Faithfulness - Habakkuk 2 (Week 6 - Post 1)

As we continue our reflections on the book Habakkuk ... today read Habakkuk 2.

There are two familiar phrases in this chapter.  And in the midst of the "woes" against Babylon, they are like a fresh breeze of clean air blowing through.  Let's consider them both today ...

Habakkuk's second complaint to God (1:12 - 2:1) is all about why God would use the Babylonians (Chaldeans) to discipline Judah.  They were a blood-thirsty and violent, idolatrous people.  Couldn't God find someone else - someone less wicked?  God's response is to tell Habakkuk that he is just to wait ... and to remain faithful during the waiting. 

That's hard isn't it?  The waiting on God.  Many times we are called to wait on God.  It seems that the answers to our prayers are not forthcoming ... time passes ... circumstances don't get 'fixed' or even better.  We continue to pray ... and wait.  So the question becomes, "how do you wait?"  What is your attitude in the waiting?  Are you anxious, full of doubt, fearful?  David describes the attitude during waiting in Psalm 27: 13 - 14:

I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

God tells Habakkuk "though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

And then in verse 4, one of the "fresh air" phrases of this chapter appears ... and is almost as an aside in the flow of the sentence.  How refreshing it is!  "But the righteous will live by his faith"  God tells us that we can indeed live well during the time of waiting ... how, by faith! 

What about this word, "faith"?  From the Shepherd's Notes Commentary:

The Hebrew word translated "faith" in Habakkuk 2:4 means "faithfulness", "steadfastness," or "trustworthiness."  It implies a continued state of being, a deliberate and conscientious effort to walk in God's ways.  It also includes the ideas of belief and trust which are more common to the New Testament concept of faith.  Quoting this verse three times, the writers of the New Testament recognized that saving faith was faith that believed in God but also resulted in faithful living.

The three places where Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted are:

1.  Romans 1:17  "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"

2.  Galatians 3:11  "Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith.'"

3.  Hebrews 10: 37 - 38  "For in a very little while, 'He who is coming will come and will not delay.  But my righteous one will live by faith.'"

How about you?  Is that the way you are living today?  In your current circumstances?  The righteous do that ... they live each day by faith.

The second "fresh air" phrase appears in verse 20.  These "woes" against Babylon have filled the chapter ... there are five of them and they are bleak indeed.  And then there is the "BUT" that begins verse 20.  In spite of all the gloom and destruction that is coming ... there is something else ... that is not the end of the story.  "BUT"! 

But what?  But ... the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.

So, rest well, my friends.  The Lord STILL resides in His holy temple ... the Lord STILL commands the silence of reverence and awe in His presence. 

We can echo the heartbeat of David as he says ... "I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." 

Yes, David.  Me, too.