John Trapp on Habakkuk 2:3

Verſe 3. For the viſion is yet for an appointed time] This he is commanded to write, that Gods people may learn to wait. He that beleeveth maketh not haſt, he can both wait (as knowing that many of Gods promiſes beare a long date) and alſo want; go without the good he deſireth: being well content that God is glorified, though himſelf be not gratified. And this is the work of effectuall faith, which is herein like unto Chriſtall, of which it is reported, that the very touching of it quickens other ſtones, and puts a luſtre and lovelineſſe upon them.

but at the end it ſhall ſpeake] Effabitur, It ſhall ſpeak confidently, boldly and freely, to the great comfort of thoſe that antedate not Gods promiſes, but patiently abide the accomphſhment thereof. If any ask when this ſhall be? it is anſwered, In the end, that is, in Gods good time. Shall he loſe his right, becauſe he hath it not by the day ſet down in our Kalender? Poſſibly the Kalender of heaven hath a poſt-date to ours. Sure it is, that as God ſeldome comes at our time: ſo he never failes at his own. Gods Expectants ſhall ſhortly clap their hands for joy: and cry out with that holy Martyr, Hee's come, Auſtin, Hee's come, Mr. Glover. Act. & Mor. Hee's come.

and not lie] that is, not diſappoint: as the earth is ſaid to lie when it yeelds not her expected increaſe. God is faithfull, and cannot lie. Chriſt hath a rainbow on his head Rev. 10.1. to ſhew that he is faithfull and conſtant in his promiſes, and that tempeſts ſhall blow over the skie be cleared. He hath hitherto kept promiſe with nights and dayes, that the one ſhall ſucceed the other, Ier. 33.20, 25. and ſhall he break with his people? How then ſhould he be Amen, the faithfull and true witneſſe Rev, 3.14? &c. Every man is a liar either by impoſture, and ſo in purpoſe, or by impotency and ſo in the event deceiving thoſe that rely upon him Pſal. 62.9. But God is a God of truth, and without iniquity, juſt and right is he Deut. 32.4.

though it tarry wait for it] This is the duty, wait: and becauſe it is a very difficult duty (the Hebrews found it eaſier to beare evill, then to wait for the promiſed good Heb. 10.36.) therefore is the promiſe heere not delivered only, but doubled, and trebled. It ſhall ſpeake, it will come, it will ſurely come: nay doubled againe for more ſurety; It ſhall not lie, it will not tarry. It is as if God had ſaid, Do but wait, and you ſhall be delivered, you ſhall be delivered, you ſhall be delivered, you ſhall, you ſhall. Oh the Rhetoricke of God! and oh the certaintie of the promiſes!

It will not tarry] ſc. beyond the time appointed of God. In ſe non tardat, carni tardare videtur. Gods help ſeemes long, becauſe we are ſhort. A ſhort walk is a long journey to feeble knees. But that God tarries not beyond his appointed time, See Exod. 12.40, 41. at midnight were the firſt-born ſlaine, becauſe then exactly the 400 yeers were up. And Dan. 5.30. In that night was Belſhazzar ſlaine; becauſe then exactly the 70. yeeres were ended.