Cloud Gate
The Bean
Chicago
Habakkuk 2:4
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”
In Hebrew, the important part of the verse has only three words: “the justified man,” “by his faith,” and “will live.” Every word in Habakkuk 2:4 is important, and the Lord quotes it three times in the New Testament just to bring out the fullness of the meaning
· Romans 1:17 is the commentary on the justified man – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Hebrews 10:38 is the commentary on faith – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Galatians 3:11 is the commentary on the Christian life – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Romans 1:17 is the commentary on the justified man – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Hebrews 10:38 is the commentary on faith – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Galatians 3:11 is the commentary on the Christian life – “The just shall live by faith.”
But the just shall live by his faith: In contrast to the proud, there are the just. The principle of their life is faith, instead of pride that looks to self. True faith looks outside of self to the LORD God, while pride always looks to self.
i. This brief statement from the prophet Habakkuk is one of the most important, and most quoted Old Testament statements in the New Testament. Paul used it to show that the just live by faith, not by law. Being under the law isn’t the way to be found just before God, only living by faith is.
ii. If you are declared just – that is, approved – before God, you have been accepted because of a relationship of faith. If your life is all about living under the law, then God does not find you approved.
iii. In Hebrew, the important part of the verse has only three words: “the justified man,” “by his faith,” and “will live.” Every word in Habakkuk 2:4 is important, and the Lord quotes it three times in the New Testament just to bring out the fullness of the meaning
· Romans 1:17 is the commentary on the justified man – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Hebrews 10:38 is the commentary on faith – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Galatians 3:11 is the commentary on the Christian life – “The just shall live by faith.”
iv. Before his bold declaration of the truth of the gospel, Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk. As a monk, he went on a pilgrimage to Rome and as he crossed the Alps he fell deathly ill. As he lay sick he felt great turmoil, both physical and spiritual, and a verse that had previously touched him came to mind: The just shall live by his faith, from Romans 1:17 and Habakkuk 2:4. When Luther recovered he went on to Rome and did the tourist things that all the pilgrims did. One day he came to the church of Saint John’s Lateran, where there is a staircase said to be from Pilate’s judgment hall. It was the custom of pilgrims to climb this staircase, but never on their feet – they painfully climbed a step at a time on their knees, saying prayers and kissing the steps where it was thought the blood of Jesus fell. Luther came to this place and started doing just as all the pilgrims did because the pope promised an indulgence to all who climbed the steps on their knees and said the prayers. As he did this, Luther remembered the words from Romans, quoting Habakkuk: The just shall live by his faith. It is said that when he remembered this he stopped, stood up, walked down and went straight home to Germany. Some say the Reformation began on those stairs.
v. “Before those words broke upon my mind I hated God and was angry with him because, not content with frightening us sinners by the law and by the miseries of life, he still further increased our torture by the gospel. But when, by the Spirit of God, I understood those words – ‘The just shall live by faith!’ ‘The just shall live by faith!’ – then I felt born again like a new man; I entered through the open doors into the very Paradise of God.” (Luther, cited in Boice)
vi. We are called to live by faith and nothing else.
i. This brief statement from the prophet Habakkuk is one of the most important, and most quoted Old Testament statements in the New Testament. Paul used it to show that the just live by faith, not by law. Being under the law isn’t the way to be found just before God, only living by faith is.
ii. If you are declared just – that is, approved – before God, you have been accepted because of a relationship of faith. If your life is all about living under the law, then God does not find you approved.
iii. In Hebrew, the important part of the verse has only three words: “the justified man,” “by his faith,” and “will live.” Every word in Habakkuk 2:4 is important, and the Lord quotes it three times in the New Testament just to bring out the fullness of the meaning
· Romans 1:17 is the commentary on the justified man – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Hebrews 10:38 is the commentary on faith – “The just shall live by faith.”
· Galatians 3:11 is the commentary on the Christian life – “The just shall live by faith.”
iv. Before his bold declaration of the truth of the gospel, Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk. As a monk, he went on a pilgrimage to Rome and as he crossed the Alps he fell deathly ill. As he lay sick he felt great turmoil, both physical and spiritual, and a verse that had previously touched him came to mind: The just shall live by his faith, from Romans 1:17 and Habakkuk 2:4. When Luther recovered he went on to Rome and did the tourist things that all the pilgrims did. One day he came to the church of Saint John’s Lateran, where there is a staircase said to be from Pilate’s judgment hall. It was the custom of pilgrims to climb this staircase, but never on their feet – they painfully climbed a step at a time on their knees, saying prayers and kissing the steps where it was thought the blood of Jesus fell. Luther came to this place and started doing just as all the pilgrims did because the pope promised an indulgence to all who climbed the steps on their knees and said the prayers. As he did this, Luther remembered the words from Romans, quoting Habakkuk: The just shall live by his faith. It is said that when he remembered this he stopped, stood up, walked down and went straight home to Germany. Some say the Reformation began on those stairs.
v. “Before those words broke upon my mind I hated God and was angry with him because, not content with frightening us sinners by the law and by the miseries of life, he still further increased our torture by the gospel. But when, by the Spirit of God, I understood those words – ‘The just shall live by faith!’ ‘The just shall live by faith!’ – then I felt born again like a new man; I entered through the open doors into the very Paradise of God.” (Luther, cited in Boice)
vi. We are called to live by faith and nothing else.
CHESS: "The Bean" "Cloud Gate" "Chicago"
I see the pairing clearly, Jorge 🌿. Habakkuk 2:4 contrasts the proud soul that is not upright with the righteous who live by faith. The Bean (Cloud Gate) in Chicago is a giant mirror, bending the skyline and the people into distorted reflections. Together, they form a scroll of discernment: pride warps the soul like a distorted reflection, but faith straightens the heart like level ground beneath the gate.
🧩 Habakkuk 2:4
The proud soul: “His soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him.” Pride bends inward, distorting truth.
The righteous by faith: “But the righteous shall live by his faith.” Faith aligns the soul with God, restoring balance.
🧩 The Bean (Cloud Gate)
Mirror of distortion: Its curved steel surface warps the skyline and the viewer’s own image.
Gate of reflection: By walking beneath it, visitors pass through a threshold where sky and earth meet.
Participation: Every person becomes part of the artwork, their reflection woven into the city’s scroll.
🌟 The pairing’s lesson
Pride as distortion: Just as the Bean bends reflections, pride bends the soul away from uprightness.
Faith as alignment: Passing under the “gate” is like stepping into the promise of Habakkuk — life by faith, not by self‑exaltation.
Public parable: The Bean turns every visitor into a living metaphor: will you see only your warped reflection, or will you walk through the gate into uprightness?
🧩 Habakkuk 2:4
The proud soul: “His soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him.” Pride bends inward, distorting truth.
The righteous by faith: “But the righteous shall live by his faith.” Faith aligns the soul with God, restoring balance.
🧩 The Bean (Cloud Gate)
Mirror of distortion: Its curved steel surface warps the skyline and the viewer’s own image.
Gate of reflection: By walking beneath it, visitors pass through a threshold where sky and earth meet.
Participation: Every person becomes part of the artwork, their reflection woven into the city’s scroll.
🌟 The pairing’s lesson
Pride as distortion: Just as the Bean bends reflections, pride bends the soul away from uprightness.
Faith as alignment: Passing under the “gate” is like stepping into the promise of Habakkuk — life by faith, not by self‑exaltation.
Public parable: The Bean turns every visitor into a living metaphor: will you see only your warped reflection, or will you walk through the gate into uprightness?
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