The Waiting Church Encouraged

“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.”

—Habakkuk 2:3

It is advent again and we may hear of the promises given unto a people longing for the coming of the Redeemer, Zion’s King and refuge. Habakkuk also has spoken of this coming. We see him here upon his watchtower. Habakkuk was greatly troubled by what was happening. He saw Israel in a backsliding condition. She had turned away from God, had provoked Him by her unfaithfulness, and had forgotten Him.

Then Habakkuk cried unto the Lord, “How long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear!” It is as we read of the Canaanitish woman, “He answered her not a word.” How this increased the needs in his heart! There was such a need of revival and of the restoration of Israel to its former glory and piety. Yet this was but the beginning of troubles.

Finally God did answer him, but in such an altogether unexpected way. The Lord told the prophet what He was going to do. He revealed the might of Israel’s terrible enemy, the Chaldeans. They would come and be used as the rod of God’s anger to punish His rebellious and backsliding people. Instead of a revival, there would come destruction.

Habakkuk was perplexed and overwhelmed by this answer. God leads His church in ways of riddles and trials. Many questions arise in their troubled heart. Why is it that God permits those things to happen? Why does He allow the enemies of the church to become strong and to undermine the foundations of the church? There are so many incomprehensible dealings of the Lord with His people. Sometimes He even seems to have abandoned and forsaken them entirely. The heaven sometimes seems to be of brass and the earth of iron, for God does not answer; or, when He answers, it is in such an incomprehensible way.

Habakkuk thought that there was a need for God to send a revival, but then the Lord spoke of the coming of the Chaldeans to destroy Israel’s cities. John Newton once cried for a deeper knowledge of God, and instead he experienced such thick darkness and heavy assaults of the devil that he really thought that God had abandoned him. The Lord often answers prayers differently by allowing things to become much worse before they become better.

Is this not often also the experience of a soul longing for deliverance? There was a time that they were encouraged by the promise given unto them. However, instead of seeing the fulfillment of it coming near, it became more and more impossible. Habakkuk and all God’s people have to learn, however, that God uses unusual instruments and unexpected providences in order to fulfill His counsel. History is under divine control, follows a divine plan, a divine timetable, and will always serve to the welfare of God’s church and the coming of His blessed kingdom. Israel’s God is the eternal God. His throne is above the world. He is all-sufficient, almighty, unchangeable, and faithful to His promises. He has said, “I will be their God and they shall be My people.”

Habakkuk received a place upon the watchtower. There he would wait on his God. Micah said, “My God will hear me.” It is comparable to military life, where observers were stationed in towers in order to be aware of the arrival of the enemy. The watchman is far above the plains and the crowds of people. Likewise God’s Church has its solitary places where they may be alone with God. Do you have such a watchtower? Do you have a place where you may truly say, as the poet said, “My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning” (Ps. 130:6). Blessed people who may know where to go with all their needs and perplexities and who have an inner chamber.

Habakkuk had such a place, a place upon his watchtower. There he was far away from the daily concerns and busy life. There he sought to be near to his God and to lift up his empty hands to Him. There the soul sometimes gets out of the vale of cares, impossibilities, and sorrows, and looks to God and Him alone. There such a waiting soul commits all his problems unto Him who is the all-knowing unchangeable God. There he sometimes may also leave all with Him, giving matters by faith into His hands. Then he looks to God for direction and guidance. There we wait to hear what He will say unto us.

Waiting is a hard, yes, an impossible work. It was not easy for Ruth when her mother-in-law said unto her, “Sit still, my daughter,… for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.” Waiting is the opposite of working. Working in trying to help the Lord in the fulfillment of His own Word is something we are much more inclined to than waiting and giving the matters into His hands. However, this waiting is not inactivity. It is a longing, a looking forward with an earnest anticipation, and with a hungry soul to the time that the Lord will reveal His arm and confirm His word. It is a waiting where man falls away with all his experiences, prayers, tears, and works. God will do it, but in His way and at His time which is always the best time, and then He will do that which is impossible with man.

Is there a people who are waiting upon the watchtower in these weeks of advent? When will He come, He whom their soul longs for? “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!” (Ps. 53:6). Young friends, do you wait for something else, such as a high position in this world, or honor, riches, and pleasure? It is an empty waiting in which your expectations will never be fulfilled and your poor heart will always remain dissatisfied. You will always be longing for more and it will really never be enough. May the Lord open your blind eyes to see that the world passes by and all the lust thereof, and that you have a soul which needs more than money or pleasure can give.

There is a need for bread and water which the whole world can never give. Christ is the Bread of Life. He satisfies the thirsty soul with living water out of the Rock in the wilderness. True advent-children wait for the Lord, and for the coming of the promised Redeemer to their heart. They need Him. He only can restore their soul and bring them back into fellowship with God. Their soul longs for that communion, but from their side all ways are closed and there is nothing but the sword of God’s justice.

Oh what a joy when they hear that the Lord has laid help upon One who is mighty and able to deliver. It is the cry of their heart, “Give me Jesus, else I die, for outside of Him there is no life, but only an eternal destruction of the soul.” Thus they wait upon God unworthily, humbly, sincerely, earnestly.

Habakkuk received an answer. The Lord said as it were, “I have heard your prayer, Habakkuk. I understand your perplexity and here is My answer. Here is the vision and My revelation of what I will do. The Chaldeans whom I am going to raise up to punish Israel will themselves in turn be completely rooted up and destroyed.” God had raised them up for a special purpose, but they took the glory to themselves. God would strike them and raise up the Medes and Persians who would utterly destroy the Chaldeans. The Lord told the prophet to write this prophecy very clearly so that anyone reading it could at once understand, run to obey, and warn others.

The Lord records His promises of deliverance in His unchangeable Word. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place” (2 Pet. 1:19). God speaks to His people in times of trouble. His promises give new courage that God will send deliverance. Habakkuk could give a prophetical testimony of the deliverance of all who sigh under the oppression of the enemies and who are burdened and heavy laden with their sins committed against a well-doing, holy, and righteous God. This prophecy will certainly be fulfilled at the exact time, at God’s time, “but at the end it shall speak and not lie.” God will bring it to pass. Although it may tarry and the waiting period can seem to be so long, so that the enemies will say, “It shall never happen,” yet the Lord will do it. You will not die, but live and declare with joy the gracious works of the Lord. “Thy testimonies are very sure” (Ps. 93:5).

Thus the Old Testament believers on the watchtower have seen Him and their souls have rejoiced. They saw Him as spoken of in Zechariah 9:9, “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation.” Isaiah saw Him. He proclaimed it with an inexpressible joy, “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” They saw Him, the coming Immanuel, God with us.

What a precious place this watch-tower then is! What rich revelations the Lord will give there to the wearied, perplexed, and fearing soul that has no help, but flees unto Him! How empty this place often is today! How little real need and true advent-waiting! What is the reason for this? I believe it is because there is so little discovering work of the Spirit, and so much self-contentment, so much helping of ourselves. There are so many who have it and so few who miss it in truth.

Oh waiting people, “Though it tarry…it will surely come.” He will certainly, surely come, and He will not tarry. May it truly become Christmas for you in this way. Then your eyes will see not only the promise of His coming but will see the King in His beauty, the beauty of the Pearl of great price, of the mighty God, the victorious Deliverer, Zion’s King in the manger of Bethlehem. Then you will, together with those poor, despised shepherds, bow in adoration and worship Him.

Rev. C Vogelaar is pastor of the Ebenezer Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Franklin Lakes, New jersey.

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