按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ure； He would miraculously shape the affairs of the ruling nations of earth and bring the Babylonians into the ascendancy。 These Chaldeans； 〃terrible and dreadful；〃 were to fall suddenly upon the land of Judah as a divinely
386
appointed scourge。 Verse 7。 The princes of Judah and the fairest of the people were to be carried captive to Babylon； the Judean cities and villages and the cultivated fields were to be laid waste； nothing was to be spared。
Confident that even in this terrible judgment the purpose of God for His people would in some way be fulfilled； Habakkuk bowed in submission to the revealed will of Jehovah。 〃Art Thou not from everlasting； O Lord my God； mine Holy One？〃 he exclaimed。 And then； his faith reaching out beyond the forbidding prospect of the immediate future； and laying fast hold on the precious promises that reveal God's love for His trusting children； the prophet added； 〃We shall not die。〃 Verse 12。 With this declaration of faith he rested his case； and that of every believing Israelite； in the hands of a compassionate God。
This was not Habakkuk's only experience in the exercise of strong faith。 On one occasion； when meditating concerning the future； he said； 〃I will stand upon my watch； and set me upon the tower； and will watch to see what He will say unto me。〃 Graciously the Lord answered him： 〃Write the vision； and make it plain upon tables； that he may run that readeth it。 For the vision is yet for an appointed time； but at the end it shall speak； and not lie： though it tarry； wait for it； because it will surely come； it will not tarry。 Behold； his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him： but the just shall live by his faith。〃 Habakkuk 2：1…4。
The faith that strengthened Habakkuk and all the holy and the just in those days of deep trial was the same faith that sustains God's people today。 In the darkest hours； under circumstances the most forbidding； the Christian believer
387
may keep his soul stayed upon the source of all light and power。 Day by day； through faith in God； his hope and courage may be renewed。 〃The just shall live by his faith。〃 In the service of God there need be no despondency； no wavering； no fear。 The Lord will more than fulfill the highest expectations of those who put their trust in Him。 He will give them the wisdom their varied necessities demand。
Of the abundant provision made for every tempted soul； the apostle Paul bears eloquent testimony。 To him was given the divine assurance； 〃My grace is sufficient for thee： for My strength is made perfect in weakness。〃 In gratitude and confidence the tried servant of God responded： 〃Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities； that the power of Christ may rest upon me。 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities； in reproaches； in necessities； in persecutions； in distresses for Christ's sake： for when I am weak； them am I strong。〃 2 Corinthians 12：9； 10。
We must cherish and cultivate the faith of which prophets and apostles have testifiedthe faith that lays hold on the promises of God and waits for deliverance in His appointed time and way。 The sure word of prophecy will meet its final fulfillment in the glorious advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ； as King of kings and Lord of lords。 The time of waiting may seem long； the soul may be oppressed by discouraging circumstances； many in whom confidence has been placed may fall by the way； but with the prophet who endeavored to encourage Judah in a time of unparalleled apostasy； let us confidently declare； 〃The Lord is in His holy temple： let all the earth keep silence
388
before Him。〃 Habakkuk 2：20。 Let us ever hold in remembrance the cheering message； 〃The vision is yet for an appointed time； but at the end it shall speak； and not lie： though it tarry； wait for it； because it will surely come； it will not tarry。 。 。 。 The just shall live by his faith。〃 Verses 3； 4。 〃O Lord； revive Thy work in the midst of the years； In the midst of the years make known； In wrath remember mercy。
〃God came from Teman； And the Holy One from Mount Paran。 His glory covered the heavens； And the earth was full of His praise。 And His brightness was as the light； He had bright beams out of His side： And there was the hiding of His power。 Before Him went the pestilence； And burning coals went forth at His feet。 He stood； and measured the earth： He beheld； and drove asunder the nations； And the everlasting mountains were scattered； The perpetual hills did bow： His ways are everlasting。〃
〃Thou wentest forth for the salvation of Thy people； Even for salvation with Thine anointed。〃
〃Although the fig tree shall not blossom； Neither shall fruit be in the vines； The labor of the olive shall fail； And the fields shall yield no meat； The flock shall be cut off from the fold； And there shall be no herd in the stalls： Yet I will rejoice in the Lord； I will joy in the God of my salvation。 The Lord God is my strength。〃 Habakkuk 3：2…6； 13； 17…19； margin。
389
Habakkuk was not the only one through whom was given a message of bright hope and of future triumph as well as of present judgment。 During the reign of Josiah the word of the Lord came to Zephaniah； specifying plainly the results of continued apostasy； and calling the attention of the true church to the glorious prospect beyond。 His prophecies of impending judgment upon Judah apply with equal force to the judgments that are to fall upon an impenitent world at the time of the second advent of Christ：
390
〃The great day of the Lord is near； It is near； and hasteth greatly； Even the voice of the day of the Lord： The mighty man shall cry there bitterly。
〃That day is a day of wrath； A day of trouble and distress； A day of wasteness and desolation； A day of darkness and gloominess；
〃A day of clouds and thick darkness； A day of the trumpet and alarm Against the fenced cities； And against the high towers。〃 Zephaniah 1：14…16。
〃I will bring distress upon men； that they shall walk like blind men； because they have sinned against the Lord： and their blood shall be poured out as dust。 。 。 。 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath： but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy： for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land。〃 Verses 17； 18。
〃Gather yourselves together； yea； gather together； O nation not desired； Before the decree bring forth； Before the day pass as the chaff； Before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you； Before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you。
〃Seek ye the Lord； all ye meek of the earth； Which have wrought His judgment； Seek righteousness； Seek meekness： It may be ye shall be hid In the day of the Lord's anger。〃 Zephaniah 2：1…3。
391
〃Behold； at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee： and I will save her that halteth； and gather her that was driven away； and I will make them a praise and a name； whose shame hath been in all the earth。 At that time will I bring you in； and at that time will I gather you： for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth； when I bring again your captivity before your eyes； saith the Lord。〃 Zephaniah 3：19； 20； R。V。
〃Sing； O daughter of Zion； shout； O Israel； Be glad and rejoice with all the heart； O daughter of Jerusalem。 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments； He hath cast out thine enemy： The King of Israel； even the Lord； Is in the midst of thee： Thou shalt not see evil any more。
〃In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem； Fear thou not： And to Zion； Let not thine hands be slack。 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee Is mighty； He will save； He will rejoice over thee with joy； He will rest in His love； He will joy over thee with singing。〃 Verses 14…17。
（392）
Chapter 33
The Book of the Law
The silent yet powerful influences set in operation by the messages of the prophets regarding the Babylonian Captivity did much to prepare the way for a reformation that took place in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign。 This reform movement； by which threatened judgments were averted for a season； was brought about in a wholly unexpected manner through the discovery and study of a portion of Holy Scripture that for many years had been strangely misplaced and l