Habakkuk 2:1

Habakkuk 2:1 says, I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. Habakkuk said that he would stand upon his watch and set upon his tower to see what God would do.  We today need to be just as vigilant and alert to see the work of God in the world.  We cannot become impatient, because God will act in His own time.  We cannot become indifferent, or we may fail to see God working at all.  Verse two adds, And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  God answered Habakkuk and gave him a task.  In verse sixteen of chapter one, Habakkuk had asked if sinful people would always rule cruelly over just people.  As Habakkuk said he would wait and watch alertly, God begin to give him the answer.  When God answers us today, we need to be ready to do what He asks us to do.  Verse three continues, For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  God told Habakkuk to be patient, that the vision he was to see was not going to happen immediately.  Still, Habakkuk could put his faith in it happening.  We today need to simply live secure in the knowledge that God will bring the final judgment on sin at His appointed time.  Verse four declares, Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.  God said that those who lived by self pride, not acknowledging God, were not upright.  No matter how exalted a person may feel themself to be in the world if they do not acknowledge and follow God, the will never be upright in God's judgment.  The second part of the verse states that the just shall live by his faith.  This is not faith in ourselves, but faith in God.  Verse five adds, Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:  This verse speaks of the overpowering greed of many people who only look to themselves for purpose in life.  All they are concerned with is their own happiness.  Verse six continues, Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!  When people begin to increase their wealth from the misuse of others, God's people should cry out against them, yet too often we hold them up in honor.  Matthew Henry says that gold and silver are but colored earth.  In God's eyes, silver and gold are as valuable as clay.  Habakkuk said we should question how long the things gained by dishonest or greed driven means would last.  Verse seven says, Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?  When people put their faith in their wealth, especially that obtained at the cost of others, and deny God's will for and power over their lives, then their riches are temporary.  Someone bigger and more powerful will eventually take away what they have, and if not in this life, then God will strip away all things that are not gained from following His will.  Verse eight adds, Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.  Habakkuk warned of God's pronouncement of judgment because of their actions.  People may live long lives built on greed, but one day God's judgment is coming, and those things gained by mistreating others will be gone.