Albert Barnes Commentary Habakkuk 2:3

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay." — Habakkuk 2:3 (ASV)

For the vision is yet for an (the) appointed time - Not for the present, but to develop itself in the course of time, down to a season which God only knows; as it is subsequently repeated (Daniel 11:27), for it is for the appointed time, (Daniel 11:35), for the end is yet for the appointed time (Daniel 8:19); for it is for the appointed time of the end; and is explained (Daniel 10:1; Daniel 10:14), for the vision is yet for the days (Daniel 8:26); for it is for many days (Ezekiel 12:27); the house of Israel say, The vision that he sees, is for many days and he prophesies of the times far off.

Yet it should hasten toward the end, toward its fulfillment, so that, if it is not at once fulfilled, it should be surely waited for. Theodotion says: “It shall certainly be; not in vain has it been shown, but as certainly to be. For whatever has been shown to come and to be, will come and be.”

But at the end it shall speak - (or it breathes, hastens to the end), not simply "to its own fulfillment," but to that time of the end which should close the period assigned to it. During this period it should continually be putting itself forth; it should come true in part or in shadow; gleams of it should now and then part the clouds, which, until the end, should surround and envelop it.

Being God’s truth, he speaks of it as an animate living thing, not a dead letter, but running, hastening on its course, and accomplishing on its way that for which it was sent. The will and purpose of God hastens on, though to man it seems to tarry; it can neither be hurried on, nor does it linger.

Before the appointed time it does not come; yet it hastens toward it, and will not be behindhand when the time comes. It does not lie, either by failing to come, or failing, when it has come, of any jot or tittle.

Though it tarry or linger, continually appearing, giving signs of itself, yet continually delaying its coming, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not be behindhand, when the time comes. As He says (Revelation 22:7), He comes quickly; because, as Dionysius notes: “though the delay of His coming and of the fulfillment of the vision seem long, yet, in comparison with eternity, it is very short.”

In His first coming, He taught why God permits these things; in the second coming, He shall teach by experience how good it is for the good to bear the persecution of the evil. This is why Peter also has to say (2 Peter 3:9), The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness.

The words seem to belong, in the first instance, to the vision itself; but the vision had no other existence or fulfillment than in Him who was the Object of it, and who, in it, was foreshadowed to the mind. The coming of the vision was no other than His coming.

The waiting, to which he exhorts, expresses the religious act, so often spoken of (Psalms 33:20; Isaiah 8:17; Isaiah 30:18; Isaiah 64:3; Zephaniah 3:8; Daniel 12:12; Psalms 106:13), of waiting for God, or His counsel, or His promised time.

The sense then is wholly the same when Paul uses the words of the coming of our Lord Himself (Hebrews 10:37), Yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come and will not tarry. Paul, as well as Habakkuk, is speaking of our Lord’s second coming; Paul, of His Coming in Person, Habakkuk, of the effects of that Coming. But both are speaking alike of the redressing of all the evil and wrong in the world’s history, and the reward of the faithful oppressed.

At His first coming He said (John 12:31), Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out. He came to put down the mighty from their seat, and to exalt the humble and meek (Luke 1:52); but much more in the second coming, when He shall come to judge the world with righteousness and the people with His truth (Psalms 96:13), and to reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27).

At all times He seems continually to linger, to give signs of His coming, yet He does not come; when the appointed season shall come, He shall be found not to be later than His word. Yes, all time shall shrink up into a little moment in the presence of a never-ending ever-present eternity.

Cyril says: “Having named no one expressly, he says, wait for him, wait for him although delaying, and do not halt in your hope, but let it be rooted and firm, even if the interval be extended. For the God of all seems to suggest to the mind of the prophet that He who was foretold would surely come, yet to enjoin on him to wait for Him on account of the interval.

He who believes My word shall possess life, for this is the reward of those who honor God, and a good reward of His benevolence. He who admits faith and love to dwell in his heart has as a requital, unaging life and forgiveness of sins and sanctification by the Spirit.”

Albertus says: “He shall live; for, God is not the God of the dead but of the living (Matthew 22:32). Whoever lives and believes in Me, shall never die (John 11:26).”

It will not lie - God deigns to speak of Himself as we should be ashamed to speak of one whom we love, teaching us that all doubts question His truth. (Numbers 23:19) God is not a man, that He should lie: has He said and will He not do it?

The strength of Israel shall neither lie nor repent (1 Samuel 15:29). God that cannot lie promised before the world began (Titus 1:2). Therefore, it follows, wait for Him, as Jacob says (Genesis 49:18), I have waited for Your salvation, O Lord.