Greetings to all readers. Here's a story that might capture your interest. It was pulled from am old Bible story and retold. I hope you enjoy.
The Prayer of Habakkuk
A cricket chirped. An owl hooted. Only the nocturnal creatures moved about in the hiding cover of the night. Darkness encased the land like snug cloak. The air was crisp and clear. Stars overhead shone down upon the sleeping nation and the moon stared down on it with a critical yet watchful eye. A gentle breeze rustled the trees whispering to each other private secrets.
No one stirred. Judah was wrapped in the warm embrace of bed; unconscious of the world bustling around it with activity. All was still in the houses; except one. A small, almost hut-like home with the shutters closed and the door shut tightly. Inside the small abode a man lay tossing and turning, mumbling in his troubled sleep. He had the look about him of a troubled man. One who is given a load that he cannot cast off easily. He turned again onto his side with a weary groan. Somewhere, a wolf howled to the silver man in the moon; almost seeming to want to charm it with a romantic serenade. The man in the bed suddenly gave a startled cry and sat up in bed, his eyes wide; inhaling and exhaling in quick, short breaths. He shivered even though his home was warm. Although he threw off the cover, a cold sweat covered his face and a chill seeped into his bones.
Some unseen force like a horrible dream or a great vision had awakened him. Not the wolf. He could feel that something was wrong. Outside, the wind blew eerily around the little dwelling. He felt cold again and hugged the bed sheets close. Somewhat assured that all was well, he lay down again with a sigh. A moment he sprang out of bed. Hastily slipping on his sandals, he snatched up a long, narrow piece of cloth and wrapped it around his waist in the dark. He fumbled for a candle to light. Finding one, he moved to the fire. He set the bright candle on the mantle and reached for his coat. The night's cold air was penetrating into his little home.
Huddling next to the friendly fire, he stared emptily ahead him, seeing nothing but void. In his eye's mind he saw nothing. An owl hooted again next to one of the closed windows of his house. The man stirred and moved closer to the warm fire. He looked around the dimly lit room knowing that sleep would not return to him again. There was something he must do first.
He stood purposefully and blew out the candle. Reaching for a cloak, he pulled it around his shoulders and opened the door, hesitating for only a moment. Nothing stirred. He stepped out and shut the door behind him. He silently hurried down a well trod path through the little town lit by the shining orb above him in the sky.
The man followed the trail until he came to a cliff. He stood there, breathing in cool, refreshing sea air. Down below, the waves lapped gentle at the shore. Here and there he could see minute dots on the far surface of the water. Certainly not an uncommon sight, for the little town was a fishing community and sold fish for their daily bread. The man sat down on a nearby rock, thinking.
Then he pulled the cloak over his head slowly and knelt heavily in the rocky dirt. He bowed his head reverently and lowered his eyes. A few murmured words of prayer escaped his lips and floated into the night. Suddenly, a great light exploded in the heavens, illuminating the world around the man like a giant torch and filling the night air with a holy warmth. It was a light that only he could see, for the fishermen in the distance did not even stir. guard's He jumped back startled at this wonderful phenomenon. He raised a hand to shade his eyes from the burst of brilliance. A voice came from the center of the light.
“Speak, my servant, for thy God hears.” It sounded like a boom that had distinguishable words in it. The man kept his head bowed meekly in awe of the voice in the sky. He swallowed in fear and trembling of the God with whom he was dealing with. Then he began, haltingly.
“O Lord, I have heard your speech, and was afraid: O Lord,” He paused remembering the vision that had waked him in the middle of the night and prompted him to come here to pray. “revive thy works in the midst of the years; and in the midst of the years make known; that in wrath, remember mercy.” The fierce light waned thinner as the man spoke. He took courage and started again freely.
“I saw the tents of Cusham in affliction; and the land of Midian did tremble. Was the Lord displeased against the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers? Was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? Thy bow was made quite bare, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word.” The man paused pensively; then began with conviction.
“Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. The mountains saw thee and they trembled: the overflowing of water passed by: the deep uttered his voice and lifted up his hands on high. The sun and the moon stood still in their habitation at the light of thine arrows and at the shining of thy glittering spear. Thou didst march through the land with indignation; thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for the salvation of thine anointed; thou woundest the head out of the house of the wicked by discovering the foundation unto thy neck.” The man dissertation came to a halt, his eyes glassy. He bowed himself more closely to the ground in awe of the terrible power of his God.
“Thou didst strike through with his own staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses; through the heap of the great waters.
When I heard, my belly trembles; my lips quivered at thine voice: rottenness entered into my bones and I trembled in myself that I might rest in the day of trouble: when Chaldea cometh up unto the people; he will invade them with his troops.
And, although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines;” He spoke slowly now, as under great pressure; his voice broken. “The labor of the olives 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 thee, Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” The man stopped and glanced around. The light had disappeared and he was alone again in the dark. He looked up into the heavens seeing nothing but luminous stars. Inspired, he shouted, “Behold, the Lord God is my strength and he will make my feet like hinds' feet. And he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”
He gazed up at the majestic sky, enchanted. After a long moment, he tore away his attention from the firmament to the shining surface of the sea that stretched out below him. He rose to his feet for a better view. The fishermen and their boats drifted along with the waves unaware of the awesome sight above the cliff in the starry, twinkling sky and the transformed man that stood there observing them with a hawk's eye.
The man smiled contentedly and yawned, realizing that he was sleepy again. With a last glance at the silent, winking heavens, the man called Habakkuk which means 'Embracer' turned his back to the peaceful scene and wearily made his way back through the moonlit trail leading him back home.
- J. Rosski
No comments:
Post a Comment