The Pulpit Commentary — Habakkuk — Section 34

pass unattended to ?Y God. Ho never doubted that God would reply to his supplica- tions and i11terrogat1ons. So he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Heh. xi,! 6). It was David'il habit, after directing his prayer to God, to look up expectin;1; an answer (PR. v. 3), and it ought to be the praotice of Christians first to ask in faith (Jas. i. 6), and then to confidently hope for an answer (Matt, xxi. 22; Mark xi. 24; 1 John v. 14). 4. Patient attention. Though Habakkuk had no doubt as to the fact that God would speak to him, he possessed no assurance either as to the time when or as to the manner in which that speaking would take place. Hence he resolved to possess his soul in patience and keep an attentive outlook. So David waited on and watched for God with patient hope an,l close observation (Ps. ]xii. 5; cxxx. 5). So Paul exhorted Christians to "continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving" (Col. iv. 2). Many fail to obtain responses from God, because they either are not sufficiently attentive to discern the tokens by which God speaks to his people, or lack the pat.ience to wait till he chooses to break silence. 5. Earnest introspection. The want of this is another frequent cause of failure on the part of those who would but do not hear God speak. Habakkuk understood that if God answered him it would be by his Spirit speaking in him, and that accordingly he required not to watch for "signs" in the firmament, in the earth, or in the sea, but to listen to the secret whisperings that he heard within himself. So David exhorted others to commune with their own hearts upon their bed (as doubtless he himself did), if they would know the mind of God (Ps. iv. 4); and Asaph, following his example, observed the same godly practice (Ps. lxxvii. 6). While God has furnished lessons for all in the pages of nature and revelation, it is in the domain of the inner man, enlightened by his Word and taught "ty his Spirit, that his teaching for the individual is to be sought. II. THE IN-SPEAKING Goo. (Ver. 2.) Habak.ku.k had not long to wait for the oracle he expected; and neither would modern petitioners be long without answers wero their waiting more like Habakku.k's. Three things were announced to the prophet. 1. That he should receive a vision. Jehovah would not leave his dark problem unsolved, would afford him such a glimpse into the future of the Chaldean power as would effectually dispel all his doubts and fears, would unveil to him the different destinies of the righteous and the wicked in such a way as to enable him calmly to endure until the end; and exactly so has the Christian obtained in the Bible such light upon the mystery of Providence as helps him to look forward to the future for its full solution. The vision about to be granted to Habakkuk was (1) definite, i.e. for an appointed time, and so is the vision now granted to the Christian for a time as well known to God (though not'to the Christian) as any moment in the past has been; (2) distant, ,.e. to be fulfilled after a longer or shorter interval, and so has the day of the clearing up of the mystery of providence for the Christian been " after a long time; " but still (3) certain, i.e. it would surely come to pass, and so will all that God has revealed in Scripture concerning the different destinies of the righteous and the wicked come to pass. Heaven and earth may pass a.way, but not God's Word (Matt. x.xiv. 35). 2. That he should write the vision. Whether a literal writing upon a tablet (Ewald, Pusey) was intended, as Isaiah (viii. 1; xxx. 8) and Jeremiah (xxx. 2) were directed to write down the oommunica.tions received by them from God; or whether it was merely a figurative writing (Hengstenberg, Keil) that was meant, as in the case of Dauid (xii. 4); the intention manifestly was that Habakkuk should publish the vision he was about to receive-publish it in terms so clear and unambiguous that persons who only gave it a casual glance would have no difficulty in understanding it. This has been done, not with reference to Habakkuk's vision merely, but as regards the whole Bible, which is not only "all plain to him that understandeth" (Prov. viii. 9), but is able to "make wise the simple" (Ps. xix. 7), and guide in safety " the wayfaring man, though a fool" (Isa. xxxv. 8). 'l'he object contemplated by the writing (literal or figurative) of Habakkuk's vision was (1) the comfort of God's people in Judah during the period of waiting that should intervene between then and the day of their enemy's overthrow; and (ll) the interpretation of the vision when the incidents occurred to which it referred. 'l'he same purposes are subserved by the Word of God, and especially by those prophetic parts which foretell the destruction of the enemies, and the salvation of the people, of God. 3, That he should wait for the vision. It might be delayed, 30 THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. [oR. U, 1-20. ------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -