The Pulpit Commentary — Habakkuk — Section 69

is in this way that he makes his power felt; that he indicates his· superiority to man and his independence of him (IS&. xl. 13, 14). (3) That whilst much is thus concealed, everything essential to ma.n's salvation is clearly unfolded. Ill. GoD SOMETIMES CAUSES LIGHT TO FALL UPON BIS BIDDEN WAYS AND REVEALS HIMSELF AlID ms OPERATIONS MORE FULLY TO THE VIEW. 1. It has been BO in reference to the l'lacred Scriptures. During the lapse of ages God gradually drew back the veil, revealing more of his will than had been unfolded before. 2. It has been so in the working out of the purpose of redeeming mercy. In the cross of Christ there was expressed the power as well as the wisdom of God; but there was the hiding of this Divine power. The spectators of the scene a.t Calvary sa.w only the weakness, and the cross was suggestive to them of shame and reproach and dishonour; but there was power there, although hidden, which soon began to be felt, one of the criminals crucified at the side of the Saviour being the first to experience it. The macerated body of the Redeemer was taken down from the cross, and laid in the sepulchre hewn out of the rock; and again there was the hiding of God's power, and it seemed as though death had conquered; but with the dawn of the first day of the week this power became revealed-the mighty Victor rose, despite seal and guard, the earnest'and pledge of the ultimate resurrection of all his saints. 3. And it has been so in human experience. In the dark days of sorrow there has been realized "the hiding of God's power ; " but there has followed the revelation of his loving purpose and the making clear to troubled hearts that in all" his banner over them was love." And this shall be made still more manifest hereafter, for the eternal day shall break, and the shadows flee away for ever !-S. D. H. Vers.17, 18.-"Songs in the night.n The thought underlying these intensely human words is that of holy and triumphant joy manifesting itself on occasions when in the ordinary conrse of things the very opposite experience might naturally have been expected. The writer was under the elevating influence of sincere piety, and his rapturous outburst sets forth the truth that true religion excites within its recipients such thoughts, inspires within them such emotions, and imparts to them such con- fidence, as to enable them, even when all is adverse in their experience, to rejoice and shout a.loud for joy. These songsters can break forth in song, not only in fair weather, when the sun is shining and the sky is clear and blue, and when all nature is full of exhila.ration, but also when the sun is withdrawn, and when no rift can be traced in the dark clouds. L THE GOOD IN cIRCU14STANCEs OF EXTREMITY. 1. The language .employed is figurative, and strikingly suggests to us circumstances of the deepest human need. The fruit of the fig tree was an extensive article both of food and commerce. The vine was diliaently cultivated from the earliest times, and, with its rich clusters of grapes and its ;efreshing shade, became a very appropriate symbol of prosperity; whilst the olive, living from age to age, and yielding an abundant supply of oil, was also typical of abundance. Hence the failure of all these indicates the deepest affliction, the direst calamity (Ps. cv. 33), and the picture of desolation is rendered still more complete when, in addition to these, the bread-corn is represented as ceasing, and the flocks and herds as being cut off (ver. 17). 2. These adverse circumstances befell the nation, and, as the result of the Chaldean invasion, the direst woes had to be experienced. 3. The children of men still have to pass through such dark sea.sons. There is extremity arising from (1) temporal want occasioned by reverses in circumstances; (2) slander, charges having no foundation in truth, being made and resulting in mistrust and alienation; (3) mental depression, the strongiman being brought down to the weakness of iohe child, the sturdy oak becoming feebler than the bruised reed; (4) bereaYement, home being rendered "desolate as birds' nests, when the fledglings ·have all flown." IL THE G-OOD, Cl.RCUMSTANCED THUS, STAYING THEMSELVES UPON Goo, AND ON HIM AS WORKING IN ALL FOR THEIR SALVATION. "In God," "the God of my salvation" (ver. 18). The thought which appears specially to have been present to the mind of the prophet was that of adversity as being God's loving discipline to result in the. perfecting of the tried, and resulting in their salvation: "the God of my salvation." A picture called" Cloud.land," by a German pa.inter, viewed at a distance appears a mass of gloom and cloud, but on closer inspection every cloud is an angel  CH, III, 1-10,] THE BOOK OF llABAKKUK. 67