The Lord Is In His Holy Temple -- God

Habakkuk, William Kirkpatrick, and God. What do these people have in common? One being is timeless, another one lived some 2,600 years ago, and another is a relative babe compared to the other two (he lived in the 19th and early 20th Centuries). Yet, they all knew the words “The Lord Is In His Holy Temple”, a song that is one of the more unique compositions among Christian songs. Oh, the words seem pretty familiar, exhorting the audience (fellow Christians) to hold Him in reverence (perhaps as Solomon and the Israelites did, see the picture). But, who wrote the words? It might surprise you, as the exploration of the song did for me.

William Kirkpatrick wrote the music for the song in 1900, and the words first appeared in the prophet Habakkuk’s brief volume (Habakkuk 2:20) that was written in probably the 7th Century B.C (the 600s), but the words are not composed by the prophet. Instead, they are God’s. Habakkuk is sharing his angst with the Lord over injustice in the southern kingdom, and then his shock over God’s solution – sending Babylonia to punish the nation. The context of God’s song verse (2:20) is His discourse about idol worship’s futility, versus the True God. What has brought God to this point? Judah had survived the foreign invader longer than its northern neighbor, Israel, but by 605 B.C. (the approximate time of Habakkuk’s conversation with God) the Lord had seen enough. Idolatry, among other evils, permeated the nation. Habakkuk and his contemporary prophet Jeremiah could both see the approach of destruction. It came after decades of descent, telling us God was indeed patient with disobedience. Though resolute in His punishment on the people, He was not without compassion, for Babylonia would eventually be vanquished. ‘I am still GOD’, He seems to be saying with this verse. A nation will walk away from me, will be punished by evil invaders, and will be restored again – and I, the great I AM, am still here. Where have your idols gotten you?

Had God grown tired of Judah’s national waffle? Unlike Israel, which had a spate of evil kings for all of its 200 years (around 933 – 722 B.C.), Judah had been washed back and forth as bad and good kings reigned throughout its 350-year existence (933-586 B.C), first snubbing Him, then re-embracing Him. How would a volatile relationship like this work if it were person-to-person? I think it’s called divorce, usually, for most people who want stability and fidelity will tolerate nothing less. Think of it on God’s level, who regards time in eons, if you can. ‘Either choose me, or leave me’, He must have thought . And, this wasn’t the first era like this. Remember the 300 years of judges (roughly 1400 – 1100 B.C.) ? Can you hear Him saying ‘What else do I need to do to convince them? If they could just see things the way I do! ‘ Can you see the wheels turning in His head, later ? ‘Hey, what if I could get them to see me?’ I’m in heaven, my holy temple. Would it work if I visited them there, and became like them…? Hey, Jesus, I have an idea….’

See the following link for information about William Kirkpatrick: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/k/i/r/kirkpatrick_wj.htm

We Praise Thee, O God – William P. MacKay

… O Jehovah, I have heard the report of thee, and am afraid: O Jehovah, revive thy work in the midst of the years … (Habakkuk 3:2)

I wonder if William Paton MacKay ever heard the phrase ‘Physician, heal thyself.’ It would come as no surprise if this Scottish doctor who turned to ministry was in fact thinking of this phrase when he wrote the hymn “We Praise Thee, O God” in 1863. It’s said that MacKay’s song is based upon the Habakkuk 3:2 section of the Bible, in which the prophet asks for God’s regenerating power. And, this song is often called by a different title -- ‘Revive Us Again’ -- that makes one wonder if MacKay was really thinking of healing, rather than praise, at least when he composed the words to the song’s final verse. Indeed, the story of MacKay’s conversion to Christ gives us insight into his life, and may say something about what motivated him in his song-writing life too. As a doctor in the 1800’s, MacKay no doubt must have encountered more than a few patients whom he could not help, eroding his confidence in physical healing. Ironically, MacKay’s experience with a dying patient, and a gift-book that he sold, must have spoken volumes to him as he considered what really revives the body. In fact, it changed his career and his destiny in this life.

According to his MacKay’s testimony, his mother had given him a Bible, her last gift to him before she died. Unimpressed, MacKay evidently sold it when he was struggling financially as a young man. Years later, MacKay futilely ministered--as a physician--to a man whose last thoughts were of a book that had been his faithful companion. MacKay and the man’s landlady were given the task of settling the dead man’s affairs. To his shock, Doctor MacKay discovered that the man’s favorite book was in fact the Bible MacKay’s mother had given him -- which he sold for a pittance -- years before. His name was still in it, written there by his mother… MacKay then relates that the incident “…was the cause of my conversion.”

Have you been revived like this? I admit I haven’t experienced something that potent. Even today, 21^st Century medicine cannot deliver, cannot revive as we, or Doctor MacKay in his time, might have wished. But, maybe the doctor had learned by the time he became Minister MacKay that in the spirit-world, things work just a little differently than our conventional minds might allow. MacKay’s song begins with three verses (in many songbooks, four) that praise God. Fine, that’s not really too peculiar, is it? But then, MacKay culminates this hymn by asking God for revival. Doesn’t it seem a bit backward to laud Him and then ask for His help? I’d be more apt to cry for help, and then extol Him after the help arrives. But perhaps the doctor had stumbled upon a different formula for life in relationship to the Holy One. I muddle through my earthly existence the same as anybody else…grieving the injustices in physical pain, those times that even ‘good people’ suffer grave illnesses and untimely death. But, as a believer, I also know that MacKay has it right. My praise should be a herald, a shout of confident assurance that tranquilizes other emotions. The end is known, and everything else before it is mere preamble before the real show. Praise God, and then expect His reviving power!

Information on William P. MacKay and his song may be found in the following resources:

“The Complete Book of Hymns: Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs”, by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2006

“Amazing Grace – 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions”, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel Publications, 1990.

William P. MacKay’s testimony of his conversion is at the following website:

http://maranatha777.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/william-paton-mackays-testimony/