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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC35002.HTM">Previous</A>]
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>H A B A K K U K.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Still the correspondence is kept up between God and his prophet. In the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+1:1-17">first chapter</A>
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he spoke to God, then God to him, and then he to God again; in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:1-20">second chapter</A>
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God spoke wholly to him by the Spirit of prophecy; now, in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:1-19">this chapter</A>,
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he speaks wholly to God by the Spirit of prayer, for he would not let
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the intercourse drop on his side, like a genuine son of Abraham, who
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"returned not to his place until God had left communing with him."
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+18:33">Gen. xviii. 33</A>.
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The prophet's prayer, in this chapter, is in imitation of David's
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psalms, for it is directed "to the chief musician," and is set to
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musical instruments. The prayer is left upon record for the use of the
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church, and particularly of the Jews in their captivity, while they
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were waiting for their deliverance, promised by the vision in the
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foregoing chapter.
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I. He earnestly begs of God to relieve and succour his people in
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affliction, to hasten their deliverance, and to comfort them in the
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mean time,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:1">ver. 2</A>.
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II. He calls to mind the experiences which the church formerly had of
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God's glorious and gracious appearances on her behalf, when he brought
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Israel out of Egypt through the wilderness to Canaan, and there many a
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time wrought wonderful deliverances for them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:3-15">ver. 3-15</A>.
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III. He affects himself with a holy concern for the present troubles of
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the church, but encourages himself and others to hope that the issue
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will be comfortable and glorious at last, though all visible means fail,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:16-19">ver. 16-19</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Hab3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Prophet's Prayer.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 600.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
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2 O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, I have heard thy speech, <I>and</I> was afraid: O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the
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years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This chapter is entitled <I>a prayer of Habakkuk.</I> It is a
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meditation with himself, an intercession for the church. Prophets were
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praying men; this prophet was so (<I>He is a prophet, and he shall pray
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for thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+20:7">Gen. xx. 7</A>);
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and sometimes they prayed for even those whom they prophesied against.
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Those that were intimately acquainted with the mind of God concerning
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future events knew better than others how to order their prayers, and
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what to pray for, and, in the foresight of troublous times, could lay
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up a stock of prayers that might then receive a gracious answer, and so
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be serving the church by their prayers when their prophesying was over.
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This prophet had found God ready to answer his requests and complaints
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before, and therefore now repeats his applications to him. Because
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<I>God has inclined his ear to us,</I> we must resolve that
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<I>therefore we</I> will <I>call upon him as long as we live.</I>
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1. The prophet owns the receipt of God's answer to his former
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representation, and the impression it made upon him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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"<I>O Lord! I have heard thy speech, thy hearing</I>" (so some read
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it), "that which thou wouldst have us hear, the decree that has gone
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forth for the afflicting of thy people. <I>I received thine,</I> and it
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is before me." Note, Those that would rightly order their speech to God
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must carefully observe, and lay before them, his speech to them. He
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had said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:1"><I>ch.</I> ii. 1</A>),
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<I>I will watch to see what he will say;</I> and now he owns, <I>Lord,
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I have heard thy speech;</I> for, if we turn a deaf ear to God's word,
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we can expect no other than that he should turn a deaf ear to our
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prayers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+28:9">Prov. xxviii. 9</A>.
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I heard it, <I>and was afraid.</I> Messages immediately from heaven
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commonly struck even the best and boldest men into a consternation;
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Moses, Isaiah, and Daniel, did <I>exceedingly fear and quake.</I> But,
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besides that, the matter of this message made the prophet afraid, when
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he heard how low the people of God should be brought, under the
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oppressing power of the Chaldeans, and how long they should continue
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under it; he was afraid lest their spirits should quite fail, and lest
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the church should be utterly rooted out and run down, and, being kept
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low so long, should be lost at length.
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2. He earnestly prays that <I>for the elect's sake</I> these <I>days of
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trouble</I> might be <I>shortened,</I> or the trouble of these days
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mitigated and moderated, or the people of God supported and comforted
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under it. He thinks it very long to wait till the <I>end of the
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years;</I> perhaps he refers to the seventy years fixed for the
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continuance of the captivity, and therefore, "Lord," says he, "do
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something on our behalf <I>in the midst of the years,</I> those years
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of our distress; though we be not delivered, and our oppressors
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destroyed, yet let us not be abandoned and cast off."
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(1.) "Do something for thy own cause: <I>Revive thy work,</I> thy
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church" (that is the <I>work of God's own hand,</I> formed by him,
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formed for him); "<I>revive</I> that, even when it <I>walks in the
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midst of trouble,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+138:7,8">Ps. cxxxviii. 7, 8</A>.
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Grant thy people <I>a little reviving in their bondage,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ezr+9:8,Ps+85:6">Ezra ix. 8; Ps. lxxxv. 6</A>.
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<I>Preserve alive thy work</I>" (so some read it); "though thy church
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be chastened, let it not be killed; though it have not its liberty, yet
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continue its life, save a remnant alive, to be a seed of another
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generation. <I>Revive the work of thy grace</I> in us, by sanctifying
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the trouble to us and supporting us under it, though the time be not
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yet come, <I>even the set time,</I> for our deliverance out of it.
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Whatever becomes of us, though we be as dead and dry bones, Lord, let
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<I>thy work be revived,</I> let not that sink, and go back, and come to
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nothing."
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(2.) "Do something for thy own honour: <I>In the midst of the years
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make known,</I> make thyself known, for now <I>verily thou art a God
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that hidest thyself</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+45:15">Isa. xlv. 15</A>),
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make known thy power, thy pity, thy promise, thy providence, in the
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government of the world, for the safety and welfare of thy church.
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Though we be buried in obscurity, yet, Lord, make thyself known;
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whatever becomes of Israel, let not the God of Israel be forgotten in
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the world, but discover himself even in the midst of the dark years,
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before thou art expected to appear." When <I>in the midst of the
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years</I> of the captivity God miraculously owned the three children in
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the fiery furnace, and humbled Nebuchadnezzar, this prayer was
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answered, <I>In the midst of the years make known.</I>
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(3.) "Do something for thy people's comfort: <I>In wrath remember
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mercy,</I> and <I>make that known. Show us thy mercy, O Lord!</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+85:7">Ps. lxxxv. 7</A>.
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They see God's displeasure against them in their troubles, and that
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makes them grievous indeed. There is wrath in the bitter cup; that
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therefore they deprecate, and are earnest in begging that he is a
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merciful God and they are vessels of his mercy. Note, Even those that
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are under the tokens of God's wrath must not despair of his mercy; and
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mercy, mere mercy, is that which we must flee to for refuge, and rely
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upon as our only plea. He does not say, Remember our merit, but, Lord,
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<I>remember thy own mercy.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Hab3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Hab3_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Divine Majesty; Wonders Wrought for Israel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 600.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran.
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Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of
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his praise.
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4 And <I>his</I> brightness was as the light; he had horns <I>coming</I>
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out of his hand: and there <I>was</I> the hiding of his power.
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5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth
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at his feet.
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6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove
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asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were
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scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways <I>are</I>
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everlasting.
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7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: <I>and</I> the curtains
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of the land of Midian did tremble.
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8 Was the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> displeased against the rivers? <I>was</I> thine anger
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against the rivers? <I>was</I> thy wrath against the sea, that thou
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didst ride upon thine horses <I>and</I> thy chariots of salvation?
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9 Thy bow was made quite naked, <I>according</I> to the oaths of the
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tribes, <I>even thy</I> word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with
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rivers.
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10 The mountains saw thee, <I>and</I> they trembled: the overflowing
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of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, <I>and</I> lifted
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up his hands on high.
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11 The sun <I>and</I> moon stood still in their habitation: at the
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light of thine arrows they went, <I>and</I> at the shining of thy
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glittering spear.
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12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst
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thresh the heathen in anger.
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13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, <I>even</I>
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for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of
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the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the
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neck. Selah.
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14 Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his
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villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their
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rejoicing <I>was</I> as to devour the poor secretly.
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15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, <I>through</I>
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the heap of great waters.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It has been the usual practice of God's people, when they have been in
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distress and ready to fall into despair, to help themselves by
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recollecting their experiences, and reviving them, <I>considering the
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days of old,</I> and <I>the years of ancient times</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+77:5">Ps. lxxvii. 5</A>),
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and pleading with God in prayer, as he is pleased sometimes to plead
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them with himself.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:11">Isa. lxiii. 11</A>,
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<I>Then he remembered the days of old.</I> This is that which the
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prophet does here, and he looks as far back as the first forming of
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them into a people, when they were brought by miracles out of Egypt,
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<I>a house of bondage,</I> through the wilderness, <I>a land of
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drought,</I> into Canaan, then possessed by <I>mighty nations.</I> He
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that thus brought them at first into Canaan, through so much
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difficulty, can now bring them thither again out of Babylon, how great
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soever the difficulties are that lie in the way. Those works of
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wonder, wrought of old, are here most magnificently described, for the
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greater encouragement to the faith of God's people in their present
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straits.</P>
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<P>
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I. God appeared in his glory, so as he never did before or since
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>):
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<I>He came from Teman, even the Holy One from Mount Paran.</I> This
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refers to the visible display of the glory of God when he gave the law
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upon Mount Sinai, as appears by
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:2">Deut. xxxiii. 2</A>
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whence these expressions are borrowed. Then <I>the Lord came down</I>
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upon Mount Sinai in a cloud
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+19:20">Exod. xix. 20</A>)
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and his glory was <I>as the devouring fire,</I> not only to enforce the
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law he then gave them, but to avow the deliverance he had wrought for
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them and to magnify it; for the first word he said there was, "<I>I am
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the Lord thy God, that brought thee out of the land of Egypt.</I> I
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that appear in this glory am the author of that work." Then <I>his
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glory covered the heavens,</I> which shone with the reflection of that
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glorious appearance of his; the <I>earth also</I> was <I>full of his
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praise,</I> or of his <I>splendour,</I> as some read it. People at a
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distance saw the cloud and fire on the top of Mount Sinai, and praised
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the God of Israel. Or the earth was full of those works of God which
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were to be praised. <I>His brightness was as the light,</I> as the
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light of the sun when he goes forth in his strength; <I>he had
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horns,</I> or <I>bright beams</I> (so it should be rendered), <I>coming
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out of his side</I> or <I>hand.</I> Rays of glory were darted forth
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around him; and with some rays borrowed thence it was that Moses's face
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shone when he <I>came down from</I> that <I>mount</I> of glory. Some by
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the horns, the <I>two horns</I> (for the word is dual), <I>coming out
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of his hand,</I> understand the <I>two tables of the law,</I> which
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perhaps, when God delivered them to Moses, though they were tables of
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stone, had a glory round them; those books were gilt with beams, and so
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it agrees with
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:2">Deut. xxxiii. 2</A>,
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<I>From his right hand went a fiery law for them.</I> It is added,
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<I>And there was the hiding of his power;</I> there was his hidden
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power, in the rays that came out of his hand. The operations of his
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power, compared with what he could have done, were rather the hiding of
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it than the discovery of it; the secrets of his power, as well as of
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his wisdom, are <I>double to that which is,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+11:6">Job xi. 6</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. God sent plagues on Egypt, for the humbling of proud Pharaoh, and
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the obliging of him to let the people go
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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<I>Before him went the pestilence,</I> which slew all the first-born of
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Egypt in one night; and <I>burning coals went forth at his feet,</I>
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when, in the plague of hail, there was <I>fire mingled with
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hail--burning diseases</I> (so the margin reads it), some think those
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that wasted Egypt, others those with which the number of the Canaanites
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was diminished before Israel was brought in up on them. These were
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<I>at his feet,</I> that is, at his coming, for they are at his
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command; he says to them, Go, and they go, Come, and they come, Do
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this, and they do it.</P>
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<P>
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III. He divided the land of Canaan to his people Israel, and expelled
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the heathen from before them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>He stood, and measured the earth,</I> measured that land, to assign
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it for an inheritance to Israel his people,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:8,9">Deut. xxxii. 8, 9</A>.
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<I>He beheld, and drove asunder the nations</I> that were in possession
|
|
of it; though they combined together against Israel, God dispersed and
|
|
discomfited them before Israel. Or he exerted such a mighty power as
|
|
was enough to shake in pieces all the nations of the earth. Then
|
|
<I>the everlasting mountains were scattered, and the perpetual hills
|
|
did bow;</I> the mighty princes and potentates of Canaan, that seemed
|
|
as high, as strong, and as firmly fixed, as the mountains and hills,
|
|
were broken to pieces; they and their kingdoms were totally subdued. Or
|
|
the power of God was so exerted as to shake the mountains and hills;
|
|
nay, and Sinai did tremble, and the adjacent hills; see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:7,8">Ps. lxviii. 7, 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
To this he adds, <I>His ways are everlasting,</I> that is, all the
|
|
motions of his providence are according to his eternal counsels; and he
|
|
is the same for ever, that which he was yesterday and to-day. His
|
|
covenant is unchangeable, and <I>his mercy endures for ever.</I> When
|
|
he <I>drove asunder the nations of Canaan</I> one might have seen the
|
|
<I>tents of Cushan in affliction, the curtains of the land of Midian
|
|
trembling,</I> and all the inhabitants of the neighbouring countries
|
|
taking the alarm; and though they were not in the commission given to
|
|
Israel to destroy, nor their land within the warrant given to Israel to
|
|
possess, yet they thought their own house in danger when their
|
|
neighbour's house was on fire, and therefore they were in a great
|
|
fright,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Balak the king of Moab was so,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+22:3,4">Num. xxii. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some make the tents of Cushan to be in affliction when, in the days of
|
|
judge Othniel, God delivered Cushan-rishathaim into his hand
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+3:8">Judg. iii. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
and the <I>curtains of the land of Midian to tremble</I> when, in the
|
|
days of judge Gideon, a barley cake, in a dream, overthrew the tent of
|
|
Midian,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+7:13">Judg. vii. 13</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. He divided the Red Sea and Jordan, when they stood in the way of
|
|
Israel's progress, and yet fetched a river out of a rock when Israel
|
|
wanted it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
One would have thought that God was <I>displeased with the rivers,</I>
|
|
and that <I>his wrath</I> was <I>against the sea,</I> for he made them
|
|
give way and flee before him when he <I>rode upon his horses and
|
|
chariots of salvation,</I> as a general at the head of his forces,
|
|
mighty to save. Note, God's chariots are not so much chariots of state
|
|
to himself as chariots of salvation to his people; it is his glory to
|
|
be Israel's Saviour. This seems to be referred to again
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Thou didst walk through the sea,</I> through the Red Sea, <I>with
|
|
thy horses,</I> in the pillar of cloud and fire (that was his chariot
|
|
drawn by angels); thus thou didst walk secure, and so as to accommodate
|
|
thyself to the slow pace that Israel could go, as Jacob tenderly drove,
|
|
in consideration of his children and cattle: <I>Thou didst walk through
|
|
the heap,</I> or mud, <I>of great waters;</I> and Israel likewise was
|
|
led <I>through the deep as a horse through the wilderness,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+63:13,14">Isa. lxiii. 13, 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
When they came to enter Canaan the <I>overflowing of the water passed
|
|
by,</I> that is, Jordan, which at that time overflowed all his banks,
|
|
was divided,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:15">Jos. iii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, When the difficulties in the way of perfecting the salvation of
|
|
Israel seem most insuperable, when they rise to the height, and
|
|
overflow, yet then God can put them by, break through them, and get
|
|
over them. Then <I>the deep uttered his voice,</I> when, the Red Sea
|
|
and Jordan being divided, the waters roared and made a noise, as if
|
|
they were sensible of the restraint they were under from proceeding in
|
|
their natural course, and complained of it. They <I>lifted up their
|
|
hands,</I> or sides, <I>on high</I> (for the waters <I>stood up on a
|
|
heap,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+3:16">Jos. iii. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
as if they would have made opposition to the orders given them. They
|
|
<I>lifted up their voice, lifted up their waves;</I> but in vain.
|
|
<I>The Lord on high was mightier than they,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+93:3,4">Ps. xciii. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
With the dividing of the sea and Jordan, notice is again taken of the
|
|
trembling of the mountains, as if the stop given to the waters gave a
|
|
shock to the adjacent hills; they are put together,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+114:3,4">Ps. cxiv. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
When <I>the sea saw it and fled,</I> and <I>Jordan was driven back, the
|
|
mountains skipped like rams and the little hills like lambs.</I> The
|
|
whole creation yielded; earth and waters trembled <I>at the presence of
|
|
the Lord, at the presence of the mighty God of Jacob.</I> But (as Mr.
|
|
Cowley paraphrases it)</P>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<TABLE BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD>Fly where thou wilt, thou sea; and, Jordan's current, cease.
|
|
<BR> Jordan, there is no need of thee;
|
|
<BR> For at God's word, whene'er he please,
|
|
<BR>The rocks shall weep new waters forth instead of these.</TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
So here, <I>Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers;</I> channels were
|
|
made in the wilderness, such as seemed to cleave the earth, for the
|
|
waters to run in, which issued out of the rock, to supply the camp of
|
|
Israel, and which followed them in all their removes. Note, The God of
|
|
nature can alter and control the powers of nature, which way he
|
|
pleases, can turn waters into crystal rocks and rocks into crystal
|
|
streams.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. He arrested the motion of the sun and moon, to befriend and complete
|
|
Israel's victories
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The sun and moon stood still</I> at the prayer of Joshua, that the
|
|
Canaanites might not have the benefit of the night to favour their
|
|
escape; they <I>stood still in their habitation</I> in the heaven
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+19:4">Ps. xix. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
but with an eye to Gibeon and the <I>valley of Ajalon,</I> where God's
|
|
work was in the doing, and of which they, though at so vast a distance,
|
|
attended the motions. <I>At the light,</I> at the direction, <I>of thy
|
|
arrows, they went,</I> and at <I>the shining of thy glittering
|
|
spear;</I> they followed Israel's arms, to favour them; according to
|
|
the intimation of the arrows God shot (as Jonathan's arrows,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+20:20">1 Sam. xx. 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
and which way soever his spear pointed (the glittering light of which
|
|
they acknowledged to outshine theirs) that way they directed their
|
|
influences, benign to Israel and malignant against their enemies, as
|
|
when <I>the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.</I> Note, The
|
|
heavenly bodies, as well as earth and seas, are at God's command, and,
|
|
when he pleases, at Israel's service too.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. He carried on and completed Israel's victories over the nations of
|
|
Canaan and their kings; he <I>slew great kings</I> and <I>famous,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+136:17,18">Ps. cxxxvi. 17, 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is largely insisted upon here, as a proper plea with God to
|
|
enforce the present petition, that he would restore them again to that
|
|
land which they were, at the expense of so many lives, so many
|
|
miracles, first put in possession of.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Many expressions are here used to set forth the conquest of Canaan.
|
|
|
|
(1.) God's <I>bow was made quite naked,</I> taken out of the case, to
|
|
be employed for Israel; we should say, his <I>sword was quite
|
|
unsheathed,</I> not drawn out a little way, to frighten the enemy, and
|
|
then put up again, but quite drawn out, not to be returned till they
|
|
are all cut off.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He <I>marched through the land</I> from end to end, <I>in
|
|
indignation,</I> as scorning to let that wicked generation of
|
|
Canaanites any longer possess so good a land. He marched <I>cum
|
|
fastidio--with distaste</I> (so some), despising their confederacies.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He <I>threshed the heathen in anger,</I> trod them down, nay, he
|
|
trod them out, as corn in the floor, to give them, and what they had,
|
|
to be meat to his people Israel,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+4:13">Mic. iv. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
(4.) He <I>wounded the heads out of the house of the wicked;</I> he
|
|
destroyed the families of the Canaanites, and wounded their princes,
|
|
the heads of their families; nay, he cut off the heads, and so
|
|
<I>discovered the foundations of them,</I> even <I>to the neck.</I> Are
|
|
they a building? They are razed even to the foundation. Are they a
|
|
body? They are plunged into deep mire even to the neck, so that they
|
|
cannot get out, or help themselves. He <I>broke the heads of leviathan
|
|
in pieces,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+74:14">Ps. lxxiv. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some apply this to Christ's victories over Satan and the powers of
|
|
darkness, in which he <I>wounded the heads over many countries,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:6">Ps. cx. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
(5.) He <I>struck through with his staves the head of the villages</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
with Israel's staves God <I>struck through</I> the <I>head of the
|
|
villages</I> of the enemies, whether Egypt or Canaan. Staves shall do
|
|
the same execution as swords when God pleases to make use of them. The
|
|
enemy came out with the utmost force and fury, <I>as a whirlwind to
|
|
scatter me</I> (says Israel); for <I>many a time have they thus
|
|
afflicted me,</I> thus attacked me, <I>from my youth,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+129:1">Ps. cxxix. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Pharaoh, when he pursued Israel to the Red Sea, <I>came out as a
|
|
whirlwind;</I> so did the kings of Canaan in their confederacies
|
|
against Israel. <I>Their rejoicing was as to devour the poor
|
|
secretly;</I> they were as confident of success in their enterprise as
|
|
ever any great man was of devouring a poor man, that was no way a match
|
|
for him; and his design against him was carried on with secrecy. But
|
|
God disappointed them, and their pride did but make their fall the more
|
|
shameful and God's care of his poor the more illustrious.
|
|
|
|
(6.) He <I>walked to the sea with his horses</I> (so some read it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
that is, he carried Israel's victories to the Great Sea, which was
|
|
opposite to that side of Canaan at which they entered, so that they
|
|
went quite through it, and made themselves masters of it all, or rather
|
|
God made them so, for they <I>got it not by their own sword,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+44:3">Ps. xliv. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. There were three things that God had a eye to, in giving Israel so
|
|
many bloody victories over the Canaanites:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) He would hereby make good his promise to the fathers; it was
|
|
<I>according to the oaths of the tribes, even his word,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had sworn to give this land to the <I>tribes of Israel;</I> it was
|
|
his oath <I>to Isaac confirmed to Jacob,</I> and repeated many a time
|
|
to <I>the tribes of Israel, Unto thee will I give the land of
|
|
Canaan.</I> This word God will accomplish, though Israel be ever so
|
|
unworthy
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+9:5">Deut. ix. 5</A>)
|
|
|
|
and their enemies ever so many and mighty. Note, What God does for his
|
|
tribes is according to the oaths of the tribes, according to what he
|
|
has said and sworn to them; <I>for he is faithful that has
|
|
promised.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He would hereby show his kindness to <I>his people,</I> because of
|
|
their relation to him, and his interest in them: <I>Thou wentest forth
|
|
for the salvation of thy people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
All the powers of nature are shaken, and the course of nature changed,
|
|
and every thing seems to be thrown into disorder, and all is <I>for the
|
|
salvation of God's people.</I> There are a people in the world who are
|
|
God's people, and their salvation is that which he has in his eye in
|
|
all the operations of his providence. Heaven and earth shall sooner
|
|
come together than any of the links in the golden chain of their
|
|
salvation shall be broken; and even that which seems most unlikely
|
|
shall by an overruling hand be made to work for their salvation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+1:19">Phil. i. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He would hereby give a type and figure of the redemption of the
|
|
world by Jesus Christ. It is <I>for salvation with thy anointed,</I>
|
|
with Joshua, who led the armies of Israel and was a figure of him whose
|
|
name he bore, even Jesus our Joshua. What God did for his Israel of old
|
|
was done with an eye to his anointed, for the sake of the Mediator, who
|
|
was both the founder and foundation of the covenant made with them. It
|
|
was salvation <I>with him,</I> for in all the salvations wrought for
|
|
them, <I>God looked upon the face of the anointed,</I> and did them by
|
|
him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Hab3_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Hab3_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Hab3_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Hab3_19"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Conquest of Canaan; Devout Confidence.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 600.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the
|
|
voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in
|
|
myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh
|
|
up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.
|
|
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither <I>shall</I>
|
|
fruit <I>be</I> in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and
|
|
the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from
|
|
the fold, and <I>there shall be</I> no herd in the stalls:
|
|
18 Yet I will rejoice in the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, I will joy in the God of my
|
|
salvation.
|
|
19 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God <I>is</I> my strength, and he will make my feet like
|
|
hinds' <I>feet,</I> and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
|
|
To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Within the compass of these few lines we have the prophet in the
|
|
highest degree both of trembling and triumphing, such are the varieties
|
|
both of the state and of the spirit of God's people in this world. In
|
|
heaven there shall be no more trembling, but everlasting triumphs.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The prophet had foreseen the prevalence of the church's enemies and
|
|
the long continuance of the church's troubles; and the sight made him
|
|
tremble,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here he goes on with what he had said
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>,
|
|
|
|
"<I>I have heard thy speech and was afraid. When I heard</I> what sad
|
|
times were coming upon the church <I>my belly trembled, my lips
|
|
quivered at the voice;</I> the news made such an impression that it put
|
|
me into a perfect ague fit." The blood retiring to the heart, to
|
|
succour that when it was ready to faint, the extreme parts were left
|
|
destitute of spirits, so that <I>his lips quivered.</I> Nay, he was so
|
|
weak, and so unable to help himself, that he was as if
|
|
<I>rottenness</I> had <I>entered into his bones;</I> he had no strength
|
|
left in him, could neither stand nor go; he <I>trembled in himself,</I>
|
|
trembled all over him, trembled within him; he yielded to his
|
|
trembling, and <I>troubled himself,</I> as our Savior did; his <I>flesh
|
|
trembled for fear of God</I> and <I>he was afraid of his judgments,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:120">Ps. cxix. 120</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was touched with a tender concern for the calamities of the church,
|
|
and trembled for fear lest they should end at length in ruin, and the
|
|
<I>name of Israel be blotted out.</I> Nor did he think it any
|
|
disparagement to him, nor any reproach to his courage, but freely owned
|
|
he was one of those that <I>trembled at God's word,</I> for to them he
|
|
will look with favour: <I>I tremble in myself, that I might rest in the
|
|
day of trouble.</I> Note, When we see a day of trouble approaching it
|
|
concerns us to provide accordingly, and to lay up something in store,
|
|
by the help of which we may rest in that day; and the best way to make
|
|
sure rest for ourselves in the day of trouble is to tremble within
|
|
ourselves at the word of God and the threatenings of that word. He that
|
|
has joy in store for those that <I>sow in tears</I> has rest in store
|
|
for those that tremble before him. <I>Good hope through grace</I> is
|
|
founded in a <I>holy fear.</I> Noah, who was <I>moved with fear,</I>
|
|
trembled within himself at the warning given him of the deluge coming,
|
|
had the ark for his resting place in the day of that trouble. The
|
|
prophet tells us what he said in his trembling. His fear is that,
|
|
<I>when he comes up to the people,</I> when the <I>Chaldean comes up to
|
|
the people</I> of Israel, <I>he will invade them,</I> will surround
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them, will break in upon them, nay (as it is in the margin), He will
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<I>cut them in pieces with his troops;</I> he cried out, We are all
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undone; the whole nation of the Jews is lost and gone. Note, When
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things look bad we are too apt to aggravate them, and make the worst of
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them.</P>
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<P>
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II. He had looked back upon the experiences of the church in former
|
|
ages, and had observed what great things God had done for them, and so
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|
he recovered himself out of his fright, and not only retrieved his
|
|
temper, but fell into a transport of holy joy, with an express <I>non
|
|
obstante--notwithstanding</I> to the calamities he foresaw coming, and
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|
this not for himself only, but in the name of every faithful
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Israelite.</P>
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<P>
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|
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1. He supposes the ruin of all his creature comforts and enjoyments,
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|
not only of the delights of this life, but even of the necessary
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|
supports of it,
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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Famine is one of the ordinary effects of war, and those commonly feel
|
|
it first and most that sit still and are quiet; the prophet and his
|
|
pious friends, when the Chaldean army comes, will be plundered and
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|
stripped of all they have. Or he supposes himself deprived of all by
|
|
blasting and unseasonable weather, or some other immediate hand of God.
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|
Or though the captives in Babylon have not that plenty of all good
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|
things in their own land.
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|
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|
(1.) He supposes the fruit-tree to be withered and become barren; the
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|
<I>fig-tree</I> (which used to furnish them with much of their food;
|
|
hence we often read of <I>cakes of figs</I>) shall not so much as
|
|
<I>blossom, nor shall fruit be in the vine,</I> from which they had
|
|
their drink, that made glad the heart: he supposes <I>the labour of the
|
|
olive</I> to <I>fail,</I> their oil, which was to them as butter is to
|
|
us; the <I>labour of the olive shall lie</I> (so it is in the margin);
|
|
their expectations from it shall be disappointed.
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(2.) He supposes the bread-corn to fail; <I>the fields shall yield no
|
|
meat;</I> and, since <I>the king himself is served of the field,</I> if
|
|
the productions of that be withdrawn, every one will feel the want of
|
|
them.
|
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(3.) He supposes the cattle to perish for want of the food which the
|
|
field should yield and does not, or by disease, or being destroyed and
|
|
carried away by the enemy: <I>The flock is cut off from the fold, and
|
|
there is no herd in the stall.</I> Note, When we are in the full
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|
enjoyment of our creature comforts we should consider that there may
|
|
come a time when we shall be stripped of them all, and use them
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|
accordingly, as not abusing them,
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+7:29,30">1 Cor. vii. 29, 30</A>.</P>
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<P>
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|
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|
2. He resolves to delight and triumph in God notwithstanding; when all
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|
is gone his God is not gone
|
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
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"<I>Yet will I rejoice in the Lord;</I> I shall have him to rejoice in,
|
|
and will rejoice in him." <I>Destroy the vines and the fig-trees,</I>
|
|
and you make all the mirth of a carnal heart to cease,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+2:11,12">Hos. ii. 11, 12</A>.
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|
But those who, when they were full, enjoyed God in all, when they are
|
|
emptied and impoverished can <I>enjoy all in God,</I> and can sit down
|
|
upon a melancholy heap of the ruins of all their creature comforts and
|
|
even then can sing to the praise and glory of God, as the God of their
|
|
salvation. This is the principal ground of our joy in God, that he is
|
|
the God of our salvation, our eternal salvation, the salvation of the
|
|
soul; and, if he be so, we may rejoice in him as such in our greatest
|
|
distresses, since by them our salvation cannot be hindered, but may be
|
|
furthered. Note, Joy in God is never out of season, nay, it is in a
|
|
special manner seasonable when we meet with losses and crosses in the
|
|
world, that it may then appear that our hearts are not set upon these
|
|
things, nor our happiness bound up in them. See how the prophet
|
|
triumphs in God: <I>The Lord God is my strength,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
He that is the <I>God of our salvation</I> in another world will be our
|
|
strength in this world, to carry us on in our journey thither, and help
|
|
us over the difficulties and oppositions we meet with in our way. Even
|
|
when provisions are cut off, to make it appear that <I>man lives not by
|
|
bread alone,</I> we may have the want of bread supplied by the graces
|
|
and comforts of God's Spirit and with the supplies of them.
|
|
|
|
(1.) We shall be strong for our spiritual warfare and work: <I>The Lord
|
|
God is my strength,</I> the strength of my heart.
|
|
|
|
(2.) We shall be swift for our spiritual race: "<I>He will make my feet
|
|
like hinds' feet,</I> that with enlargement of heart I may run the way
|
|
of his commands and outrun my troubles."
|
|
|
|
(3.) We shall be successful in our spiritual enterprises: "<I>He will
|
|
make me to walk upon my high places;</I> that is, I shall gain my
|
|
point, shall be restored unto my own land, and tread upon the high
|
|
places of the enemy,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:13,33:29">Deut. xxxii. 13; xxxiii. 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus the prophet, who began his prayer with fear and trembling,
|
|
concludes it with joy and triumph, for prayer is heart's ease to a
|
|
gracious soul. When Hannah had prayed she <I>went her way, and did eat,
|
|
and her countenance was no more sad.</I> This prophet, finding it so,
|
|
publishes his experience of it, and puts it into the hand of the
|
|
<I>chief singer</I> for the use of the church, especially in the day of
|
|
our captivity. And, though then the harps were hung upon the
|
|
willow-trees, yet in the hope that they would be resumed, and their
|
|
right hand retrieve its cunning, which it had forgotten, he set his
|
|
song upon <I>Shigionoth</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
wandering tunes, <I>according to the variable songs,</I> and upon
|
|
<I>Neginoth</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>the stringed instruments.</I> He that is afflicted, and has prayed
|
|
aright, may then be so easy, may then be so merry, as to sing
|
|
psalms.</P>
|
|
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