Living by Faith: The Just in a Broken World
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." - Habakkuk 2:4
In the book of Habakkuk, a prophetic dialogue unfolds between the prophet Habakkuk and God. This dialogue emerges from Habakkuk’s deep concern for Judah, who in the face of oppression, injustice, and rampant immorality, appears to be abandoned by God. Habakkuk raises poignant questions: "How long, O Lord, must I call for help?" (Habakkuk 1:2). He is struggling with God’s timing and the apparent success of evildoers. God responds with profound insights and reassurance, culminating in the stunning verse, "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4, KJV).
This verse invites us to juxtapose two worlds—the world of the proud and the world of the just. In the first part of the verse, we encounter the proud soul. This individual is self-reliant, acting out of arrogance and a sense of superiority. When someone is described as having a soul that is “lifted up,” it speaks to pride and a disconnect from God’s righteousness. The proud often place their trust in their abilities, achievements, and worldly power. However, God indicates that this soul is “not upright in him.” Such a person is misaligned – they are self-deceived, believing themselves to be righteous when, in reality, they are far from God’s design for justice and humility.
In contrast, the verse leads us into the heart of what it means to be just. “The just shall live by his faith” is a profound declaration that brings hope and direction. The word 'just' refers to those who have been justified before God, those who have acknowledged their need for divine grace, and through faith, have entered a covenant relationship with God.
To "live by faith" is more than a mere acknowledgment of belief; it is a daily, moment-by-moment commitment to trust God amidst uncertainty. Faith here is transformative. The just don't rely on their sight or circumstances; they rely on God’s promises and character. In an age of uncertainty, when fear can easily cloak our hearts, we must remember that our faith is anchored in an unchanging God, whose plans for us are ultimately good.
Consider the original audience: the Israelites faced the brutal reality of Babylonian oppression. As they were swept away by calamity, the call to live by faith was a reminder that their survival and hope lay not in political alliances or military might, but in their unwavering trust in God. This remains true for us today. Our contemporary world mirrors much of the chaos and depravity that Habakkuk observed. Injustice abounds, and it can be tempting to despair or to be consumed by anger at the state of the world.
However, when we lean into faith, even the smallest of it, we align ourselves with God’s righteous plan. Romans 1:17 reiterates this truth: "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Faith becomes a lens through which we view our circumstances, allowing us to rise above despair.
Living by faith does not mean that we ignore our reality—it means we choose to see our reality through God's perspective. Habakkuk ultimately transitions from a place of questioning and confusion to one of worship and trust. We see this in the final chapter of the book; he praises God despite his unanswered questions, saying, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:18). This is the power of faith—it assures us that God is at work, even when we cannot see it.
As we journey through our own storms, let us remember the promise that the just shall live by faith. May we cultivate a heart of trust, placing our reliance not on our understanding or the visible world around us, but wholly on the faithfulness of our God.
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Habakkuk 2:4 - "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." - Habakkuk 2:4
Habakkuk 2:1-3
Habakkuk 2:12 - "¶ Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!"
Habakkuk 2:14 - "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Habakkuk 2:11 - "For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it."
Habakkuk 3:4 - "And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power."
Habakkuk 2:2 - "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it."
Habakkuk 2:20 - "But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
Habakkuk 1:4 - "Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth."
Habakkuk 2:13 - "Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?"
Habakkuk 2:3 - "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."
Habakkuk 2:7 - "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?"
Habakkuk 2:10 - "Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul."
Habakkuk 2:15 - "¶ Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!"
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." - Habakkuk 2:14
"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 2:1
"¶ Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!" - Habakkuk 2:12
Habakkuk 2:9 - "¶ Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!"
Habakkuk 1:2 - "O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!"
Habakkuk 2:19 - "Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it."
"And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power." - Habakkuk 3:4
Habakkuk 2:18 - "¶ What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?"
Habakkuk 2:17 - "For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein."
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." - Habakkuk 2:14
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." - Habakkuk 2:2
Habakkuk 2:8 - "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 2:1 - "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 1:2-4 - "O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted."
Habakkuk 3:2 - "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."