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

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

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]


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]