We cannot trust our own estimate of our righteousness. We cannot trust the relative value of our good works. Let me try to focus [on] that. A long time ago, [there was] a story about a wealthy farmer and he had a hired man who was a Christian. This hired man sought to witness with the gospel to his employer [but] the employer, the farmer, said this,
I will admit I am not perfect. I get pretty angry sometimes, I swear a little, and I sometimes tell a lie, but I do not cheat people and I give liberally to good causes. I figure I am better than the average individual. Will they not be good points to offset my weaknesses? This should get me into heaven!And so that evening, the hired hand who had testified to his boss came in from working on a fence, and the farmer said,Well Jack, is the fence all tight and strong?The hired hand replied this way,I cannot say that it is perfect, but it ought to do. Some parts are a little weak, but others are extra firm. There are few gaps in it, but I made up for them by doubling the rails on each side of the openings. Perhaps it is not entirely satisfactory, but considering everything, it strikes the good average.The farmer exploded and he said,Why you might as well not have built the fence at all if there is even one weak spot. The cattle will find it and go through. It must be perfect or it is worthless!The hired man said,I used to think so, but I have heard you talking so much about averaging matters with the Lord, it seemed to me we might try the same logic with the cattle.You see, we really cannot trust our estimate of relative righteousness or wickedness. And that is what Habakkuk is saying here. The only thing I can trust is...if I have a foreign righteousness that is given to me by Jesus Christ. The character of God in human history. You do not solve the question. Habakkuk in chapter 2:1, does not get an answer yet. He is waiting for more light. That is not bad. You can go through all your quandaries of faith and at the end you still have to be waiting for more light. But there is something else you can do. See verse 12: you can worship. You can wait and you can worship.1
Ralph Davis
13 You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?