The Pulpit Commentary — Habakkuk — Section 16

blasphemy (ver. 11) ;-all pass in review before us. And these were chosen to be tho cxocut.orM of the Divine judgments I "For, lo, I raise up the Cbaldeans" (ver. 6). 'l'he meaning is that God, in bis providence, would permit "that bitter and hasty nation" to be a scourge to bis chosen people on account of their transgression. The Chaldeo.ns, in seeking their own ends, should be made to fulfil the Divine behests. Man is wondrously free to act; and be often does act without any regard to truth and righteoUBness. The world, indeed, is full of evil-doers acting according to their own devices; but "he that sitteth in the heavens" is guiding and directing all to the accomplishment of his own high purposes and to the fulfilment of his holy and gracious will. III. THAT Goo, m OPERATING AGAINST EVIL AND ITS Lr0ERS, SOMETIMES EMPLOYS UNEXPEOTED AGENTS. "The Hebrew state was at this time in close alliance with the Chaldean state, an alliance so close and friendly that the Hebrew politicians had no fear of its rupture. Yet it was in this wholly unexpected form that the Divine judgment was to come upon them. The Chai<leans in whom they trusted, on whom they leaned, were to give the death-blow to the dynasty of David." All the material and moral forces of the universe are under the Divine control, and in ways and by 10eans little anticipated his retributions. often overtake his adversaries. IV. 'fHAT THIB DIVINE WORKING AGAINST EVIL AND ITS DOERS RECEIVES BUT TARDY RECOGNITION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM MAN. (Ver. 5.) The retributions nave to light upon them ere they will believe. "They cry, Peace and safety : till sudden destruction comes upon them" (1 Thess. v. 3). So has it been in the past, and so, upon the authority of Christ, will it be in the future (Matt. xxiv. 27- 29). Still, amidst this unconcern and unbelief, the duty of the messenger of God is clear. He must "cry aloud." He must bid men "behold," "regard," and "wonder," and then, "whether they hear or forbear," "he has delivered his soul."-S. D. H. Ver. 12.-The inspiration of hope. Hope is the expectation of future good. The cherishing of this spirit, even as it respects the affairs of everyday life, yields strength and courage, whilst the centering this in the glorious realities God has revealed imparts joy and gladness to the heart. To the man of piety hope is the helmet, serving as a protection and defence in the day of conflict, and the anchor rendering bis spirit peaceful aod secure amidst the storms of life. l. CONSIDER THE PROPHET'S REASONING IN THIS VERSE IN ITS APPLICATION TO HIMSELF AND ms NATION, AND NOTE HOW THE INBPIRATION OF HOPE FIRED HIS SOUL. 1. The seer directed his thoughts to the contemplation of the character of his God. Two aspects of this were vividly present to his mind. (1) God's eternal duration. "Art thou not from everlasting?" etc. (ver. 12). (2) His infinite purity. "Mine Holy One" (ver. 12). 2. Associated with these thoughts concerning God in the miad of the prophet we have the recognition of the relationship sustained by this Eternal and Holy One to himself and the nation whose interests lay near and pressed with such weight upon his heart. He and his people were the chosen of Heaven. God had entered into covenant relations with them. They had been the objects of his ever- gracious care aod providential working. He had oat dealt thus with any other people. They could call him theirs. "0 Lord my God, mine Holy One" (ver. 12). 3. And by associating together these thoughts of God and of his relationship to bis people he gathered, in the troublous times upon which he had fallen, the inspiration of hope. One great difficulty with him arose from the threateoed extinction of his nation. He l:iad mourned over the national guilt, and had sought earnestly in prayer the Divine interposition. The response, however, to his impassioned cry unto God was different from what he had expected. The revelation made to him of the approaching Chaldean invasion of his country seemed to carry with it the complete annihilation of the national anticipations, and the utter desolation and extinction of those who had been specially favoured of God. Surely, thought he, this cannot be. God is eternal; his purposes must be fulfilled. Then "we shall not die" (ver. 12). God is holy. Then evil cannot ultimately be victorious. It could only be for chastisement and correction that the threatoned trials should come. "0 Lord, thou ho.st ordained them for judl-(ment; and, 0 mighty God, thou hast established them for correctiun" (ver. 12). And by such reasoning hope became the balm of healing to his troublou heart, th11  14 THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. [OH, I, 1-17