See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness – Habakkuk 2:4

The prophet Habakkuk was a man of his time the turbulent late 7th century B.C. His book begins not with a word from God, but a cry to God, essentially asking, “Why?” Habakkuk looked at his nation, Judah, and saw corruption and injustice. He was shocked when God revealed His plan: the wicked, ruthless, and terrifying Babylonian (Chaldean) empire would be the instrument of judgment. The prophet’s heart sank; how could God use a nation even more wicked than Judah to punish His own people? Habakkuk then went up to his watchtower, waiting for a divine response to his protest. God answered, telling him to write down the vision clearly, for it “waits for its appointed time.” This set the stage for our central promise: “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith [or faithfulness].”

This verse presents a sharp, undeniable contrast between two paths to survival. On one side stands the man whose “soul is puffed up”, the proud, self reliant Babylonian, whose strength is his god, whose military conquest is his boast. His life is defined by immediate power, conquest, and arrogance; he has no need for divine authority or patience. This path is ultimately unsustainable and destined for collapse. On the opposing side stands the “righteous,” whose life source is “his emunah” a powerful Hebrew word often translated as faith. In this Old Testament context, emunah means more than just intellectual belief; it signifies constancy, steadfastness, and enduring faithfulness. The righteous person is called not to rely on their strength, their armies, or their immediate circumstances, but to live a long, enduring life rooted in unwavering trust and loyalty to God, even when the appointed time seems long delayed.

For us, the greatest significance of Habakkuk 2:4 lies in its future application. This verse, which originally spoke of enduring the Babylonian invasion, became the cornerstone of New Testament theology. The Apostle Paul quotes it three times, transforming it into the central doctrine of justification by faith, the righteous are declared right with God not by their works, but by faith alone. Yet, the original call to steadfastness remains vital. When we face our own “Babylonian crises” moments of injustice, prolonged suffering, or uncertainty. This verse commands us to reject the false stability of pride and self sufficiency. Instead, we are instructed to put one faithful foot in front of the other, trusting that the God who revealed the vision is the same God who will fulfill it. Our emunah is the enduring life force that bridges the gap between God’s promise and its appointed time.