The Answer
But the righteous shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4
But – Once more the vocabulary is simply an appended vav. The word for the righteous (tsadik) becomes ve-tsadik (the vav is appended). Context determines the translation and “but” seems appropriate because the text is about a contrast. However, that isn’t quite enough for us to grasp the meaning. Yes, the righteous lives in contrast to the wicked. Yes, the man of faith stands opposed to the man whose soul is filled with pride (puffed up). But that isn’t the end of the matter. There is another element in the story.
Habakkuk saw a vision (v. 2) and God told him to record that vision. But the text doesn’t give us any description of the vision at all. Instead, we are told that whatever Habakkuk saw, it is rushing toward its goal and will not be delayed. In the meanwhile, we, as righteous men and women, are to live by faith. The point of Habakkuk’s famous phrase is that we can trust God to deliver His plan when the time is ready. In this case, faith is the equivalent of waiting and waiting is based on trust in the character of the God who proclaimed He will deliver. That’s why Habakkuk can say, “But YHWH is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him.”
The world is full of evidence that God will not deliver. Evil surmounts evil. Corruption flows like water. Injustice covers the land like rain from the storm clouds. Every man and woman confronts a collapsing civilization, the rise of anarchy and the unconscionable destruction of innocents. How can we survive in this flood? By faith. By the silence that surrounds YHWH in His holy temple. He is not absent. His creation is in silence. This is the age of noise – the noise of men who believe they are gods. They will howl and shout in their assertion that they rule. God is silent, but His purposes are rushing to completion. We do not have Habakkuk’s vision but we have God’s promise. One day the heaven will shout, the mountains will clap, the earth will rejoice. The silence will end in an explosion of heavenly relief – and the age of noise will be over.
Heschel says that this great answer, the answer to the question “How can I live in this world?” is not an answer given “in terms of thought, but in terms of existence. Prophetic faith is trust in Him, in Whose presence stillness is a form of understanding.”[1] When you exercise the faith of Habakkuk, you enter into the assured answer of the silent temple. The noise of the mad world comes to an end. God is on His throne and the world will be set right. Wait. Wait. In silent adoration, wait.
Topical Index: faith, wait, silence, Habakkuk 2:4
[1] Abraham Heschel, The Prophets, Vol. 1, p. 143.
“But the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
I have really come to value this three letter word when I stumble upon it in scripture. I’ll go so far as to say – I love this word. “But”. Consider these four “good” words from Paul. “Not I, but Christ.”
Circle this word. Put a star by it. Underline it. Remember it. “But.” It is a word of contrast and a word of change. Listen-(again) to this:- “But G-d is faithful”. Do you sense the intensity and impact of this? “But G-d.”
My “vision” of this word is that of a fully loaded locomotive barreling down the mountain full speed. And then enters.. “but G-d.” What happens? Instant reversal. From a storm to a calm- *blink*- done. “But G-d.” -These are powerful words folks! These are G-d’s words. -“word.”
Today’s word from the Word- “But the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
I needed this. “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrew 11.6) Did you see it? Did you circle it? Star it? Underline it? Another big Bible “but.” I love this word.
“But G-d demonstrates his love for us by the fact that the Messiah died for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5.8) This just rocks my world. This is the earthquake that rolled away the stone from the mouth of the tomb. “But G-d.” -Thank you Skip, for today’s “good word.”
And that’s the profundity of the Sabbath if we, as believers genuinely come out of the “noise” every seventh day and truly live it out in the way Hershel beautifully expressed in his book, “The Sabbath.” Heaven does come down to earth as the candles are lit on this most sacred “moedim.” HaShem is fully resident on this day HE set aside in the midst of the cacophany. Every devout Jew “waits” to enter the weekly Shabbat. Do we? It’s when earth takes a big “sigh” from groaning and moaning the rest of the 6-days. It’s a true gift that helps us “wait” in faith longer for the consummation of all things.
this most sacred “moedim.”
Hi Christine,
I think you have beautifully expressed your reading of Hershel and want to thank you for calling our attention to the “moedim.”
http://www.mashiyach.com/chagim/moedim.htm
Michael/Christine,
I was thinking last week about the spelling of Heschel in my brain, because I had been saying Hershel. It dawned on me I was not sure, and double checked it then and again now. Skip spells the name, ” Heschel”, and since he seems to be such an important man, and quoted frequently, I thought I should try and spell it correctly, and think it would honor him for all of us to do so.
Anyway, all the post were truly expressed with kindness and love–thanks. L.B.
“Heschel in my brain”
Hi LaVayed-Ed,
Thanks for pointing that out, as I wrote “Hershel” it caught my attention for a nano second.
I know it should be Heschel, but must have been thinking about something else.
A small bird or a tall bird or something 🙂
Speaking of Abraham Joshua Heschel, you might enjoy this quote of his:
“Worship is a way of seeing the world in the light of God.”
Thanks Skip for a beautiful and comforting word!
Psalms 46;10- “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
This is spoken admidst the nations raging, and the kingdoms tottering. Verse 6
God is not impresssed with the noise of the nations!
A brother recently shared an insight from Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
He said there is two rests found in these verses. One is a given rest and the other is a found rest. One is found in coming to him and the other is found in submitting to Him!
Waiting & resting in Him has been very difficult for His Beloved children/sheeple – most are not very successful at it – His people Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years waiting on their deliverance & direction while being disciplined but well taken care of for sure. What a balance to walk out this discipline in faith & not fear when both tensions are pulling hard at each end. The not knowing & the total provision are totally opposites in the earthly realm but not in the Kingdom of Jesus – God’s own Son who will come riding back with a Sword to rescue His own – I feel it is all about fellowship with Him – He desires it so much & most of the time the only way He receives our full attention is when we are in trouble/adversity – it always seems to be more intense then than when we fellowship with Him out of praise – but there is always an exception to the rule & many many praises go up to Him upon our deliverance for sure. He knows the end from the beginning so that I will rest in & wait for my deliverance also – with much thanksgiving that He will always know better for me than I.
Rest well tonight dear saints.
Shabbat Shalom
Hey brother Drew,
How are you doing? Have not seen you on the blog recently.
Hope all is well.