Page 69 - The Minor Prophets - Student textbook

The context helps us to understand God’s intent in this passage. The whole verse reads, “Behold, his
soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” “His soul” is a
symbolic reference to Babylonia. This nation had become proud or “puffed up.” As a result, they were
unrighteous and facing God’s judgment. In contrast, the righteous (or the “just”) would live by faith in
God. By contrast, the righteous are humble in God’s eyes and will never face God’s judgment.

Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted three times in the New Testament. Paul quotes it in Romans 1:17, emphasizing
the idea that righteousness by faith is for both Jews and Gentiles: “For in the gospel a righteousness of
God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

Then, in Galatians 3:11, we read, “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for
‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Here, Paul stresses that we are justified or made right before God by
faith. The Law has no ability to justify anyone. As Habakkuk had recorded, people have always been
saved by faith, not by works. Habakkuk 2:4 is also quoted in Hebrews 10:38.

In the third century, Rabbi Simla noted that Moses gave 365 prohibitions and 248 positive commands.
David reduced them to eleven commands in Psalm 15; Isaiah made them six (33:14-15); Micah bound
them into three (6:8); and Habakkuk condensed them all to one, namely—“The righteous shall live by
faith” (from P. L. Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, #1495).

Christians are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), and we walk in faith (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Only by faith in Christ are we made righteous (Romans 5:19). Paul further expounds on this truth
in Galatians 2:16, saying, “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith
in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not
by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” It is Christ’s righteousness
that saves us, and the only way to receive that gift is to trust in Him. “Whoever believes in the Son has
eternal life” (John 3:36).

When Habakkuk wrote, “The righteous shall live by his faith,” he was echoing a timeless truth first
modeled in Abraham’s life (Genesis 15:6). The righteous man will “live” in that he will not face God’s
judgment; rather, in return for his faith in God, he has been given eternal life.

Habakkuk 2:20, “But the Lord is in His Holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”

Habakkuk 3:2, “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds O Lord. Renew them in
our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”

Habakkuk 3:19, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He
enables me to go on the heights.”

"How can we learn to trust God like the prophet Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:17-19)?"

Despite the questions the prophet Habakkuk had concerning the evil taking place during his time, he
concludes his oracle with positive words of praise. Habakkuk expresses his faith in God in a hymn:
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the
fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice
in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet

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