Habakkuk, Chapter 1, verses 2-3
1 Unto Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the landHabakkuk, Chapter 2, verses 2-4
1 Unto Habakkuk, waiting for an answer, is showed that he must wait by faith2 God answers, that the Chaldeans themselves shall at length be a prey, Hab 2:1-8.
A woe denounced against the covetous, the oppressive, the drunkards, and idolaters, Hab 2:9-12.
2:2 Upon tables - What was of publick concern, and therefore to be published, was anciently written or engraven upon tables, smooth stones, or wood, and then hung up in a publick place to be read.May run - That none may need to stop, but every one may plainly and clearly discern what is written.
2:3 At the end - When the period appointed of God shall come.Shall speak - Be accomplished, and not disappoint your expectation.
2:4 Which is lifted up - That proudly contests with the justice and wisdom of the Divine Providence, and provides for his own safety by his own wit. The just - The humble and upright one, who adores the depth of divine providence, and is persuaded of the truth of divine promises.Shall live - Supports himself, by a firm expectation of the deliverance of Zion.
2 Timothy, Chapter 1, verses 6-8, 13-14
6 He is exhorted to stir up the gift of God which was in him, 8 to be steadfast, and patient in persecution, 13 and to persist in the form and truth of that doctrine which he had learned of him1
1:6 Wherefore - Because I remember this. I remind thee of stirring up - Literally, blowing up the coals into a flame. The gift of God - All the spiritual gifts, which the grace of God has given thee.
1:7 And let nothing discourage thee, for God hath not given us - That is, the spirit which God hath given us Christians, isnot the spirit of fear - Or cowardice. But of power - Banishing fear. And love and sobriety - These animate us in ourduties to God, our brethren, and ourselves. Power and sobriety are two good extremes. Love is between, the tie and temperament of both; preventing the two bad extremes of fearfulness and rashness. More is said concerning power, Ti1 1:8; concerning love, Ti2 2:14, etc ; concerning sobriety, Ti2 3:1, etc
1:8 Therefore be not thou ashamed - When fear is banished, evil shame also flees away. Of the testimony of our Lord - The gospel, and of testifying the truth of it to all men. Nor of me - The cause of the servants of God doing his work, cannot be separated from the cause of God himself. But be thou partaker of the afflictions - Which I endure for the gospel's sake.According to the power of God - This which overcomes all things is nervously described in the two next verses.
Luke, Chapter 17, verses 5-10
3 One to forgive another, 6 The power of faith, 7 How we are bound to God, and not he to us17
17:5 Lord, increase our faith - That we may thus forgive, and may neither offend nor be offended. Mat 17:20.
17:6 And he said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed - If ye had the least measure of true faith, no instance of duty would be too hard for you. Ye would say to this sycamine tree - This seems to have been a kind of proverbial expression.
17:7 But which of you - But is it not meet that you should first obey, and then triumph? Though still with a deep sense of your utter unprofitableness.
17:9 Doth he thank that servant - Does he account himself obliged to him?
17:10 When ye have done all, say, We are unprofitable servants - For a man cannot profit God. Happy is he who judges himself an unprofitable servant: miserable is he whom God pronounces such.But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us. For he is pleased to give by his grace a value to our good works, which in consequence of his promise entitles us to an eternal reward.
1 The prophet complains of the violence practised by the Jews, Hab 1:1-4.
God foretells the punishment of it, Hab 1:5-11.
The prophet complains of the mischief done by the Chaldeans, Hab 1:12-17.