Albert Barnes Commentary Habakkuk 1:16

"Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous." — Habakkuk 1:16 (ASV)

Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag – literally, he sacrifices to his, and so on. Whatever a man trusts in is his god. If a man relies on his strength, his wisdom, his forethought, his wealth, his armies, or his navies to accomplish his purpose, these forces of his are his God. So the Assyrian said (Isaiah 10:13; Isaiah 10:15), “By the strength of my hand I did it; and by my wisdom, for I am prudent;” and God answered, “Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?” The coarse forms of idolatry only embody outwardly the deep inward idolatry of the corrupt human mind.

The idol is first “set up in the heart” (Ezekiel 14:4). Indeed, there have not been lacking savage nations who truly worshiped their arms; people of old worshiped spears as immortal gods. Even now, we are told of some North American Indians “who designate their bow and arrow as the only beneficent deities whom they know.”

Among the civilized Romans, the worship of the eagles—their standards to whom they sacrificed—was no different and no better. The inward idolatry is only a more subtle form of the same sin, the evil spirit which shapes itself in the outward show. Here the idolatry of self is meant, which did not join creatures with God as objects of worship but, denying Him in practice or misbelief, became a god to itself. So Habakkuk had said, this strength of his is his God. His idol was himself.

Because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous – (literally, “well-fed,” as found in the English margin), all the choicest things of the world were at his command, as Nebuchadnezzar boasted (Daniel 4:30, compare to Daniel 4:22); and all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, all the knowledge and wisdom and learning of the world, and the whole world itself, were Satan’s lawful prey (Luke 4:6; John 12:31; Isaiah 49:24).

Cyril says: “Nebuchadnezzar, as with a hook, meshes, and line, swept into his own land both Israel himself and other nations, encompassing them. Satan, as it were, by one line and net—that of sin—enclosed all, and Israel especially, on account of his impiety toward Christ. ‘His food was choice.’ For Israel was chosen above the rest, as from a holy root (that of the fathers), and having the ‘law as a schoolmaster,’ and being called to the knowledge of the one true God.

Yet he, having this glory and grace, was taken with the rest. They became his prey by error; but Israel, knowing Him who is by nature God, yet in an ungodly manner slaying Him who was by nature His Begotten Son and who came as Man, was taken in his nets.”