And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
— Habakkuk 2:2
The Lord wanted everybody in Judah to know the message of this vision. The message was plain and clear. The Lord did not show favoritism in choosing just a select few to warn of the coming destruction at the hands of the Chaldeans. To Born-Again Believers, the message is clear as well. We must put off our earthly, carnal eyes to accept a spiritual perspective of the workings of God in the world. “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11).
The Message is Abiding
“Make is plain upon tables.” The message was to be clear and plain, and the message was to be written upon tables. These tables were planks, usually of wood, to preserve messages longer. Typically, the prophets wrote on scrolls (“roll” – Isaiah 8:1; Jeremiah 36:2). Although scrolls would be copied and passed down, the scrolls needed to be kept safely and preserved. They were opened up to be read and closed when the reader finished. Tables were always available and open. Most likely these tables were set up publicly in the middle of a city, because the purpose of it being clearly written on tablets was so that “he may run that readeth it.”
The Lord wanted Judah to know this message is true and abiding. It wasn’t just going to be a temporary scare. They had a choice. They could continue rioting in sin and violence or they could repent, call upon the name of the Lord, and be saved. This message abode throughout this period of Israel’s history and continues even now. Sin is everywhere. Violence is unhindered. Rioting is rampant. Many cities are trying to defund police departments all across America, thinking that maybe THIS will help the sin and violence. One person dies, and so riots break out, causing 50 others to die in the name of this ONE person. They claim life matters though they speak not one word against abortion, the biggest protected genocide our world has ever seen; nor do they speak against alcohol, the third leading preventable cause of death. The message abides today. Judgment is coming. America, like most countries, has rejected God. She has continued to unashamedly commit sin and is ready for judgment. Not only does the message of judgment abide today, but the message of salvation abides as well. Yes, America will be judged just like Israel. We have fallen so far that I don’t believe anything can help that. Judah experienced a time of refreshing revival in the days of Josiah, but the Lord still brought on the promised judgment. The good news is that in the midst of judgment, there is Grace. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). No matter how much sin there is in the world today, there is MORE grace! Though America will be judged, the good news is that everlasting life is available to any and all who desire it. This salvation isn’t based on race and color. God doesn’t live by “Black Lives Matter” or “White Lives Matter.” Our Lord gave himself a ransom for ALL (1 Timothy 2:6). “For God so loved the WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This message will continue to abide. The heathen and their wicked imaginations will rise up and pass away. They will continue to rage. But the Lord says “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).