Habakkuk’s Faith Tested

GOLDEN TEXT: “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” —Habakkuk 2:4

BOOK OF HABAKKUK

THE faith of the righteous in every age has been tested, and directly or indirectly every test of faith has been due to God’s permission of evil, of trial, of sorrow, and of suffering. It was so with Habakkuk. As a prophet of the Lord, and righteous at heart, he mourned because of the evil with which he was surrounded. In his distress he prayed, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save? Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.”—ch. 1:2,3

In answer to this prayer the Lord told Habakkuk that even worse evil was coming upon the nation, that there was to be an invasion by the Chaldeans, “that bitter and hasty nation.” (vss. 5,6) This would have answered the prophet’s prayer had he understood its implications. His nation—God’s chosen people—had again become very wicked, so wicked that Habakkuk was mourning over the situation. He wanted God to do something, but he was not prepared for what God said would be done. An invasion of the country by the wicked Chaldeans seemed to the prophet like making a bad matter worse.

Then he prayed again, “Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? … Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and boldest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”—vss. 12,13

Habakkuk knew that his own people were wicked, and grieved over it; but, as he saw it, the Chaldeans were even more wicked, and why should they be permitted to “devour” those who were more righteous? Finishing his prayer the prophet said, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am argued with.”—ch. 2:1, margin

In other words, Habakkuk felt that he was arguing with the Lord, and thus trying to learn from him more concerning the permission of evil. And the Lord answered, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”—ch. 2:2-4

This was a reply to Habakkuk, but hardly an answer. It assured him that the vision, the understanding of the matter troubling him was yet for an “appointed time,” and when that time would come, “at the end,” the vision would speak, that the Lord’s people would then understand.

In Hebrews 10:35-38 Paul quotes from this statement concerning the vision, and applies it to the time of Christ’s second coming, when he would return to establish his kingdom.

However, the Lord’s reply to Habakkuk was somewhat more complete than this statement concerning the vision. Throughout the remainder of the chapter the Lord continues to assure the prophet that evil cannot triumph, that woe ultimately is sure to befall those who practice wickedness. He closes with the statement, “The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.”

Then Habakkuk replied, “O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” The Lord made it so plain that “woe” was coming upon all evildoers that even Habakkuk was “afraid.” He wanted the Lord to revive his work in the midst of the years. Seemingly Habakkuk was asking the Lord to assert his authority in the earth and put an end to evil before the appointed time when the vision would speak. It was his way of expressing the thought voiced by John. When Jesus said that he would “come quickly,” John replied, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”—Rev. 22:20,21

In verses 3 to 16 of chapter 2 Habakkuk speaks of many ways in which the Lord’s power had been manifested, thus indicating his faith that God was able to control evil, and would stamp it out in his due time, whether in the “midst of the years” or at the “appointed time,” “at the end.” Knowing this, he closes his book with one of the most eloquent expressions of confidence in the Lord that is found in the Bible. He says, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”—vss. 17,18

QUESTIONS

Primarily, what has been to the Lord’s people the greatest test of faith?

God told Habakkuk of a “vision” which in due time would speak. How is this vision related to God’s plan to destroy all evil? When was it due to “speak”?

What may Habakkuk have meant when he asked the Lord to revive his work in the midst of the years?

Quote Habakkuk’s final expression of confidence in the Lord.

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