Living By Faith [Devotional from Habakkuk]

Devotions ChopChop ^ | March 9, 2009 | Dave Miller (tenger)

[tenger]

Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 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. "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not right-but the righteous will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:2-4

Perhaps the toughest job of a prophet was to foretell of future events without being able to witness them. Already in the first Chapter God foretold of Babylonia's conquest, but there was an appointed time for it, and that time was not then (when he was speaking to Habakkuk). God told Habakkuk to write down the prophecy plainly. He is telling Habakkuk to be patient and to have faith that what He has said will come to pass.

It's difficult at times to wait for God, especially when we know what's waiting "on the other side." Sometimes we want Him just to "cut to the chase" and get on with eternity already! But God would have us be patient. He wants us to trust Him, just as Habakkuk had to trust God.

We can trust Him with the Big Things (end times events, new heaven/new earth); we can also trust Him with the little things (everything in our lives).

The righteous will live by faith.

[Ranald S. MacKenzie]

Habakkuk 3:17-19 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible.

[Responsibility2nd]

Some notes from a recent Bible Study ....

Habakkuk

I like Habakkuk. I really do. He is asking 4 key questions. Questions that you and I are still asking today. Chapter 1

Habakkuk’s Complaint
2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? 3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. 4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

And the LORD answers 1:5

The Lord ‘s Answer
“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

I LOVE that answer! (Repeat the verse)

What God will do - what we won’t believe - is that HE will use our enemies to bring us to Glory. He will use the evil in this world as a catalyst for our salvation!

Something else we know very well from our understanding of the N/T.

And that is…. The Righteous will live how? (By Faith)

Romans 1:17 (New International Version)
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Galatians 3:11 (New International Version)
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Hebrews 10:38 (New International Version)
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

And where?? Where are these great promises coming from?
(Hab 2:4)

4 “See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous will live by his faith

[tenger]

Thank you for your insight.