I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
The prophet has just unburdened his heart to God and pleaded with Him about the enemy coming against His people. Now he stops speaking and takes his stand — the point where his story turns from anguish to praise.
Where the Verse Belongs
Several writers read this verse as the close of chapter 1, not the opening of chapter 2.
William KellyThis closes the matter. I do not know why this verse should be separated from Habakkuk 1, which it naturally closes. It is the conclusion of the question that had so painfully tried his spirit at first. He is not so much looking at events in providence, but looking to see what Jehovah will say.
Watching for God, Not for the News
There are two things a watchman on a tower could look for: the movement of armies, or a message from his king. Habakkuk chooses the second.
Hamilton SmithThe prophet has closed his appeal to the LORD. He now takes his stand on his watchtower to look and hear what God will do and say. He acts in line with the exhortation that tells us to watch and pray (Luke 21:36; Eph. 6:18). He does not watch merely to see what men will do, and so be guided by sight. He watches to see what God will say, and so walk by faith.
An Inner Watchtower, Not a Building
Nothing suggests the prophet climbed a physical structure. The watchman is a picture of what was happening inside him.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinIt seems there was no immediate answer to the plea of the prophet. He then speaks to himself and expresses his attitude... He watches like a sentinel on a watchtower for the answer the Lord will give him. It does not mean that the prophet climbed a real tower. He expresses his innermost attitude by the symbol of the watchman. He remained silent and eagerly looked for the reply.
Facing the Danger, Not Avoiding It
A watchtower is not a hiding place. It is the exposed spot where trouble shows up first. That is where he put himself.
H. L. RossierThe prophet took the place of an observer on "his watchtower." That means he took up a position where the enemy would attack his people. Rather than keep far from the matter, he tried to imagine the reality of the coming judgment. He did not take this position to resist the enemy, for he knew that the word of the Lord would certainly be fulfilled. His watching had two purposes. He wanted to see what the Lord would say to him about the threat of the enemy's attack, and what he himself would answer.
"What I Will Answer"
The second half of the verse shows a man preparing his reply. Older translations read "when I am reproved" where the ESV has "what I will answer concerning my complaint." Habakkuk is rehearsing an argument he never gets to use.
H. L. RossierHabakkuk expected to have to answer, as Moses did long ago. The Lord then argued with Moses about Israel after it had made the golden calf (Ex. 32:7-14; Ex. 33:12-16). But his intention to present a reply would receive a definite answer that was beyond dispute. There would be no room left for even a single remark of the kind he had intended to make.
Why He Would Not Come Down
Waiting on the tower was not detachment from his people. It was the opposite.
J. G. BellettAnd having unburdened his heart and pleaded with the Lord, he waits for the answer. His heart is with his people, and he must watch for the "end of the Lord." He is no hireling; he cares for the flock, and cannot flee. He did not take up his service for Israel lightly, and so he cannot lay it down quickly. He must see the end of it; and for this, he sets himself on the watchtower.
The Pressure to Climb Down
The same choice faces believers now: wait on the Lord, or act on your own judgment.
C StanleyMan would say, Come down from the watchtower, use your own judgment... Satan hates to see you sit watching before the Lord, to know His mind, and only do His will. Oh, how much depends on this! — waiting on the Lord in the watchtower, or doing our own will.
Where the Watch Leads
No one stays on the tower forever. The book traces a man moving through four postures.
Hamilton SmithHow encouraging to trace the way God leads this God-fearing man! First he lies on his face in anguish of soul before God, because God's people have failed. Then he takes his stand on the watchtower to hear the words of the LORD. Having learned the mind of the LORD, we see him on his knees in prayer. In the end he walks on high places, with joy in his heart and praise on his lips.
Summary
- Stop. The verse closes the prophet's complaint. He has said his part, and now he waits for what Jehovah will say.
- Stand. The tower is an inner attitude, not a building: silent, listening, watching like a sentry on duty.
- Face it. He takes his place where the enemy would strike, and looks straight at the coming judgment.
- Listen. He watches for God's word, not men's movements — faith, not sight. God's answer leaves him nothing to argue back.
- Walk. The watch is not wasted: from anguish, to the tower, to his knees, to walking on high places with praise.