Positive Waiting
Time for Habakkuk to come out of his corner. Whatever others say or do ‘faithfulness’ (v 4 NRSV margin) must be his watchword and to demonstrate it he makes for his watchtower to await further action or oracle. It is not long in coming and takes the form of a vision.
His vision focuses two kinds of waiting — negative and positive. Negative waiting is doing nothing. It is just hanging around with a vague hope that something will happen or going off and doing something else to take your mind off it. Positive waiting on the other hand is the determination to wait for a clear leading on what is right coupled with a willingness to embrace it and share it with others. It comes not by gazing into space but by coming to terms with the harsh realities of the situation. It means being physically and mentally ready to spot what God had up his sleeve and (if you are a prophet) to be the first to tell others.
Situations vary, but a precondition of sharing Habakkuk’s vision is an openness to new possibilities and being prepared for the unexpected. It begins with a recognition that there is nothing he can do in the immediate future and crystallises as he takes a hard look at what happens when people are driven by pride, arrogance and the creation of wealth — characteristics which are often somewhere in the picture when we come to terms with our tight corner.
But then, more serious and more helpful, is a recognition of the underlying causes which create such situations. These may include low personal esteem which leads to pride, a lack of self-assurance which leads to arrogance, and the fear of failure which comes from making plans, setting targets, expecting and evaluating results, whether it leads to an overwhelming pursuit of wealth or anything else that savours of personal satisfaction. Identifying the causes may not bring about change but it may help us to find answers in different places.
Positive waiting enriches our understanding of situations and people and faithfulness is being prepared to wait for the vision to be realised in whatever way God determines.