Habakkuk 2:4, “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.”
Do you often wonder why God seems to do nothing about all the prideful, immoral, lawless, and unethical occurrences happening in our country and in the world? Violence and corruption seem to be an everyday occurrence and correlate to the book of Habakkuk. We find that the root cause is confidence in their self – foolish pride as Psalm 10:4 states, “The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.” They are called “fools” as Psalm 14:1 declares, “Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!”
Habakkuk was a prophet and asked God for the second time, why are people not punished for their sins? Chapter two was the LORD’s second reply to Habakkuk’s second complaint regarding the overwhelming evils taking place in Judah. Habakkuk was patiently waiting and watching for God’s response to his questions that challenged his faith and said he needed an answer. Habakkuk had determination in receiving God’s answer, as the Lord’s promise says, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:13. Secondly, Habakkuk went to a quiet place, “my watchtower . . . There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint.” Hab. 2:1.
God tells Habakkuk in verse 3, “If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Then, in verse 4, God tells Habakkuk He knows how to deal with the proud, which is a universal sin. Pride looks to self. “But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God,” is in great contrast.
Every word in Habakkuk 2:4 is essential, as God is saying to Habakkuk, you are going to live by faith, and the Lord quotes this three times in the New Testament.
- Romans 1:17, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
- Hebrews 10:37-38, “For just in a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
- Galatians 3:11, “So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
Quiet your mind right now. Quiet your thoughts, fears, and doubts from start to finish. What are you in need of God speaking to you today about? Keep a journal handy with pen and paper so you can write it down what you are learning from reading God’s Word about living by faith so you can better remember it. Have a posture of expectancy, much like if you were sitting on the edge of your chair waiting for an answer to your need as you read the Bible. From start to finish God will show you through His Word, showing the sufficiency of Scripture for answering anyone’s needs, and how God shows the world’s needs of repentance and salvation in accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary says it so succinctly, regarding verse 20, “But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.” “I [God] know what I’m doing. I’m on the throne.” This is a nice way of saying, “Be quiet, Habakkuk. Calm down.” It’s a loving way of saying, “Habakkuk, I don’t have to tell you anything because the just shall live by faith. But, since you’re asking, I’ll tell you some principles about life. It’s all going to backfire on them. I don’t have to do anything. The results of their own lust and their own sin will inevitably come down upon their own heads.” Yes, God is in control from start to finish, so take charge, live by your faith; God is sovereign, trusting Him gives hope.
Judgment day is coming. God will deal with evil people. Everyone’s primary goal is to be faithful and discern what God is saying as you read His Word, applying it to your life.
Listen to Phil Wickham – Fear Has No Power (Official Lyric Video).