Deacon Doug Brosky
“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:2b-3)
Habakkuk’s words were written at a time that Babylon was on the verge of
capturing Jerusalem, destroying the city and sending the people into exile.
At the very beginning of this book, Habakkuk expressed his frustration with
these developments crying out “O Lord how long shall I cry for help and
you will not hear?” (Hab 1:2). We get frustrated when things do not
develop or progress as we wish. God reminds us through his words to the
prophet Isaiah “My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your
ways my ways declares the Lord” (Is 55:8).
In these words to Habakkuk God reaffirms what he told Isaiah. God has
promised relief for his people and that relief is coming, not in a few days or
weeks. The return of the soon to be captive people was going to wait for 70
years. The promise however of relief is certain “If it seems slow, wait for
it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”
The initial coming of our Messiah came in God’s good time, and despite
the frustrations and challenges we face today our Lord will come in glory to
fulfill all that he has promised. As in the first Advent, God’s second Advent
may not come in the time frame we may wish, but it certainly will happen as
God has promised. Amen! Come Lord Jesus!