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 his complaint.

Habakkuk 2:1

To Habakkuk’s cries of “How long?” and “Why?” (1:2-3) the LORD responds: “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” (1:5). Then He elaborates. He’ll use the enemy, the “feared and dreaded” Babylonians, to swoop in and devour Judah (1:6-11).

Oh my—exactly what Habakkuk was afraid of! More questions follow: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (1:13).

I stand back to watch Habakkuk’s approach to God on bended knee: O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One…you have appointed them…O Rock, you have ordained them (1:12). Reverently he shares what’s on his mind. Of course—God already knows it! Habakkuk’s the one who needs to make sense of it all.

And then, amazingly, Habakkuk gives up his complaining and stations himself on the ramparts to see what God will say to him. You see, God assigned His prophets the task of watchmen (Ezekiel 3:17). Habakkuk no longer rants; he relinquishes control.

Hmm—what a great idea! When the LORD tells him to “Write down the revelation…make it plain…it will not prove false. …For the revelation awaits an appointed time…it will certainly come” (2:2-3), he is ready.

The key to the dilemma of right-living has not changed since Habakkuk’s day: “the righteous will live by his faith” (2:4). When the answer is not clear, live by faith. When the answer takes too long in coming, live by faith. When the answer isn’t what you want it to be, live by faith.

Wait for it! One day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD (2:14).

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.