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Habakkuk 2:4 - Living by Faith and Not by Sight.

Hab.2:4; Living by Faith and Not by Sight.

Hab 2:4 (NRSV) Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in 
them, but the righteous live by their faith. 

We have met this verse before: "The just shall live by faith" 
(Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:38). This little verse from Habakkuk is so rich 
that God wrote three NT commentaries on it! [Wiersbe Expository 
Outlines re Gal.3:11] 

Instead of becoming an atheist or agnostic, Habakkuk went to his 
watchtower to pray, meditate, and wait on the Lord. He knew that God heard 
his complaint and that He would send an answer soon. God did answer. 
"I have a plan and a schedule," God said. "It will all work out in 
due time, so don't become impatient." Then God gave to Habakkuk 
three very wonderful assurances to encourage and strengthen him during 
those difficult days. The first is that the just shall live by faith" 
(v. 4). This is one of the most important verses in the entire 
Bible. It forms the text for three NT books: Romans (1:17-emphasis is 
on the just); Galatians (3:11-emphasis is on shall live); and 
Hebrews (10:38-emphasis is on by faith). This verse describes two kinds 
of people: those who are proud because they trust in themselves, 
and those who are saved and humble because they trust in the Lord. 
[Wiersbe's Expository Outlines] 

Living by faith, i.e., in humble dependence of God, stands in 
distinct contrast to the ways of the proud and self-sufficient. 
[Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary] 

The "righteous" shall "live," that is, "prosper and be blessed." 
The words "by his faith" referred to the godly person's deep 
reliance upon God. [New Bible Companion] 

Habakkuk states the fundamental principle of the gospel: "the 
just shall live by his faith." To divest oneself of the feeling of 
security in oneself, to believe God's message, and to trust in Him means 
life and happiness for the soul. [Believer's SB] 

You can trust God because His character never changes and His 
Word never fails. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren 
Wiersbe]