The righteous shall live by his faith. – Habakkuk 2:4
Habakkuk was a prophet of Judah and the last one before the destruction of Jerusalem. Rather than speaking to the people on Yahweh’s behalf, Habakkuk spoke to Him on behalf of the people. He struggled with how to understand God’s actions in history, especially His use of an unrighteous nation as the instrument of His justice.
In his prophecy, Habakkuk was true to his name, which means “strong embrace of God,” for he caressed and comforted the people. He was also a questioning prophet as he wanted to know “why” and “how.” For example, Habakkuk asked questions like: “Why does He allow injustice to prevail? How long will He allow evildoers to dominate the world? Why does He permit the destruction of His own people by a hand so cruel and unclean?” The Lord’s answer to the prophet eventually came when He said, “The ungodly shall pass; the just shall live by faith.”
Habakkuk’s message of faith later gave the Apostle Paul a hint of the most precious truth of the gospel in Galatians 3:11 in which he says, “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” At that time, many of the Galatians had committed themselves to obeying the law for their salvation. But Paul explains that righteousness only comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
Though it appears like evil prevails in America today, remember the Lord will save His people and crush the wicked. Trust in Him despite what others do. Intercede on behalf of the House and Senate that they will choose His righteousness rather than their own agendas.
Today’s Verse: Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Galatians 3:1-14
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
