THE RIGHTEOUS WILL LIVE BY FAITH
Habakkuk 2:1-8
“See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness— (4)
chapter 2
1. I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
2. Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
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.
4. "See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness -
5. indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.
6. "Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, "’Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?’
7. Will not your creditors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their prey.
8. Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed human blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. Habakkuk was watching for God, and the Lord would not disappoint. He promised to reveal his glory in the matter of his judgment on sin. This world is captive to the power of sin and death. But God is eternal. His justice will come. He reveals himself to the righteous—those who trust in his faithfulness in a world where sin seems rampant.
2. The Lord pronounced judgment on the wicked. The first woe he pronounced was against those who sought to store up wealth in this world at the cost of the lives of other people, destroying lands and cities and everyone in them. Godless people are unrestrained in their love of self. They devour others and they invite God’s destruction upon themselves.
Prayer: Father, this world is captive to sin and selfishness. Help me to live by faith and wait with hope for your glory to be revealed.
One Word: The righteous will live by faith