The prophet's faith fails him a moment. What is this but a triumph
of evil? Is there a Divine Providence? Is there a just Ruler of the
world? And he breaks out into pathetic expostulation with God
Himself: 'Wherefore lookest Thou upon them that deal treacherously,
and holdest Thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more
righteous than he? And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the
creeping things, which have no ruler over them? They take up all of
them with the line, they gather them with the net. Therefore they
sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense to their line; for by it
their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. Shall they therefore
empty their net, and not spare to slay continually the nations?'
Then the Lord answers his doubts: 'Behold, his soul which is lifted
up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.'
By his faith, plainly, in a just Ruler of the world,--in a God who
avenges wrong, and makes inquisition for innocent blood. He who will
keep his faith in that just God, will remain just himself. The sense
of Justice will be kept alive in him; and the just will live by his
Faith.
The prophet believes that message; and a mighty change passes over
his spirit. In a burst of magnificent poetry, he proclaims woe to
the unjust Chaldean conqueror. All his greatness is a bubble which
will burst; a suicidal mistake, which will work out its own
punishment, and make him a taunt and a mockery to all nations round.
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