HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-Prayer and rproise. This chapter records the remarkable, "prayer" or "ode" of Habakk:uk. The superscription contained. in the first verse and a cursory glance at the chapter as thus described me.y be found suggestive of important teachings respecting the sacred exercises of prayer e.nd praise. Note- , ·- : L THE TEACHINGS CONCERNING PRAYER. 1. We do well to solicit present blessings. "In the midst of the years make known" (ver. 2); i.e. be sought the Divine manifes- tation in mercy to be granted to his people in his own day. .2. We should recount God's aoodness in the past. The prayer abounds in reminiscences of God's favour as bestow:d upon his chosen in the days of yore. 3. The comprehensive nature of prayer. This prayer of Habakk:uk contains (1) petition; (2) adoration; (3) devout contemplation of God in his character and works; (4) review of his providential doings; and, (5) pervadin~ the whole, the spiDit of confiding and joyous trust. . • II. THE TEACHINGS CONCERNO.G PRAISE. 1. The desirability of employing in this exercise the devout compositions of God's servaDts in past ages, which have been preserved in bis Word. 2. The appropriateness of the language of prayer as the medium of expressinl( praise to God. "'l'he prayers of David the son.of Jesse" are contained and expressed in his Psalms. " The. prayer of Habakkuk" 1s also "an ode" set to music, and used at his sugge£tion in the liturgical services of the temple. 3. The importance of cultivating correct musical expression in the presentation of the sacrifice of praise to God. The tones shoul~ be in ho.rmon;r ~ith the character of t~e thoughts and sentiments of the words bemg sung. This 1s probably the meamng of the ex1 ression, "upon Shigionoth" (ver. 1), 'al shigy6n6th meaning "in wandering rntasures "the tones to be varied according to the character of the thoughts and words. 'JLe: term'" Selab," used by him (vers. 3, 9, 13), and the direction," To the chief singer VD rny stringed iristrumeots," with which he closes his book, also indicate the careful- CIT. III. 1-Hl.] THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. fl3
ncss in execution the prophet would have exercised. All true worship to God must proceed from humble and trusting hearts, and be presented "in spirit and in truth" and this is perfectly compatible with regard for all that is cultured and artistic in method. Our motto should be," The best for the Lord."-S. D. H.
Ver. 2.-Prayer for revival. The revival of God's work stands intimately connected with prayer. '!'be Holy Spirit is the Author of all true quickening of the Divine life in the souls of men, and his renewing and Ranctifying influences are secured in response to earnest supplication (Ezek. xxxvi. 37; Mai. iii. 10; Acts i. 14; ii. 1). "It is visionary to expect an unusual success in the human administration of religion ucless there were unusual omens. Now, an emphatic spirit of prayer would be such an omen. And if the whole or greater number of the disciples of Christianity were, with an earnest unfailing resolution of each, to combine that Heaven should not withhold one single influence which the very utmost effort of conspiring and persevering supplication would obtain, it would be the sign of a revolution of the world being at hand" (John Foster). Observe- I. PRAYER FOR REVIVAL mvoLVES AN INTELLIGENT APPREHENSION OF THE STATE OF THE AGE, AND THE CHURCH IN THE AGE, m WHICH IT IS OFFERED. The language of the prophet in the former part of his prophecy indicates the possession by him of al). insight into the character and needs both of the Hebrew nation and Church in his day; and this acquaintance prepared his mind and heart for pleading so earnestly for a revival of God's work. Our own age and the state of religion in it claims our thoughtful regard; Reflection upon it will show the imperative need there is for the possession of a higher measure of spirituality, consecration, Christian intelligence and courage, and will impel the utterance of the earnest cry, "0 Lord, revive thy work" (ver. 2). !I. PRAYER FOR REVIVAL WILL BE PROMPTED RY ANXIOUS CONCERN IX VJI::W OF THE EVIL CONSEQUEN0ES RESULTING FROM THE PREVAILING DEGENERACY. "0 Lord," cried the prophet, "I have heard thy speech, and I was afraid." Jehovah had spoken unto him in vision, unfolding the terrible judgments which shonld overta.ke his people ir1 consequence of their apostasy, and this vision of coming Divine chastisement filled him with terror; and with the real concern of a true patriot in view of the disastrous issue to which, through the prevailing iniquity, the national interests were tending, he implored Divine interposition and help (" 0 Lord, revive," etc.). The Christian patriot in our own land has rea.son for anxious solicitude as he views the present in its relation to the future. He knows that there is danger lest the temporal prospr~rity enjoyed in this age should result in the cherishing of pride, in conformity to the world, and in apathy in holy service; and lest the. intellectual activity prevailing should lead to the weakening of conviction, the cherishing of doubt, and resulting in complete indifference in relation to spiritual rrnlities. All this occasions him serious concern, which is intensi6ed as he beholds multitudes in whom these dire effects have been already wrought ; and in this spirit of solicitude he is led to the throne of grace, a.nd to cry with impassioned earnestness, "0 Lord, revive thy work." III. PRAYER FOR REVIVAL IS EVER DIRECTED TO THE SE0URING OF SPIRITUAL RESULTS. "In wrath remember mercy" (ver. 2). The seer know by revelation that his nation, owing to its sinfulness, should be overtaken by judgment, and should fall into the power of the Chaldeans; and in his prayer he did not ask for the reversal of this. Divine wrath must follow transgression, but he prayed that in the midst of this God would" remember mercy," in other words, that he would so interpose as to sanctify the dark experiences looming in the future, drawing his erring people nearer to himself, so that they might trustfully pass through the painful discipline in store for them, and come out of it at length purified as gold. And so ever true prayer for revival seeks the spiritual renewal of men; it solicits the maniiestation of the Divine mercy in delivering the plants of his own planting from the blighting effects of sin, and iu ea.using them to abound in e.11 holy excellence and grace. IV. PRAYER FOR REVIVAL IS IMPATIENT OF DELAY. It seeks a present blessing. "In the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known" (ver. 2); i.e. without lingering, without postponement, forthwith, in the seer's own time. "How long, 0 Lord, how long?" "Thy kingdom come;" " It is time for thee to work."-S. D. H. THE BOOK OF HA13AKKUK. [OH, III, 1-19,