Paul’s Summation (1)
“Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 ESV
Behold – How would you summarize Paul’s entire message in a single verse? The question is important not only for theological reasons but also because your answer will reveal what you believe to be the central teaching of the gospel. Paul, the messenger to the Gentiles, is the guiding light for most of us. We are the Gentiles he intended to bring into the fold. So it’s appropriate to know what he was trying to communicate.
Most of us would probably say that Paul’s central message was, “Jesus died for your sins,” or something like this. But New Testament scholars will tell you that this citation from Habakkuk in the letter to the Romans is the central thought of Paul’s message. Paul is concerned with the life of the righteous. Yes, the death and resurrection of Yeshua play an enormous role in his concern (“to know Christ crucified,” for example), but the real issue is how we are to live after that event. And for that, Paul turns to the prophet Habakkuk. Since this verse is the key to understanding the entire letter to the assembly in Rome, it might be useful if we actually knew what it says in Hebrew. Far too often we have assumed that the English translation captures the thought of Paul and the prophet. What we will find is that due to the Greek influence this verse has been altered. What it really says is a far cry from the way we read it in translation.
Let’s start with the opening word, hinneh. It’s a very common word in the Tanakh (over 1000 times). Translating it as “behold” makes us think that it is nothing more than an introductory exclamation, sort of like us saying, “Look here!” But T. O. Lambkin points out that hinneh “emphasizes the immediacy, the here-and-now-ness, of the situation,”[1] often in the prophets as a declaration of God’s will. That is the case here in Habakkuk. This verse is not what the prophet is saying. It is God’s speech communicated through the prophet. We need to take this to heart. God is telling us what it means to be righteous.
This is especially important. Why? For two reasons. First, whatever this verse actually means, God expects it to be true of the righteous. That implies that we who call ourselves righteous should be characterized by the substance of this verse. This is God’s definition. It better be ours as well. Secondly, you will notice the absence of any suggestion of forgiveness. This verse is about living a righteous life, not about being invited to share in the Kingdom. Our usual characterization of “saved” or “forgiven” may have far less to do with being righteous than we are led to believe. At any rate, Habakkuk tells us what God thinks about all this. “Behold” is God’s “look here and see” announcement. Are you ready to examine your definition of righteous and see if it matches God’s?
Topical Index: behold, hinneh, Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17
[1] TWOT, Vol. 1, p. 220
THIS IS Today’s Word Number 4000. Hardly seems possible, but one day at a time, we have examined 4000 words.
~ But the righteousness of God is by the faith of Yeshua The Messiah unto every person, also upon every person who believes in Him, for there is no distinction ~
~~What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin ~
~And let us (continually)gaze at Yeshua, Him who is The Author and The Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was His, endured the cross and ignored the shame, and He sits upon the right side of the throne of God ~ (Hebrews 12.2)
This is no casual glance, but it is a continual gaze. Focused attention upon Him. Shema (listen and obey) the Savior. – Whatever He says- do it. “if you love Me (Carl) -keep my commandments”.
The original ten? Yes, absolutely. He wrote them. But that is not all, for He has given unto us yet another; “love one another with a pure heart fervently.” ~By this (through love) shall all men know you are My disciples/students/talmudim- if you love one another ~
Speaking the truth? Yes. Not a problem. But “speaking the truth in love?” (Hallelujah!) ~with God all things are possible…~
May I then, today- live as He lived and love as He loved and as He has said, -according to His instructions: “without Me -you (Carl) can do nothing…”
Yes LORD, – na hinneh. Amein. ABBA, Here am I, -if it were to please You, LORD of hosts and King of Heaven’s armies, El Elyon, -send me.
More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear thou the prayer I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
more love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
now Thee alone I seek, give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
more love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Let sorrow do its work, come grief and pain;
sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
when they can sing with me: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
more love to Thee, more love to Thee!
When shall my latest breath whisper thy praise?
This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl1nL6M7ogc
Here’s a bouquet of verses I have picked from the priceless living field this beautiful, fresh morning.
( I plan on using your search box and will read any of these you have already discussed.)
“Because by one sacrifice, he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb 10:14).
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which (by faith) are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit” (Rom 8:1).
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal 3:27).
“It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us, wisdom, righteousness, and holiness”. 1 Cor 1: 30-31
“Christ is the end of the law – so that there may be righteousness for everyone that believes”. Romans 10:1-4
Romans 4:5-6 “However to the man who does not work (good works), but trust God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited (imputed) as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes (credits) righteousness apart from works”.
Phil 3:7-9 says Paul desired to gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of his own, that comes from keeping the commandments, but by that which comes (Imputed) from God and is by faith.
Here is the vase my verses bouquet sits in: This righteousness imputed to the believer by God is forever. We are to Christ a bride.
“God is telling us what it means to be righteous.”
Great comment, and without diminishing this, it seems we are, at the same time, also being told how to live the righteous life. The righteous person will live “by his faith.” The passage does not say we are saved by faith. Rather, the the person who wishes to be righteous must live by his faith.
As Skip says, one of the most misrepresented texts in contemporary Christianity.
“Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 (ESV)
Faith is our right-response to what God says. He speaks- we “shema.” We listen (hear) and we obey. And when we “shema” the Savior we are then (and only then) “rightly-related” or righteous. What He says “goes.” We do what He says to do, we go where He says to go. We give when He says give, we love when He says love (which is -all the time!)
When we live according to His instructions found in His teachings- we prosper and are blessed. Obedience brings blessing- every time. And as we “walk by faith” (not by sight), – we live by listening for “faith comes by hearing.” Listening for the guidance, direction and words of the ONE who now lives within every “follower of the Way.”
Nothing too mystical or mysterious about it- if only we would “read and follow label directions..”
The last words of our Savior to His students, the talmudim were: “abide in Me..” “Be still, and know that I AM God”- could just as well be said by our Savior- the always controversial yet all-controlling Christ.
No sir, Christians love,serve, work for, and worship a Living Savior, and the God we know today is the very same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! God being born in a barn just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,- now does it? and also God becoming a man and clothing Himself with flesh seems hard for some to swallow.
Let us remember the humility of our Master and live accordingly for humility and holiness are inextricably tied together. We can’t have one without the other. These two, (rather like peace and quiet!) are traveling companions.
Why did Lucifer fall from Heaven? What was Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall? Seven things are an abomination unto the LORD- what is number one on His list? (Proverbs 6.16) and what is the only cause of contention, discord and strife? (Proverbs 13.10)
“Bow the knee” – only if you want to live.
“Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion, but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness. ”
I like this New English Translation to Habakkuk 2:4 or this one I recall from my pastor, who was also an OT and Hebrew seminary prof at Grace Theological Seminary ( anyone per chase remember Dr. Hobart Freeman of the “Glory Barn” fame in the early “Faith” movement in the 70’s?)
“the righteous man in his faithfulness he shall live.”
Both translations, I think, capture the dynamism and action of the verse.
In other words, it is not by some “mystical” or abstract faith by which we are to work out and walk in our salvation, but by obedience to the already written laws and right rulings laid down in the Torah. If we truly “hear and obey” (shema) we are faithful and thereby are we accounted righteous or justified.
Congrats Skip on TW # 4,000. That too is faithfulness in action-as you say, one day at a time.
Yes, my husband Ed -of almost sixty years (July 3)- and I, remember Hobart Freeman,;almost all of these types of ministers came through Houston in the 70′–80’s, and he was one of them. We were young and searching for the TRUTH of God, and heard & bought books from a lot of them! We had a couple of his paper backs until about two moves ago. I read elsewhere about his end days on the earth and they were very sad indeed.
The Lord God has been very gracious to us in so many ways, we are indeed so very thankful, and give Him all the glory for being able to continue on in His paths. With all that is written on Today’s Word, by so many, we want to add a LOUD YES to all of your wonderful thoughts and thanksgiving. L.B.
While the New English attempts to capture idiomatic Hebrew and convert it into contemporary English, I am not so thrilled with the result, principally because I would like to be able to move BACKWARDS from the English to the Hebrew, and idiomatic translations often make this very difficult.
Therefore, “the one whose desires are not upright” leaves me with no formal connections to the actual Hebrew words. Nor does “the person of integrity.” I consider these theological and linguistic accommodations, not translations, but that’s because I do not believe that “dynamic” translations are particularly helpful without an understanding of the underlying text of the original language. As ADDITIONS, they are fine. As reliable translations, they leave me with too many questions.
I like Dr. Freeman’s effort much more as it does not depart from the original Hebrew structure. I would much rather have a translation that sticks as closely as possible to the original, even if it creates “rough” flow in the translated language. Then we can usefully explain all the subtle implications rather than trying to figure out how the idiomatic “smooth” language is connected to the original.
Can’t wait for tomorrow’s second part.
From my experience, the “faith test” has to do with the question, “Can God make me into a truly righteous person,… in this life?”. When I fall for the hundredth time, knowing that I failed to do something that WAS possible – will I give in, or will I raise my hands in prayer and continue the war on Amalek? My only other option is to re-define “righteous” as something largely imaginary that has little parallel to the life I am now living.
Please excuse the metaphor, but do I really think that God just ‘puts on his beer-goggles’?
I think this is why the physical resurrection of Christ was so important to Paul. It was linked to the belief that God could renew our lives here on this earth,… before the final and complete renewal at the 2nd Coming. So again, the question is: Can God raise up righteousness in MY flesh? Can I be made obedient?
I wish you could’ve heard the message on Colossians at my church today.
Here is the link should you be so inclined.
Today’s message should be posted by Thursday.
http://www.northeastbiblechurch.com/#/worship/online-messages
Click on “current series”, “listen online”, “launch media player” and select 5-13-2012
(as soon as it is ready) by *Drew Leaver (*he’s a Canadian who grew up in Peru, son of missionaries)
Thank-you. I will.
Amazing that G-d would allow us to somewhat peer “inside” a person while looking at the “outside”. Yet He reserves “judgment” as His alone.
If we first meditate on this Scripture in reflection of how WE appear in relation to it, and examine ourselves, many stones would be dropped as we walk away from casting the first stone at others. “OUCH!”
That said, it is easy to see how far off track my religiosity allows for unrighteousness to become the standard.
YHWH, may I rightly know and hide Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You! If You had not given us Torah, I would not know what sin is! Thank You for Torah. Help me to be obedient to Your Word, Your Perfect Way. Thank You for Yeshua, The Messiah, the One who Delivers me from darkness by showing me Your Way. Teach me to follow after You, by following Him. Teach me the Truth of what THE Faith is that please You. Thank You for the privilege of loving You in return of Your loving me first!