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habakkuk 2
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==Habakkuk 2:1:
I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
==Habakkuk 2:2:
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Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. |
In Habakkuk 2:2, God commands the prophet to write down the vision clearly, which is a crucial action that prepares for the promise in verse 3. The act of writing serves as an immediate, tangible response to God's revelation, while the assurance in verse 3 addresses the future fulfillment of that revelation. The significance of writing down the vision (Habakkuk 2:2) For clarity and remembrance. Writing the vision on tablets makes it permanent, serving as a constant reminder for both the prophet and the people of Judah during their time of waiting. The act clarifies God's message and solidifies it in their memory, so they won't forget it as time goes on. For action and proclamation. God says to "make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it". This means the message should be so clear and accessible that anyone can read it and immediately understand it. The image of a person running with the message emphasizes the urgency and importance of proclaiming God's coming judgment and ultimate plan. For future generations. Writing the vision preserves the message for people beyond Habakkuk's time, so they, too, can learn from it and have faith during their own struggles. This connects God's immediate communication with Habakkuk to His broader, eternal plans for all believers. |
In Habakkuk 2:2, God commands the prophet to write down the vision clearly, which is a crucial action that prepares for the promise in verse 3. The act of writing serves as an immediate, tangible response to God's revelation, while the assurance in verse 3 addresses the future fulfillment of that revelation.
The significance of writing down the vision (Habakkuk 2:2)
For clarity and remembrance. Writing the vision on tablets makes it permanent, serving as a constant reminder for both the prophet and the people of Judah during their time of waiting. The act clarifies God's message and solidifies it in their memory, so they won't forget it as time goes on.
For action and proclamation. God says to "make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it". This means the message should be so clear and accessible that anyone can read it and immediately understand it. The image of a person running with the message emphasizes the urgency and importance of proclaiming God's coming judgment and ultimate plan.
For future generations. Writing the vision preserves the message for people beyond Habakkuk's time, so they, too, can learn from it and have faith during their own struggles. This connects God's immediate communication with Habakkuk to His broader, eternal plans for all believers.
The significance of writing down the vision (Habakkuk 2:2)
For clarity and remembrance. Writing the vision on tablets makes it permanent, serving as a constant reminder for both the prophet and the people of Judah during their time of waiting. The act clarifies God's message and solidifies it in their memory, so they won't forget it as time goes on.
For action and proclamation. God says to "make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it". This means the message should be so clear and accessible that anyone can read it and immediately understand it. The image of a person running with the message emphasizes the urgency and importance of proclaiming God's coming judgment and ultimate plan.
For future generations. Writing the vision preserves the message for people beyond Habakkuk's time, so they, too, can learn from it and have faith during their own struggles. This connects God's immediate communication with Habakkuk to His broader, eternal plans for all believers.
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The command to write in verse 2 is the necessary foundation for the promise of patient waiting in verse 3. Cause (Verse 2): The act of writing Establishes the vision's reality: By writing down the prophecy, Habakkuk and the Israelites have a physical, objective record of what God has said. This prevents them from dismissing the vision as a delusion during the long wait. Provides a reference point: In times of doubt or difficulty, they can turn back to the written words and be reminded of God's faithful promise. Effect (Verse 3): The call to wait patiently Justifies the wait: The message in verse 3 explains why there is a need to wait. God has an "appointed time" for the vision's fulfillment, and human impatience does not alter His perfect timing. Assures ultimate certainty: The written promise removes all uncertainty. The vision "will not prove false" and "will surely come". The command to write it down is therefore an anchor for the faith of those who are told to wait patiently for God to act. In essence, Habakkuk 2:2-3 provides a complete picture of receiving God's word: Receive the word: God gives the prophet a vision. Record the word: The prophet writes it plainly for all to see. Rest in the word: The people are called to wait patiently, knowing God will fulfill His promises. |
The command to use tablets to write the vision in Habakkuk 2:2 holds deep significance, primarily signifying permanence, public accessibility, and divine authority. Unlike a scroll or parchment, a tablet made of stone, clay, or wood is durable and lasting. This solid medium symbolizes the unchanging and certain nature of God's message. A contrast to human affairs: In Habakkuk's time, the world seemed chaotic and unstable due to the impending Babylonian invasion. Recording the vision on a tablet provides a tangible, permanent point of reference that stands in stark contrast to the fleeting nature of the current crisis. Echoes of Sinai: The use of tablets deliberately echoes the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. This connection reinforces the vision's divine origin and authority, communicating that this message, like the law, is from God and is steadfast. Public accessibility: The instruction to "make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it" indicates that the vision was meant for public display, not a private record. A message for all: Tablets were often used for important public declarations in the ancient Near East. Inscribing the message in this way signals its importance and makes it available to anyone passing by. Clarity for swift action: The phrase "that he may run who reads it" means that the writing should be clear and legible enough to be read quickly, even by someone in a hurry. This may refer to a messenger or herald who would take the message far and wide, or it could be a metaphor for the speed with which the message should be disseminated. |
Recording the vision on tablets was a practice that lent the message authority, proving its origin was not merely human.
An official decree: In ancient cultures, official decrees, laws, and important historical records were often inscribed on stone or clay tablets. God commanding Habakkuk to use this medium elevates the prophecy from a simple utterance to an official, divinely sanctioned decree.
Authentication: The written word was a way to authenticate divine revelation. It was a practice seen throughout the Bible, such as when God commanded Moses to write the law.
The tablets serve as the solid, enduring foundation for the patience called for in verse 3.
Written word as proof: The permanence of the written vision on tablets provides the proof for the promise in verse 3: "Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come." The written word is a constant reminder that the vision is real and trustworthy, even when the wait is long.
Waiting with a purpose: The act of writing the vision gives the prophet and the people a defined object to hold onto and believe in during the period of waiting. It allows their faithfulness to be grounded in a tangible promise, not an abstract or easily forgotten idea.
An official decree: In ancient cultures, official decrees, laws, and important historical records were often inscribed on stone or clay tablets. God commanding Habakkuk to use this medium elevates the prophecy from a simple utterance to an official, divinely sanctioned decree.
Authentication: The written word was a way to authenticate divine revelation. It was a practice seen throughout the Bible, such as when God commanded Moses to write the law.
The tablets serve as the solid, enduring foundation for the patience called for in verse 3.
Written word as proof: The permanence of the written vision on tablets provides the proof for the promise in verse 3: "Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come." The written word is a constant reminder that the vision is real and trustworthy, even when the wait is long.
Waiting with a purpose: The act of writing the vision gives the prophet and the people a defined object to hold onto and believe in during the period of waiting. It allows their faithfulness to be grounded in a tangible promise, not an abstract or easily forgotten idea.
==Habakkuk 2:3:
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For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. |
Don’t allow a change in plans to bring about disappointment; just keep hanging on to your faith with joyful expectation because your day is coming. Hab 2:3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. “The end” – This phrase has a double meaning. It refers, firstly, to the end of Babylonion domination and the resturn of the exiles. But it looks forward, secondly, to the final victory of God, 1Co 15:24-26. “Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay” – ‘God’s tardiness is largely an illusion, for God does not regard or experience time as mere mortals do. He is above and outside time. {Ps 90:4} Moreover, the delay in the final judgement is due to his patience, and his wish that sinners should find salvation, 2Pe 3:3-10. ‘From our perspective, the time is running out…; But God is on course and on time.’ |
Habakkuk 2:3 is a Bible verse that assures readers that a divine vision or prophecy, even if it seems delayed, will ultimately come to pass. The verse states, "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not delay". This message encourages patience and faith, emphasizing that God's plans will not be frustrated and will eventually be fulfilled.
Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time":
This indicates that there is a specific, preordained time for the vision to be revealed or for a particular event to occur.
"But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie":
When the appointed time comes, the vision will be clear and its fulfillment will be certain and true.
"Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not delay":
Even if the realization of the vision seems to be taking a long time (tarrying), believers are to wait for it patiently because it is guaranteed to come to pass and will not be late.
Here's a breakdown of the verse:
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time":
This indicates that there is a specific, preordained time for the vision to be revealed or for a particular event to occur.
"But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie":
When the appointed time comes, the vision will be clear and its fulfillment will be certain and true.
"Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not delay":
Even if the realization of the vision seems to be taking a long time (tarrying), believers are to wait for it patiently because it is guaranteed to come to pass and will not be late.
This verse has broad application for believers:
Patience during injustice: In Habakkuk's original context, it was an answer to a complaint about unpunished evil. Today, it encourages believers to trust that God will one day right all wrongs, even when it seems slow.
Hope for prophetic fulfillment: The verse is relevant to the prophetic promises throughout the Bible, including the return of Jesus. Believers are to wait patiently for this appointed time, trusting that it will not be late.
Trust in personal circumstances: On a more personal level, the verse offers hope to those waiting for God to act in their own lives. It encourages people to trust in God's timing for their dreams, goals, or solutions to problems.
Patience during injustice: In Habakkuk's original context, it was an answer to a complaint about unpunished evil. Today, it encourages believers to trust that God will one day right all wrongs, even when it seems slow.
Hope for prophetic fulfillment: The verse is relevant to the prophetic promises throughout the Bible, including the return of Jesus. Believers are to wait patiently for this appointed time, trusting that it will not be late.
Trust in personal circumstances: On a more personal level, the verse offers hope to those waiting for God to act in their own lives. It encourages people to trust in God's timing for their dreams, goals, or solutions to problems.
The people must wait for the accomplishment of the vision (Hab 2:3): "The vision is yet for an appointed time to come. You shall now be told of your deliverance by the breaking of the Chaldeans' power, and that the time of it is fixed in the counsel and decree of God. There is an appointed time, but it is not near; it is yet to be deferred a great while; and that comes in here as a reason why it must be written, that it may be reviewed afterwards and the event compared with it. Note, God has an appointed time for his appointed work, and will be sure to do the work when the time comes; it is not for us to anticipate his appointments, but to wait his time. And it is a great encouragement to wait with patience, that, though the promised favour be deferred long, it will come at last, and be an abundant recompence to us for our waiting: At the end it shall speak and not lie. We shall not be disappointed of it, for it will come at the time appointed; nor shall we be disappointed in it, for it will fully answer our believing expectations. The promise may seem silent a great while, but at the end it shall speak; and therefore, though it tarry longer than we expected, yet we must continue waiting for it, being assured it will come, and willing to tarry until it does come. The day that God has set for the deliverance of his people, and the destruction of his and their enemies, is a day,
(1.) That will surely come at last; it is never adjourned sine die?without fixing another day, but it will without fail come at the fixed time and the fittest time.
(2.) It will not tarry, for God is not slack, as some count slackness (2 Pt. 3:9); though it tarry past our time, yet it does not tarry past God's time, which is always the best time.
3. This vision, the accomplishment of which is so long waited for, will be such an exercise of faith and patience as will try and discover men what they are, Hab 2:4.
(1.) There are some who will proudly disdain this vision, whose hearts are so lifted up that they scorn to take notice of it; if God will work for them immediately, they will thank him, but they will not give him credit; their hearts are lifted up towards vanity, and, since God puts them off, they will shift for themselves and not be beholden to him; they think their own hands sufficient for them, and God's promise is to them an insignificant thing. That man's soul that is thus lifted up is not upright in him; it is not right with God, is not as it should be. Those that either distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will not walk uprightly with him, Gen. 17:1. But, (2.) Those who are truly good, and whose hearts are upright with God, will value the promise, and venture their all upon it; and, in confidence of the truth of it, will keep close to God and duty in the most difficult trying times, and will then live comfortably in communion with God, dependence on him, and expectation of him. The just shall live by faith; during the captivity good people shall support themselves, and live comfortably, by faith in these precious promises, while the performance of them is deferred. The just shall live by his faith, by that faith which he acts upon the word of God. This is quoted in the New Testament (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38), for the proof of the great doctrine of justification by faith only and of the influence which the grace of faith has upon the Christian life. Those that are made just by faith shall live, shall be happy here and for ever; while they are here, they live by it; when they come to heaven faith shall be swallowed up in vision
(1.) That will surely come at last; it is never adjourned sine die?without fixing another day, but it will without fail come at the fixed time and the fittest time.
(2.) It will not tarry, for God is not slack, as some count slackness (2 Pt. 3:9); though it tarry past our time, yet it does not tarry past God's time, which is always the best time.
3. This vision, the accomplishment of which is so long waited for, will be such an exercise of faith and patience as will try and discover men what they are, Hab 2:4.
(1.) There are some who will proudly disdain this vision, whose hearts are so lifted up that they scorn to take notice of it; if God will work for them immediately, they will thank him, but they will not give him credit; their hearts are lifted up towards vanity, and, since God puts them off, they will shift for themselves and not be beholden to him; they think their own hands sufficient for them, and God's promise is to them an insignificant thing. That man's soul that is thus lifted up is not upright in him; it is not right with God, is not as it should be. Those that either distrust or despise God's all-sufficiency will not walk uprightly with him, Gen. 17:1. But, (2.) Those who are truly good, and whose hearts are upright with God, will value the promise, and venture their all upon it; and, in confidence of the truth of it, will keep close to God and duty in the most difficult trying times, and will then live comfortably in communion with God, dependence on him, and expectation of him. The just shall live by faith; during the captivity good people shall support themselves, and live comfortably, by faith in these precious promises, while the performance of them is deferred. The just shall live by his faith, by that faith which he acts upon the word of God. This is quoted in the New Testament (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38), for the proof of the great doctrine of justification by faith only and of the influence which the grace of faith has upon the Christian life. Those that are made just by faith shall live, shall be happy here and for ever; while they are here, they live by it; when they come to heaven faith shall be swallowed up in vision
Martin Luther had long struggled with feelings of condemnation and inadequacy, until his own reading of the Scriptures led him to an epiphany when he read Habakkuk 2:4: “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.” This led Luther to the other places in the Bible where this phrase is repeated: Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38 – where the message is clear: It is not by our own works that we are justified before God, but it is God who justifies us sinners as a gift of His grace, and we receive that justification by faith. After all, the Bible explains, this is how Abraham, the father of our faith, became righteous: he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3, 22). We receive God’s righteousness, which he has provided for us in Christ, in the same way.
==Habakkuk 2:4:
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“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. |
This verse provides a sharp contrast between the proud and self-righteous individual and the righteous person who lives by faith in God. The verse highlights the importance of humility and dependence on God for true fulfillment. The puffed up person is arrogant and self-assured. They are puffed up with pride, believing in their own abilities and accomplishments. The righteous are not defined by their own achievements or self-confidence; instead, they find life and meaning through their faith in God. --Arlen Sorensen |
==Habakkuk 2:5:
“Indeed, because he transgresses by wine,
He is a proud man,
And he does not stay at home.
Because he enlarges his desire as hell,
And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied,
He gathers to himself all nations
And heaps up for himself all peoples.
He is a proud man,
And he does not stay at home.
Because he enlarges his desire as hell,
And he is like death, and cannot be satisfied,
He gathers to himself all nations
And heaps up for himself all peoples.
==Habakkuk 2:5-20:
“Will not all these take up a proverb against him,
And a taunting riddle against him, and say,
‘Woe to him who increases
What is not his—how long?
And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?
7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?
Will they not awaken who oppress you?
And you will become their booty.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it.
9 “Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house,
That he may set his nest on high,
That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!
10 You give shameful counsel to your house,
Cutting off many peoples,
And sin against your soul.
11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,
And the beam from the timbers will answer it.
12 “Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed,
Who establishes a city by iniquity!
13 Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts
That the peoples labor to feed the fire,
And nations weary themselves in vain?
14 For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea.
15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor,
Pressing him to your bottle,
Even to make him drunk,
That you may look on his nakedness!
16 You are filled with shame instead of glory.
You also—drink!
And be exposed as uncircumcised!
The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned against you,
And utter shame will be on your glory.
17 For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you,
And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it.
18 “What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it,
The molded image, a teacher of lies,
That the maker of its mold should trust in it,
To make mute idols?
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’
To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
Yet in it there is no breath at all.
20 “But the Lord is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”
And a taunting riddle against him, and say,
‘Woe to him who increases
What is not his—how long?
And to him who loads himself with many pledges’?
7 Will not your creditors rise up suddenly?
Will they not awaken who oppress you?
And you will become their booty.
8 Because you have plundered many nations,
All the remnant of the people shall plunder you,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it.
9 “Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house,
That he may set his nest on high,
That he may be delivered from the power of disaster!
10 You give shameful counsel to your house,
Cutting off many peoples,
And sin against your soul.
11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,
And the beam from the timbers will answer it.
12 “Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed,
Who establishes a city by iniquity!
13 Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts
That the peoples labor to feed the fire,
And nations weary themselves in vain?
14 For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea.
15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor,
Pressing him to your bottle,
Even to make him drunk,
That you may look on his nakedness!
16 You are filled with shame instead of glory.
You also—drink!
And be exposed as uncircumcised!
The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned against you,
And utter shame will be on your glory.
17 For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you,
And the plunder of beasts which made them afraid,
Because of men’s blood
And the violence of the land and the city,
And of all who dwell in it.
18 “What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it,
The molded image, a teacher of lies,
That the maker of its mold should trust in it,
To make mute idols?
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’
To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
Yet in it there is no breath at all.
20 “But the Lord is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”