Rules For Living: Live By Faith

In the very first verse of our study for this morning we see that God told Habakkuk to write down the revelation and to make it clear so that everyone would be able to understand it. The Hebrew word used here means, “to make plain, distinct, to make clear, or to declare.” The same word is used in Deuteronomy 1:5 where we are told that Moses began to “expound” upon the Law given to him by God.

What was Habakkuk to make plain for the people? He was to let them know that God was getting ready to discipline them by bringing the Babylonians in to wreak havoc on the nation. Habakkuk was to let his countrymen know that the Babylonians weren’t coming in on their own; God Himself was sending them. Habakkuk was also to let them know that God would judge the Babylonians for their sin, just as He was getting ready to judge the Israelites for their sin.

In verse 3, God tells Habakkuk that the revelation is for an appointed time. All throughout Scripture you find that God has His time and His plan. The judgment of God will come, but it will come at the time that God has set for it. God doesn’t want Habakkuk or the people to think that the hand of discipline will not come just because it hasn’t happened yet. God tells Habakkuk,

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. (Habakkuk 2:3 NIV)

“Waiting” was as big of a problem for those in Habakkuk’s day as it is for us today. We, as people, are not wired to wait, we want action and we want it now. If something is going to happen, then let it happen. We don’t like crock-pots, we like microwaves. We don’t like country roads, we like expressways. We like the drive thru, one-hour photo development, and instant oatmeal. We don’t like to wait and yet over and over again in Scripture God calls us to wait, to patiently wait in faith. The Hebrew word that is used here means, “to wait.” Plain and simple. You can’t expound upon it. No need to try and decipher it. Whether you read it in Hebrew, English, Vietnamese, Spanish, or Swahili – the word means, “wait.” You can’t get around it.

In the face of urgency we are called to wait upon the Lord. In the wake of destruction we are called to wait upon the Lord. In the light of impending doom we are called to wait upon the Lord. When the masses begin to move to their own cadence and call, we are called to wait in expectation of the Lord. Waiting upon the Lord is not the same as inactivity. In waiting for the Lord we prepare by seeking Him with all of our heart, digging into His Word, listening for His lead, and being ready to move when He moves.

During Isaiah’s ministry judgment was coming to Judah and Israel and it was going to be a hard thing for the people to understand because their understanding of being God’s “chosen” people was different than God’s purpose for choosing them. “Chosen,” in their minds, meant they could get away with most anything. Many would fall away during the Day of Judgment, but Isaiah says that regardless of what happens, he will wait on the Lord. Turn with me to Isaiah 8 and let’s read this powerful testimony of faith.