Habakkuk 2:1-5: a reflection

1I will stand at my watch and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. 2The LORD answered me, “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he who runs may read it. 3For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won’t prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it, because it will surely come. It won’t delay. 4Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith. 5Yes, moreover, wine is treacherous: an arrogant man who doesn’t stay at home, who enlarges his desire as Sheol; he is like death and can’t be satisfied, but gathers to himself all nations and heaps to himself all peoples.

The prophet Habakkuk, troubled by all he sees, takes his stand to watch for God's answer. And God answers: Write the vision, make it plain, that whoever reads it may run. For the vision is for an appointed time; it hastens to the end and will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. And in the midst of it, a great word: the righteous shall live by his faith. God's promise, though it delays, will surely come; and in the waiting, the righteous live by faith.

Notice both the assurance and the call. The assurance is that God's vision, his promise, will surely come at the appointed time; though it seems to tarry, it is not failing, but hastening to its end, and it will not prove false. And the call is to wait for it in faith: the righteous shall live by faith, trusting God through the delay, holding to his promise even when it seems slow. God's promise is sure, and faith waits for it.

That speaks to us in every season of waiting on God. There are promises of God we are still waiting to see fulfilled, answers we long for that seem slow in coming; and in the waiting, we are tempted to lose heart, to conclude that the promise has failed. But God's word to Habakkuk stands: though it tarries, wait for it; it will surely come. And in the meantime, the righteous live by faith, trusting God through the delay. When you are waiting on God, and his promise seems slow, do not lose heart or conclude that it has failed. Wait for it in faith, for it will surely come at the appointed time. Live by faith through the delay, trusting the God whose promise, though it seems to tarry, will not fail; for the righteous live by faith, and what God has promised will surely come.

Lord, when Habakkuk watched for your answer, you told him to write the vision, for though it tarries, it will surely come at the appointed time and will not prove false; and you gave the great word, the righteous shall live by his faith. Speak to me in my seasons of waiting on you. There are promises of yours I am still waiting to see fulfilled, answers I long for that seem slow in coming; and in the waiting, I am tempted to lose heart, to conclude that the promise has failed. But your word to Habakkuk stands: though it tarries, wait for it; it will surely come. And in the meantime, the righteous live by faith, trusting you through the delay. When I am waiting on you, and your promise seems slow, keep me from losing heart or concluding that it has failed. Help me wait for it in faith, for it will surely come at the appointed time. Help me live by faith through the delay, trusting you, whose promise, though it seems to tarry, will not fail. Help me live by faith, and wait for your sure promise.