(I apologize for the late post this week. Weather adversely affected our local internet service.)

Habakkuk 2:2-8 NLT

[2] Then the LORD said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. [3] This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. [4] “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. [5] Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples. [6] “But soon their captives will taunt them. They will mock them, saying, ‘What sorrow awaits you thieves! Now you will get what you deserve! You’ve become rich by extortion, but how much longer can this go on?’ [7] Suddenly, your debtors will take action. They will turn on you and take all you have, while you stand trembling and helpless. [8] Because you have plundered many nations, now all the survivors will plunder you. You committed murder throughout the countryside and filled the towns with violence.

            In verses two and three, the Lord begins His second response to Habakkuk’s complaints.  This time God tells Habakkuk to write on stone tablets the prophecy He was about to give him.  This response was to be read to others so they would also know what God would do in the future.  God reminded Habakkuk to be patient while waiting for God to move, but his patience would pay off in seeing God’s judgement against evil doers.

            God first mentions the wealthy, proud and arrogant who are never satisfied.  He compares them to graves that open wide to swallow people.  God points out their greed and how those they had made victims through extortions would turn on them and mock them in the distress the arrogant would experience.  He promises the proud and wealthy would lose all their possessions that had been taken from others through violence.  The plunderers would be plundered by their victims.

            As we compare our world today to that of Habakkuk, we can see the same type of pride and arrogance brought on by great wealth in people’s lives.  We see the same greed and violence he saw.  We see the greedy taking advantage of the less fortunate, just like Habakkuk did.

            However, we have the same kind of promise from God that Habakkuk had.  God has promised that the greedy, proud and arrogant will not enter His kingdom.  He has promised to separate the unholy ones from the righteous ones and to banish the unholy into outer darkness, while the righteous enter into eternal rest with Him.  Be patient, friends, because God will do what He promised to do.