Chaldean. Still, the action selected by the prophet has in it seveml elemeuts of ";ckedness which are worthy of consideration. It the mere giving of drink to anotl10r is not sinful (Prov. xxxi. 6), the doing so out of m11.lice (" adding venom or wrnth thereto ") is, while the sin is aggravated by practising deception in connection there-, with (" mixing poison therewith"-" drugging the wine," as the modern phrase is), and, intensified further by the motive impelling thereto (to be ablo to gloat over the neigh- bour's degradation), and most of all condemned by being done against a neighbour to whom one owes not wrath but love, not casting down but lifting up, not exulting in his shame but rejoicing in his welfare. The words can hardly be construed into a condemnation of those who give and take wine or other drinks in modemtion and to the glory of God; but they unquestionably pronounce him guilty in God's sight who deliberately and maliciously makes his fellow-man drunk in order to enrich or amuse himself at that fellow-man's expense. 2. Historical,ly acted out. (1) By. the·Ohaldean, who drew the nations of the earth into his power by means of poisoned flatteries. Enticed to place themselves beneath his tutelage, theee'l1ations ultimately fell into his power, and were by him oppressed, degraded, and· insulted. (2) By modern nations, who to enrich themselves enforce upon weaker tribes treaties and traffic (whether of opium or of strong drink) which lead to their moral enfeeblement. (3) By private individuals, who for their own gaiu or pleasure hurl their neighbours with sublime indifference into gulfs of misery and shame. II. APPROPRIATE PlTh'ISHMENT. 1. Of Divine sending. Jehovah's goblet, of which he ha,l caused the nations to drink, shonld be handed round to the Ohaldeans and other guilty nations and individuals, who should all be compelled to drink of it (Ps. Ix.xv. 8). 2. Of terrible severity. It should be as shameful as that which the Chaldeans bad inflicted upon the nations. It should cause him also to be drunken, and should expose bis foreskin to others (cf. Isa. xlvii. 3). It should cover his glory with shame as when the attire of a drunken man is bespattered with bis vomiting. Of sinners generally it is written that "shame she.11 be the promotion of fools" (Prov. iii. 35 ). 3. Of retributive character. The wickedness of the Ohaldean should return upon his own pate. The violence he had done to Lebanon (the Holy Land or the fa.ir' regions of the earth generally) should rebound upon himself. 'l'be destruction of the beasts, i.e. practised upon wild animals which, by their incursions, cause men to assemble against them, should crush the Ohaldean who had become as a ferocious beast (Pusey); or the destruction inflicted by the Obaldean on the wild beasts of· Lebanon and other districts by cutting down the wood thereof for military purposes or for state buildings, should return upon them with avenging fury (Keil). The same law of retribution obtains in the punishment of sinners generally (Matt. vii. 2). Learn: 1. The sin of drunkenness. 2. The greater sin of making others drunk. 3. The acme of sin, exulting in the moral overthrow of others. 4. 'l'he certainty that none of these acts of sin will go unpunished. 5. The fitness that this should be so.
Vera. 18, 19.-.A parable of woes : 5. Woe to the idolatrous I I. InoLATRY AN ABSURDITY. It must ever be so. The notion that any figure fashioned by man out of wood or stone, silver or gold, however carved or. gilded, can either be or represent the Infinite and Eternal One, carries the stamp of unreason on the face of it (Ps. cxv. 4-8; Isa. xliv. 19; Jer. x. 5). ·, II. lDoLATBY A FRAUD. Set up as gods, and worshipped as such, graven and molten images are a hideous imposition upon man's credulity, being (1) lifeless,-" There is no breath at all in the midst of them ; " (2) speechless,-the carved wood and graven stone are alike "dumb" (1 Cor. xii. 2), and only fools would say to them, "Arise, and te.ach ! " (3) truthless,-in so far as they can be supposed to impart instruction being veritable "teachers of lies; " and ( 4) valueless,~f no use or profit to any one on earth and beneath the sun (Jer. x. 5). IIL lDoLATRY A RUINATION. It brings with it a woe upon all who are deluded by it. It entails upon them God's curse (Deut. xxvii. 15) and endless sorrow (Ps. xvi. 4) and everlasting death (Rev. xxi. 8). LESSON. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 John v. 21).
Ver. 20.-The temple of Jehovah. I. THE HOLY TEMPLE. 1. ltiJ material dimen• CH, J[, 1-20,] THI~ BOOK OF HABAKKUK. 35
Bions. The universe. "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord" (Jer. xxiii. 24). "The Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples me.de with hands," but in that which his own hands have fashioned (Acts xvii. 24). He "filleth e.11 in all" (Eph. i. 23). 2. Its inner Bhrine. Heaven, the habitation of his holiness (Deut, xxvi. 16; !Ha. Ixiii. 15), his dwelling-place (1 Kings viii. 43; 2 Chron. vi. 33), the throne of his glory (Pe. xi. 4; faa. !xvi. 1), the flace of hie immediate presence (Ps. xvi. 11; xvii. 15), the abode of the redeemed (Pe. lxxiii. 24; Rev. iv. 4), his temple proper (Rev. vii. 15; xvi. 1). 3. Its distinctive designation. Holy, as being the temple of a holy God, which only the holy in spirit can enter, and in which holy services alone can be performed. II. 'l'rIE INDWELLING DEITY. 1. His name. Jehovah, the Self-existent and Immutable One. "I am that I am" (Exod. iii.14). 2. His attributes. Omnipresence, since he is in bis holy temple (Exod. xx. 24; Jer. xxiii. 24); omniscience, since all are before him (Ps. !xvi. 7; Prov. v. 21; xv. 3). 3. His character. Gracious, since he condescends to receive the homage of worshippers, and to hold communication and correspondence with them. III. THE SILENT WORSHIPPERS. 1. Their persons. " All the earth ; " i.e. all the inhabitants thereof. If all are not as yet (Ps. lxxiv. 20; 1 Cor. x. 20), all ou~bt to be (Exod. xx. 3; xxxiv. 14; Matt. iv. 10), and all one day will be (Ps. xxii. 27; Isa. xi. 9; eh. ii. 14; Rev. xv. 4) worshippers of the one living and true God. 2. Their attitude. "Before him "-in his presence, beneath bis eye, before his throne, at his foot- stool. God's worshippers should strive to realize the immediate presence of him whom they worship (P8. Ii. 11 ; xcv. 2 ; c. 2). 3. Their devotion. " Silence; " expressive of reverence before his majesty (Ps. lx:x::x:ix. 7), of submission beneath his authority (Ps. xxxi. 2), of trust in bis mercy (Ps. c:xxx. 5), of expectant waiting for his utter- ances whether of comma.ndment or promise (Ps. lxxxv. 8). Learn: 1. That the highest glory of the universe is God's presence in it. 2. That man's truest hope springs from the vicinity of God. 3. That the finest worship may at times be inaudible. 4. Tba.t God oftenest speaks to those who are waiting to hear him.