by Habakkuk was the first to use the phrase, “the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Habakkuk’s road was not an easy one. In chapter 1 he wrestles with God, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!” (1:2). In chapter 2 he climbs higher in the watchtower, waiting and pleading for God to reply, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me” (2:1). By chapter 3, he could not rejoice in his circumstances, but could rejoice in the God of his faith. While everything was failing all around him, he concluded in 3:18-19, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”
Habakkuk’s circumstances had not changed, but his faith did. He knew God was still on the throne, working out His divine purposes. He learned, when evildoers come to power, the just shall live by his faith. When prayers go unanswered, the just shall live by his faith. When dreams turn into ashes, the just shall live by his faith. When trouble is on every side, the just shall live by his faith. When everything is failing all around us, we’re still kept by and strengthened by the power of God!
Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:20 and Hebrews 10:38. In each case he is teaching that the same faith that saved us and gave us eternal life is also needed in this mortal life. The Christian life must be lived one faith step at a time. It involves believing God’s Word above all human doubt, reasoning or speculation. This is where we find victory over this world, physically and spiritually. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4).
Is our life known as a life of faith? Jesus taught us, through His disciples, we do not need more faith. We needed to exercise the faith we have, “faith as a grain of mustard seed” (Luke 17:5-6).
