The Pulpit Commentary — Habakkuk — Section 41

however, use this expres~ion of the Prophet Habakkuk in a somewhat different sense from that in which he employed it, and apply it to the exposition and enforcement of the important doctrine of "justification hy faith." The thought possessing the mirnl o! the seer wo.s that the righteous man exercises an implicit confidence in God; and adopting this course is preserved and protected, and experiences tranquillity and ho.ppiness under every circumstance of life. In reflecting upon his words our attention may appropriately be clirectetl to some of the circumstances in which "the just" may be placed, with a view to indicating bow that, under these, their faith in God strengthens and sustains them, and enables them truly to live. I. "The just shall live by their faith" in times of DECLENSION IN RELIGION. Such declensign prevailed in the age to which this prophet belonged. The mournful words with which his prophecy commences indicate this (eh. i. 2-4). Many similar times of declension have risen among the nations, and when the falling away from the true and the right has been widespread. So also has it been with Christian communities. Watchfulness has been neglected, and prayer has been restrained; there bas been a lack of the spirit of Christian unity and concord ; there bas been the fire upon the altar, but, alas! it bas been in em hers; the lamp has been burning, but it has given only a flicker- ing light. "The just,'' under such circumstance~, are grieved as they view the state of religion around them, but whilst sad at heart in view of such declension and of the way in which it dishonours God, they are also inspired with confidence and hope. Their trust is in him. They know that with him is "the residue of the Spirit." Whilst praying the prayer of this prophet, "0 Lord, revive thy work" (eh.iii. 2), they can also, like him, express this confident assurance, "For the earth sha.11 be filled," etc. (oh. ii. 14). And so it comes to pass that in the sea.son of declension in religion, when many a.round ha.ve lost the fervour of their love and loyalty to God a.nd to righteous- ness, " the just shall live by his faith." II. "The just shall live by their faith" in times of NATIONAL CALAMITY. Chastise- ment follows transgressions to na.tions as well as to individuals. Juda.h had wa.ndered from God, and, lo I he permitted them to fall into the ha.nds of tl,,e Chaldeans ; and it wa.s the mission of Habakkuk to foretell the a.pproa.ching Captivity. Na.tional cala.mities have been experienced by our own people. Sometimes it has come to us in the form of war. The appeal has been made to the arbitra.ment of the sword; and even although we have been victorious, the triumph has been secured a.t a.n enormous ea.orifice of life, with all the bitter suffering to survivors thus involved. Or pestilence has prevailed. The destroying a.ngel has swept over the land, sparing neither the old nor the young, a.nd numbering thousands a.mong bis victims. And in the midst of these faith grasps the rich promises of God a.nd rests unswervingly on him. Let the Chaldean warriors come on horses swifter than the leopards and more fierce than the evening wolves, let them in bitterness and haste traverse the breadth of the land, resolved to possess the dwelling-places that are not theirs, let them scoff a.t kings and scorn princes and gather the captivity as the sand, still the hearts of the faithful shall be upborne, for in the time of national calamity, and when hea.rts uncentred from God 11re breaking, "the just shall live by his faith." !II. LEAVING THE EXAOT CONNECTION OF THE TEXT, THE TRUTH CONTArnED IN IT RECEIVES ILLUSTRATION FROM THE VARIED CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE GOOD ARE PLAOED HERE. Take the two extremes of prosperity and adversity. 1. Sume enjoy grea.t temporal prosperity. The tempta.tions of such are (1) pride, (2) worldliness, (3) indolence, (4) selfishness, and yielding to which they lack those higher joys and nobler aspirations in which consists the true life. Walking by faith, the good man is preserved from yielding to the influence of these temptations. Strong in faith, he will see tha.t a.ll his prosperity is to be ascribed to him who giveth power to get wealth, a.nu thus pride will be laid low. Strong in faith, he will realize that there are other treasures, incorruptible and unrading, and with mind and heart directed to the seeming of these, he will think less of this world's pomp and vanity and show. Strong inj,iith, he will feel that he has a work to do for God, and that the additional intlucnce prosperity has secured to him ought to be held as a sacred trust to be used to Go,l'~ glory, and hence he will be preserved from seeking merely his own ease and enjoy?leut. And strong in faith, he will view himself as II steward of all that he bll.s, aml will therefore seek to be God's almoner to the needy around him. So shall he li\·e \,y Iii~ 38 'l'HE BOOK OF. HABAKKUK. [on. n. 1-20,