Habakkuk – 2

Habakkuk sets himself to stand and watch on the rampart Habakkuk 2:1. He demonstrated first and foremost a patient resolve, I will stand, I will watch, I will listen and I will answer.

This is the place we all need to get to in our lives when we acknowledge that God is in control just as Habakkuk did in Habakkuk 1:12 “Lord, are you not from everlasting?” He had accepted that although everything around him was falling apart, God was everlasting. He recognised that God was in control and so he was able to listen and record God’s answer when it came.

The key thing that God immediately points out to Habakkuk is the difference between those who believe and trust in an almighty God and those who don’t. In Habakkuk 2:4 KJV we read “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him, but the just shall live by faith”, what this is saying is that they are a proud and unjust people, their heart is not in the right place. ‘It’s all about me!’. These kind of people are not upright, all they do will be from a wrong motive because the heart has not been changed. On the other hand those who have been justified, live by faith. These people have recognised that God is with them and dwells in their midst and by the power of the resurrection and the indwelling Spirit of God they live by faith.

Paul the apostle picks this verse up twice in the new testament in Romans 1:17 KJV “Righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; the just shall live by faith” and again in Galatians 3:11 KJV “No man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” So we see that those who are justified, those who are ‘made right’ with God through Jesus’ death and resurrection, can only live by faith, there is no other way to live life in Christ. Paul says in Galatians 2:20 KJV “the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

So despite all the negativity and injustice that was surrounding Habakkuk he was able to stand, watch, listen and answer because he had entered into a relationship with God who was able to reassure him that “the just will live by faith” and it is that faithfulness that will endure.

Paul writes in Romans 5:1-5 that those justified through faith have peace with God. We can boast in the hope of the glory of God but also glory in our sufferings. Habakkuk was able to listen to God’s answer and was able to answer his complaint with confidence and assurance.

We will look at this in the next blog.

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