Commentary on Habakkuk 2:1-2 - Warren Wiersbe on the timeliness of God´s Word.

Written and posted by Jean-Louis
Blogger´s note: I wanted to make sure that this vision by Habakkuk was applicable to our times as often times, prophecies have double timing layer. I used Warren Wiersbe for his contemporaneity as the other quotes from teachers in the previous post are dated from centuries past.  This is a continuation of that previous post titled "The Package". This commentary is to me a further confirmation that the time is short and that the Lord´s return is very close. Be encouraged my brothers and keep watching, praying, guarding your heart and looking up for Jesus, our hope of glory. (Bold Italics used by for emphasis.)

 

 Photo taken in Rio de Janeiro. Bairro Urca

            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
I will stand on my guard post
And station myself on the rampart;
And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
And how I may reply ^[a]when I am reproved.
² Then the Lord answered me and said,
“Record the vision
And inscribe it on tablets,
That ^[b]the one who ^[c]reads it may run.
³ “For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It ^[d]hastens toward the goal and it will not ^[e]fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:1-3

Write God’s Vision (2:1–3) (Warren Wiersbe)

The prophet saw himself as a watchman on the walls of

Jerusalem, waiting for a message from God that he

could share with the people. In ancient days, the

watchmen were responsible to warn the city of

approaching danger, and if they weren’t faithful, their

hands would be stained with the blood of the people

who died (Ezek. 3:17–21; 33:1–3). It was a serious

responsibility.

The image of the watchman carries a spiritual lesson

for us today. As God’s people, we know that danger

is approaching, and it’s our responsibility to warn people

to “flee from the wrath to come” (Matt. 3:7). 

If we don’t share the gospel with lost sinners, then their

blood may be on our hands. We want to be able to say

with Paul, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am

innocent of the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26 nkjv).

You get the impression that Habakkuk was fearful

of what the Lord might say to him because of His servant’s

“complaint.” But the Lord graciously answered

Habakkuk and gave him the vision he needed to turn

his worrying into worshiping. 

This vision included not only the words in Habakkuk 2, but also the revelation

of God’s glory recorded in 3:3–15. When you

behold the glory of God and believe the Word of God,

it gives you faith to accept the will of God.

We wouldn’t be studying this book today had

Habakkuk 1—2

Habakkuk not obeyed God’s orders and written down

what God had told him and shown him. This writing

was to be permanent so that generation after generation

could read it. It was also to be plain, written so

that anybody could read it, and it was to be public so

that even somebody running past the tablets on display

could get the message immediately.

1 Habakkuk wasn’t the only person in Judah who needed this message, and

it was his obligation to share it.

The revelation God gave was for a future time and

about a future time. While the immediate application

was to the end of the Babylonian captivity, the writer

of the Epistle to the Hebrews interpreted it to refer also

to the return of Jesus Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, he

changed “it” to “he” and applied it to our Lord. “For

yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and

will not tarry” (Heb. 10:37).

 Along with the scoffers Peter wrote about, some readers might ask, “Where is

the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:3ff.), and God’s

reply is, “Wait for it! It will surely come!” A discouraged

Jew in Babylonian exile might ask, “Will the Lord

come and deliver us?” and the answer is, “Yes! Wait for

Him!”

Amen! Maranatha, come Lord Jesus