The Songs of the Old Testament Translated into English Measures, Song 14
THE Song of HABAKKVK. Habak. 3.
The Argument and Vſe.
BEfore the following Song, is vſually this TITLE. A Prayer of the PROPHET Habakkuk vponupon Sigionoth, or (as moſt Tranſlations hauehave it) For the ignorances, that is, for the comfort and better information of the people, who were diſheartened through their ignorance, in the iudgements and mercies of God. For, the Prophet in his firſt Chapter perſonated the weake members of the Church, who were offended at the proſperity of the vngodly: And hauing there brought them in, complayning, as if they feared all things would continually ſucceede better with their wicked oppreſſors then with them (as it did for that preſent) he in the next Chapter declared the LORDS anſwer to that ignorant complaint of theirs: Shewing that vndoubtedly the pride, couetouſneſſe, cruelty, drunkenneſſe, and idolatry of (the Chaldeans) their tyrannizing enemies ſhould be puniſhed. And afterward in this Song, (which is his third Chapter) he firſt prayeth and prayſeth God for that promiſed deliuerance, ſecondly, ſetteth forth the glorious Maieſty of the Deliuerer, by excellent Allegories and Alluſions to the manner of thoſe former deliuerances, which he had vouchſafed vntounto the People the Iewes: And laſtly, (foretelling the miſerable and horrible deſtruction of the Aduerſary) in his owne, and in the perſon of all the Elect, reſolueth (what euer happens) to reioyce with confidence in the ſtrength and fauour of God.
In briefe, this Song hath foure parts: In the firſt, the Sauiour is prayed for, according to the promiſe of God. Jn the ſecond, the Maieſty of his comming is deſcribed. Jn the third, his victory, with the ruine of Antichriſt is declared. And fourthly, the ioy and confidence of the Church is foretold.
True it is, that by reaſon of the many deepe Miſteries herein contained; this Song is to many very obſcure: Inſomuch, that the latter Hebrew Rabbins, accounted it one of the moſt difficult places of holy Scripture. And ſo ſhall we Chriſtians find it; yea, and little pertinent to vsus alſo, if we looke thereon with their blinde eyes, who could ſee no farther then the letter. For they either thought this Prophecy had no further relation then to the temporall deliuery of the Iewes by deſtruction of the Chaldeans, many ages paſt: or elſe imagined (as ſome a little infected with Iudaiſme at this day teach) that it had reſpect to a carnall and temporall reſtoring of that Nation, now in theſe laſt ages of the World. Whereas, it hath indeede a more principall aime. For though it ſhall not be denied, that it had ſomewhat a reſpect to the Iſraelites deliuerance from the Babylonian ſeruitude: yet, if they ſhould be vrged to ſhew vsus, how according to their meere litterall ſence, he that diliuered them may be ſaid to come from Theman and Mount Paran: how that maieſty expreſſed here may be applyed to him; what plagues and fire went before him; how he ſtood and meaſured the earth; where mountaines trembled and were remoued; how the Sun and Moone ſtood ſtill, &c. I am perſwaded it would trouble their beſt Expoſitor. But if we will vnderſtand it to hauehave principall reſpect (as in truth it hath) to the Churches deliuerance from the ſpirituall Babylon, from the ſlauery of the Diuell, and the rage of Antichriſt; by the firſt and ſecond comming of our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt: it will then be eaſie, through the helpe of Gods holy Spirit, to ſhew you that theſe Allegories and Aenigmaticall expreſſions, which are ſo hard to the Iewes, and ſome miſbeleeuers, are plainely vnridled to vsus, who beleeue Redemption by the Sonne of God.
This Song is to be ſung hiſtorically, in memory of our deliuerance by the firſt comming of Ieſus Chriſt, and prophetically for a comfortable remembrance of a perfect deliuery aſſured vsus at … comming. Both which commings, to thoſe who by the eyes of faith can apprehend the manner of them, will appeare no leſſe glorious then they are here deſcribed by way of Alluſion.
But leaſt Chuſan and Midian, being names of Nations, ſometime temporall enemies to the Iewes, may ſeeme impertinent to theſe times, you muſt know that all the Names of Perſons or Places vſed in the old Teſtament, were giuen for the ſake of thoſe things which they typified more then for their owne: and do… therefore more properly expreſſe their natures. So, in this place; Chuſan ſignifying darke, blacke, or cloudy; and Midian which is interpreted of condemnation, or of iudgement, better agrees to thoſe ſpirituall Aduerſaries whom they prefigured; then to thoſe people who were litterally ſo called: For none are ſo fitly termed people of Darknes, or Condemnation, as the members of Anti-chriſt.
The Song.
… LOrd, thy anſwere did I heare, And I grew therewith afraid. When the times at fulleſt are, Let thy worke be then declar'd: When the times Lord full doe grow, Then in anger mercy ſhow. …
The Almighty God came downe,
He came downe from Theman-ward,
The eternall holy-One, Selah.
From mount Paran forth appear'd.
Heau'n couering with his raies,
And earth filling with his praiſe.
As the Sunns is, was his light,
From his hands there did appeare
Beaming rayes, that ſhined bright,
And his power is ſhrouded there.
Plagues before his face he ſent,
At his feet hot coles there went.
Where he ſtood, he meaſure tooke
Of the earth, and view'd it well;
Nations vaniſh't at his looke,
Auncient hils to powder fell.
Mountaines old caſt lower were,
For his waies eternall are.
Cuſhan tents I ſaw diſeaſ'd,
And the Midian Curtaines quake,
HaueHave the flouds LORD thee diſpleaſ'd?
Did the flouds thee angry make?
Was it elſe the ſea that hath;
Thus prouoked thee to wrath?
For thou rod'ſt thy horſes there,
And thy ſauing Charro'ts through:
Thou didſt make thy bowe appeare.
And as hath beene by a vowe
To the tribes agreed vntounto;
Thou perform'dſt thy promiſe ſo. Selah.
Thou didſt cleaue the earth and make
Rifts, through which did riuers flow:
Mountaines ſeeing thee did ſhake,
And away the flouds did goe.
From the deepe a voice was heard,
And his hands on high he rear'd.
Both the Sunne and Moone did ſtay,
And remou'd not in their ſpheares:
By thine arrowes light went they,
By thy brightly-ſhining ſpeares:
Thou in wrath the land did'ſt cruſh,
And in rage the Nations threſh.
For thy peoples ſafe reliefe,
With thy Chriſt for ayd went'ſt thou,
Thou haſt alſo pierſt the Chiefe,
Of the ſinfull houſhold through.
And diſplaid them, till that bare,
From the foot to necke they were. Selah.
Thou, with weapons of their owne,
Didſt their armies Leader ſtrike:
For, againſt me they came downe,
To diſperſe me whirle-winde-like.
And they Ioy in nothing more,
Then vnſeene to ſpoile the poore.
Through the Sea, thou mad'ſt a way,
And did'ſt ride thy horſes where
Mighty heapes of waters lay.
I thereof report did heare:
And the voice my bowels ſhooke,
Yea my lippes a quiu'ring tooke.
Rottenneſſe my bones poſſeſt,
And a trembling ceazed me,
I that troublous day might reſt.
For, when his approches be
Vp vntounto the people made,
Then his troupes will them inuade.
Bloomeleſſe ſhall the fig-tree be,
And the vine no fruit ſhall yeeld,
Fade ſhall (then) the oliue tree;
Meat ſhall none be in the field:
Neither in the fold nor ſtall▪
Flocke, or heard, continue ſhall.
Yet the LORD my icy ſhall be,
And in him I will delight▪
In my God that ſaueth me;
God the LORD, who is my ought.
And ſo guides my feet, that I,
Hinde-like, walke my places high.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Wither, The Songs of the Old Testament Translated into English Measures (1621)