Habakkuk 2:3

For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time,.... Not the present vision only, but vision or prophecy in general: it was a doubt that arose in the minds of the prophet and other good men, upon the

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

For; the reason why it must be written is because it should not be forgotten, whilst the appointed time is somewhat afar off; write it that it may be preserved in memory. The vision; the accomplishment of the things showed unto thee, what thou seest is coming, and what thou foretellest to them, will take effect. For an appointed time; determined and fixed with God, though unknown to men. At the end; when the period appointed of God shall come, then, and not till then, it will be accomplished. It shall speak; be accomplished, and fully made good. Not lie; not disappoint your expectation. Though it tarry, from the time of the prophet’ s seeing it, which was about Manasseh’ s time, or from about the time of captivating the ten tribes, until Cyrus’ s time. Wait for it; expect it, then it will speak out, that every one who hath an ear may hear it. It will surely come, when the ruin of Babylon, never to be more, built, shall proclaim the justice of God against his and his church’ s enemies, and what difference there is between corrections on his people and destruction upon enemies. It will not tarry; not beyond the appointed time, which, reckoned from the captivity of the ten tribes, was one hundred and sixty years, or from Manasseh’ s captivity, was about one hundred and twenty years, more or less, to the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus, when the riddle was fully unfolded.

Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.Ver. 3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time] This he is commanded to write, that God’ s people may learn to wait. He that believeth maketh not haste, he can both wait (as knowing that many of God’ s promises bear a long date) and also want, go without the good he desireth; being well content that God is glorified, though himself be not gratified. And this is the work of effectual faith, which is herein like unto crystal, of which it is reported that the very touching of it quickens other stones, and puts a lustre and loveliness upon them. But at the end it shall speak] Effabitur, It shall speak confidently, boldly, and freely, to the great comfort of those that antedate not God’ s promises, but patiently abide the accomplishment thereof. If any ask when this shall be? it is answered, In the end, that is, in God’ s good time. Shall he lose his right because he hath it not by the day set down in our calendar? Possibly the calendar of heaven hath a postdate to ours. Sure it is, that as God seldom comes at our time; so he never fails at his own. God’ s expectants shall shortly clap their hands for joy; and cry out with that holy martyr, He is come, Austin, he is come, he is come (Mr Glover. Act. and Mon.). And not lie] That is, not disappoint; as the earth is said to lie when it yields not her expected increase. God is faithful, and cannot lie. Christ hath a rainbow on his head, Revelation 10:1, to show that be is faithful and constant in his promises, and that tempests which blow over the sky shall be cleared. He hath hitherto kept promise witb nights and days, that the one shall succeed the other, Jeremiah 33:20; Jeremiah 33:25, and shall he break with his people? How then should he be Amen, the faithful and true witness? Revelation 3:14. Every man is a liar either by imposture, and so in purpose, or by impotence, and so in the event deceiving those that rely upon him, Psalms 62:9. But God is "a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he," Deuteronomy 32:4. Though it tarry wait for it] This is the duty, wait; and because it is a very difficult duty (the Hebrews found it easier to bear evil than to wait for the promised good, Hebrews 10:36), therefore is the promise here not delivered only, but doubled and trebled. It shall speak, it will come, it will surely come; nay, doubled again for more surety; It shall not lie, it will not tarry.

(3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time . . .—Better, For the vision is to have its appointed day, and it pants for the end. and it shall not disappoint, i.e., it pants for the day of completion, which shall do it justice. It longs to fulfil its destiny. It will not tarry.—This translation is unfortunate. The prophet has just said that it will tarry. Nevertheless, he adds, men are to wait for it, because “it will surely come, and shall not be behindhand,” seil, on its appointed day. This and Habakkuk 2:4 are welded into the Apostle’s exhortation in Hebrews 10:37. The citation is not from the Hebrew, but is an adaptation of the equally familiar LXX. variant, ὅτιἐρχόμενοςἥξεικαὶοὐμὴχρονίσῃἐὰνὑποστείληται, οὐκεὐδοκεῖἡψυχήμουἐναὐτῷ.

Verse 3. The vision is yet for an appointed time] The Chaldeans, who are to ruin Judea, shall afterwards be ruined themselves: but they must do this work before they receive their wages; therefore the vision is for an appointed time. But at the end it shall speak. When his work of devastation is done, his day of retribution shall take place. Though it tarry] Though it appear to be long, do not be impatient; it will surely come; it will not tarry longer than the prescribed time, and this time is not far distant. Wait for it.

3. Habakkuk 2:3 further explains the reason both for writing the vision and for writing it plainly. The vision bears upon the future and must be preserved; also, it is of common interest to all, learned or unlearned, and the speedy understanding of it will quiet minds that are perplexed. an appointed time] Perhaps: the appointed time. The vision bears upon the future determined time. Cf. Daniel 8:19; Daniel 8:26; Daniel 10:14; Daniel 11:27; Daniel 11:35. at the end it shall speak] Rather: and it hasteth (lit. panteth) toward the end. The vision, as the word of God (Isaiah 55:10-11), has an energy and life of its own, and it strains toward the end, though the “end” here is not its own fulfilment, but the determined future time. 2 Peter 2:3. and not lie] and it shall not lie, i.e. prove or be found false, deceive. it will not tarry] will not fail, or, be late, beyond the appointed time. 2 Samuel 20:5; Judges 5:28.

For the vision is yet for an (the) appointed time - o Not for the present, but to develop itself in the course of time, down to a season which God only knows; as it is subsequently repeated (Daniel

Habakkuk 2:3 indicates the reason for the command. The writing down of the vision is necessary, because its fulfillment will be delayed; when it is fulfilled the tablets will serve as witnesses to