神給哈巴谷的回答的最後一部分，真是既有力又簡短。神知道自己在做甚麼，哪怕環境正像一輛失控的車子在衝下山坡一樣。「全地的人都當在他面前肅敬靜默」，這句話包括了一切事情及每一個人──敬虔的人和異教徒。有時神頗為直接地對我們說話──正如祂在這裡一樣──把我們可能不想知道，但卻肯定需要知道的事情告訴我們。

如果我對這節經文的理解是正確的話，那神的意思應該是：「停止那些沒完沒了地問題如：『為甚麼神這樣做？』和『為甚麼神那樣做？』等。你們要明白我知道自己在做甚麼，因為我是歷史的主。」我們一旦確定了神知道祂在做甚麼，一切疑惑就都會消失。而這不單是適用於個人的問題上，也適用於全球性的問題。

只要我們願意，那些為哈巴谷的心帶來安慰和亮光的話，也可以為我們的心帶來安慰。你幾乎從每天的報紙上都會看到強姦、謀殺、罪行、不公義和貪污等報導，但是你若從報紙轉眼仰望神，就會發現自己所看到的是那位至善者、那位完全者。然後會有甚麼事情發生呢？你的心不會再充滿恐懼，而會出奇的平安。為甚麼？因為你會明白，神在祂的宇宙的中心，祂正在實行祂的計劃。正如有人說：「凡知道神在做甚麼的人，永遠都不需要問為甚麼。」

The last part of God's answer to Habakkuk is as forceful as it is brief. It is that He knows what He is doing, even when circumstances seem to be speeding downhill like a car out of control. The phrase "let all the earth be silent before him" includes everything and everybody - the godly as well as the heathen. Sometimes God speaks pretty straight to us - just as He is doing here and tells us things that we might not want to know, but things we certainly need to know.

If I understand this verse correctly, God is saying, in effect: "Stop asking endless questions such as: 'Why does God do this?' and 'Why does God do that?' Understand the fact that I know what I am doing and that I am the Lord of history." Once we make up our minds that God knows what He is doing, then all confusion vanishes. And that applies not only to the personal issues of life but to the global ones as well.

The same Word that brought comfort and illumination to Habakkuk's heart can, if we let it, comfort our own hearts. If you look at almost any day's newspaper you will find reports of rape, murder, crime, injustice and corruption. But if you turn from your newspaper and look up at God you will find yourself looking at the Ultimate, the Absolute. And what will happen? Instead of your heart being filled with fear, it will become strangely peaceful. Why? Because you will realise that God is at the centre of His universe and He is working out His purposes. And as someone said: "He who knows what God is doing need never ask why."