Faith That Keeps Watch

The scriptures today join faith to obedience without dividing them. Jotham walked rightly because he feared God and did not seize what was not given him. His father entered the temple unlawfully; the son learned reverence and kept his place. The proud man always reaches beyond measure, but the righteous man receives a boundary from God and is content to keep it.

Habakkuk stands on the watchtower, waiting for the word of the Lord, and he is told that the vision will surely come. Delay is not denial. Therefore the soul must not swell with pride or snatch at gain. “because the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4 Now, although the prophet Habakkuk first said this, yet you have the apostle here confirming the prophets, even as Christ did.” Faith here is not idle speech. It waits, endures, refuses idols, and keeps the commandments of God.

So Proverbs rebukes the greedy eye and teaches mercy, while John says that the victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Not a faith that excuses sin, but one that confesses the Son of God, asks according to His will, loves the brethren, and keeps itself from idols. An idol is not only a carved thing; it is also the false god of grasping, pride, and self-rule. The man who says he believes yet devours the poor, covets his neighbor’s house, or hardens himself against a brother in sin has not learned the boldness of the righteous.

Watch, then, in patience. Keep your station. Give to the poor. Pray according to the will of God. And when the world invites you to trust what is dead, keep yourself for the living God.