哈巴谷书 第2章 【在等候中凭信心而活】



GK611晨祷生命读经
09.09.2026
主讲：陈炎明牧师

引言：等候，不等于什么都不做

一、看不见时仍然要相信（哈2:1–5）

1. 守望等候神说话（V1）
古代的守望台通常建在城墙或较高的位置，让守望者能够看得更远。他们昼夜轮班警醒观察，一旦发现敌军逼近、危险发生，就立即吹角警告城中的百姓；若看见使者或援军来到，也会及时报告消息。因此，守望者的责任就是站得高、看得远、保持警醒、及时发出警报，保护整座城的安全。

属灵的守望也是如此，就是站在神所托付的位置上，保持属灵的敏锐与警醒，向上聆听神、向外察看环境、向内谨守生命。守望者不只是发现问题，更要透过祷告站在破口，为家庭、教会、下一代和国家代求，并在需要时采取行动。简单来说，属灵的守望就是：看见别人还没看见的，祷告别人还没祷告的，守住神所托付我们的。

2. 应许迟延仍等候（V2–3）
「虽然迟延，还要等候；因为必然临到，不再迟延。」神吩咐哈巴谷把默示清楚写下来，因为这个异象有神所定的日期。这里提醒我们：神的时间表与我们的时间表不同。我们认为「太迟了」，可能神说「时候还没有到」。

生活上不要因为祷告三个月、三年还没有看见结果，就认定神没有工作。延迟不等于拒绝，等候也不是浪费。神的预言与应许都必然会应验的，无论是个人的、或者是关乎永恒的神国计划，也不例外。

3. 惟义人因信得生（V4–5）
这是全章甚至整卷哈巴谷书的核心。骄傲的人依靠自己，但义人不是靠眼前环境来决定是否继续相信神，而是因着对神的信靠继续生活。这句话后来成为新约非常重要的真理，罗马书 1:17「 因为　神的义正在这福音上显明出来；这义是本于信，以致于信。如经上所记：“义人必因信得生。」

真正的信心不是「看见了才相信」，而是：环境还没有改变，我仍然相信神；答案还没有来到，我仍然忠心走下去。这是我们一生的信心功课啊！

二、不要羡慕暂时的成功（哈2:6–20）

1. 贪婪所得难长久（V6–8）
从第6节开始，神向巴比伦宣告五个「祸哉」。巴比伦看起来强盛，但神告诉哈巴谷：邪恶的成功只是暂时的，神最终必施行公义。「祸哉！迦勒底人，你增添不属自己的财物……」巴比伦透过侵略、掠夺得到财富，看似越来越强大，但神说，被他们掠夺的人最终要起来。

对现实生活而言，不要只问：「我有没有得到？」更要问：「我是用什么方法得到？」成功若建立在欺骗、伤害和不义上，即使暂时拥有，也没有真正的平安。神决对是公义的审判者啊！

2. 自建保障非安全（V9–11）
「为本家积蓄不义之财……」人以为钱越多、位置越高、保障越多，就越安全；但巴比伦建立的安全感，本身却成为控告他们的证据。甚至「墙里的石头必呼叫」。人想用拥有的东西保护自己，神却要我们知道：真正的安全，不在于你把窝搭得多高，而在于你的生命是否建立在神里面。

一个生活反省，我们很容易把安全感建立在存款、事业、房子、关系和地位上。它们可以是祝福，却不能代替神。真正的安全不是我控制了多少，而是我的生命是否在神手中。

3. 人的野心皆虚空（V12–14）
「为本城劳碌的必被火焚烧……」巴比伦建立辉煌帝国，以为自己的荣耀能够存到永远，但人的荣耀最终过去。第14节突然把我们的眼光提高：「认识耶和华荣耀的知识要充满遍地，好像水充满洋海一般。」

正如我们一生可以忙着建立「我的事业、我的成就、我的名字」，但最终真正存到永远的是神的荣耀与神的国度。所以要问自己：我这么努力，是在建立自己的名，还是让神得荣耀？

4. 羞辱别人自蒙羞（V15–17）
巴比伦不但征服列国，更羞辱、暴虐他们。神宣告，他们怎样对待别人，最终也要怎样面对自己的羞辱。这是圣经常见的原则：人所撒的，最终也要收取。

想想不要因为自己有权力、有资源、有地位，就轻看别人。真正敬畏神的人，在强势的时候仍然懂得恩待人。

5. 偶像无能惟神能（V18–19）
人制造偶像，然后反过来向自己制造的东西说：「求你起来！」这是非常讽刺的画面，人把盼望放在一个不能说话、不能行动的东西上。但最后神宣告：「惟耶和华在他的圣殿中；全地的人都当在他面前肃敬静默。」

今天的偶像不一定是雕像，也可能是金钱、事业、成功、关系、人的肯定，甚至自己的能力。当世界充满声音，我们需要重新安静下来承认：神仍然坐在宝座上。

总结：从疑问走向仍然相信（哈2:20）
整章从第1节「我要站在守望所」开始，到第20节「全地的人都当在祂面前肃敬静默」结束，非常有意思。哈巴谷一开始有很多问题；神最后没有叫他掌握所有答案，而是让他重新认识：谁坐在宝座上。信心最高的境界，有时不是终于知道「为什么」，而是即使仍有不知道的事情，我已经知道：神是谁，我就可以安静。

意思说，当人生出现我们解释不了的事情，不必强迫自己马上找到所有答案。我们可以来到神面前说：「主啊，我虽然还不明白，但我知道你仍然掌权，所以我选择信靠你。」




  
 Habakkuk 2: Living by Faith While Waiting


  
GK611 Morning Devotion
09.09.2026
Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction: Waiting Does Not Mean Doing Nothing

I. Believing Even When We Cannot See (Habakkuk 2:1–5)

1. Watching and Waiting for God to Speak (V1) 
Ancient watchtowers were usually built on city walls or elevated positions, allowing watchmen to see far into the distance. They kept watch in shifts, day and night, staying alert. The moment they spotted an approaching enemy or danger, they would sound the alarm to warn the people in the city; if they saw messengers or reinforcements arriving, they would also report the news promptly. So the watchman's responsibility was to stand high, see far, stay alert, and sound the alarm in time — protecting the whole city.

Spiritual watchfulness follows the same: we remain at the post God has entrusted to us, alert and discerning—listening to God, observing our circumstances, and guarding our hearts. A watchman does more than identify problems; through prayer, they stand in the gap for their family, church, the next generation, and nation, acting when needed. Simply put, spiritual watchfulness means seeing what others have not yet seen, praying about what others have not yet prayed about, and faithfully guarding what God has entrusted to us.

2. Waiting Even When the Promise Is Delayed (V2–3) 
"Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry". God told Habakkuk to write the vision down clearly, because it had an appointed time set by God. This reminds us that God's timeline is not our timeline. What we consider "too late" may, in God's eyes, simply be "not time yet."

In daily life, we should not conclude that God is not at work just because we've prayed for three months, or three years, without seeing results. Delay does not mean refusal, and waiting is not wasted time. God's prophecies and promises will surely be fulfilled — whether they concern our personal lives or God's eternal kingdom purposes; there is no exception.

3. The Just Shall Live by Faith (V4–5) 
This is the core of the entire chapter — even the whole book of Habakkuk. The proud rely on themselves, but the righteous do not decide whether to keep trusting God based on their circumstances; instead, they live by their reliance on God. This verse later became a foundational New Testament truth: "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith'" (Romans 1:17).

True faith is not "seeing in order to believe," but rather: even when circumstances have not changed, yet I still believe God; the answer has not come, yet I still walk on faithfully. This is a lifelong lesson in faith for us.

II. Do Not Envy Temporary Success (Habakkuk 2:6–20)

1. The Gain of Greed Never Last (V6–8) 
Starting from verse 6, God pronounces five "woes" upon Babylon. Babylon appeared mighty, but God told Habakkuk that the success of the wicked is only temporary — God will ultimately execute justice. "Woe to him who increases what is not his — how long?". Babylon gained wealth through invasion and plunder, appearing to grow ever stronger, yet God said that those they plundered would eventually rise up.

For our own lives, the question is not only "Did I gain something?" but also "By what means did I gain it?" If success is built on deceit, harm, and injustice, even if it's temporarily possessed, there is no true peace in it. God is truly a righteous Judge.

2. Self-Built Security Is Not Real Safety (V9–11) 
"Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house...". People think that the more money, the higher position, and the more security they accumulate, the safer they are. But the very security Babylon built for itself became the evidence that condemned them — even "the stone will cry out from the wall". People try to protect themselves with what they possess, but God wants us to know: true security is not about how high you build your nest, but about whether your life is founded on Him.

A point for self-reflection: it's easy for us to place our sense of security in savings, career, property, relationships, and status. These can be blessings, but they cannot replace God. True security is not measured by how much I control, but by whether my life is in God's hands.

3. Human Ambition Is All Vanity (V12–14) 
"Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed...". Babylon built a glorious empire, believing its glory would last forever, but human glory ultimately passes away. Verse 14 suddenly lifts our vision  higher: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea".

Just as we can spend our whole lives busy building "my career, my achievements, my name," what ultimately endures forever is God's glory and God's kingdom. So, we must ask ourselves: in all my striving, am I building my own name, or bringing glory to God?

4. Those Who Shame Others Will Be Shamed (V15–17) 
Babylon not only conquered nations but humiliated and oppressed them violently. God declared that however they treated others, they would ultimately face the same shame themselves. This is a common biblical principle: whatever a person sows, they will eventually reap.

We should be careful not to look down on others simply because we have power, resources, or status. Those who truly fear God still show grace to others even when they hold the upper hand.

5. Idols Are Powerless, Only God Is Almighty (V8–19) 
People make idols and then turn to say to the very thing they made, "Arise!" It's a deeply ironic picture — placing one's hope in something that cannot speak or act. But in the end, God declares: "The Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him".

Today's idols may not be carved statues — they can be money, career, success, relationships, others' approval, or even our own abilities. When the world is filled with noise, we need to quiet ourselves again and acknowledge God is still seated on the throne.

Conclusion: From Questioning to Still Believing (Habakkuk 2:20) 
The whole chapter is bookended in a striking way — beginning in verse 1 with "I will stand my watch," and ending in verse 20 with "let all the earth keep silence before Him." Habakkuk began with many questions; in the end, God did not give him all the answers but instead brought him to a deeper recognition: who sits on the throne. The highest form of faith is sometimes not finally knowing "why," but rather: even when there are still things I don't understand, I already know who God is — and so I can be still.

In other words, when life brings things we cannot explain, we do not need to force ourselves to find all the answers right away. We can come before God and say: "Lord, I still do not understand, but I know You are still in control — so I choose to trust You."