The Vision

The writing of the vision begins in verse 4 of Hab. 2 "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." It is a vision of blessing to faith, but of judgment to deviousness.
The foregoing scripture could be applied to any man so characterized, but Habakkuk had Nebuchadnezzar and his wicked treatment of the three princes of Judah in mind. We refer to Dan. 3:19-26 where the form of his visage was changed towards Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Habakkuk says of them: "The just shall live by his faith." This comment is indelibly etched into the pages of the Old and New Testament.
The Apostle Paul applied it to the "called of Jesus Christ" at Rome. It is the thesis of the book of Romans, and therein is the righteousness of God revealed on the principle of faith to faith. The righteousness of God-it is that kind of righteousness which justifies the believer in Christ. While the Lord was dealing with Israel under law, neither righteousness of God nor wrath of God from heaven was known, but they are now made manifest. The full force of the wrath of God against Gentile ungodliness and against Israel's unrighteousness is impending.
In verse 2: "Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it," that is, he that readeth may run with the good news of the gospel of Christ. The vision did not tarry; it was realized about 2000 years ago in the Person of the Christ. Did not John the Baptist send two of his disciples to inquire of Him, "Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" The Apostle Paul recounts it to the saints at Rome (Rom. 1:16, 17). The urgent need for the dictum is stated in Rom. 1:18;3:20, 21 and 2 Tim. 1:10.