garden and looking for them and had a conversation with all of them, including Satan. Not to mention the times that God in the Old testament appeared to / talked to people like abraham, noah, david, Samuel, moses, Samuel, etc. These were all sinful men, but God talked to them. God has been in the presence of sinful human beings, and he can indeed look upon sin. He is set apart/holy, but is not corrupted by the sight or presence of sin.
Yes, the emphasis is on the Lord’s holiness and justice. If He literally didn’t see sin, then how could He fairly and righteously judge all the earth?
Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look favorably on wickedness. Why then do You look favorably On those who act treacherously? Why are you silent when the wicked (Chaldean oppressors) destroy Those more righteous than they? Habakkuk 1:13
In Habakkuk 1:13 I believe it could be interpreted as God's eyes are too pure to approve evil, He cannot look favorably on wickedness. Jesus saw sin all the time, but in Matthew 23 he obviously didn't look at their self-righteousness favorably. What do you think?
Yes, I agree that "look", as in the Hebrew word here (H5027) is sometimes translated as "regard", as here in Amos 5:22 "Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them, Nor will I regard (H5027) your fattened peace offerings." God sees it, of course, but not does respect it or regard it.
In the Greek, the word there epiblepo (G1914) is like James 2:3 [If you show special attention] (G1914) to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”
it does seem to me that it makes more sense, as you state above, to translate this as "look favorably upon" wickedness.
*And that's a good point about Matthew 23!!! Thank you for pointing that out, I wouldn't have thought of that. SO, what does God look favorably upon, is a good question to think about in general. Good discussion, have a good day!
also, 2 Corinthians 5:21, here is an article on was Jesus made to be sin or a sin offering? https://aimeewilliams.substack.com/p/did-jesus-become-sin-2-cor-521