Elijah’s Interview With God

On Horeb’s rock the prophet stood:
The Lord before him passed:

On Horeb’s rock the prophet stood:
The Lord before him passed:
A hurricane in angry mood
Swept by him strong and fast.
The forests fell before its force;
The rocks were shivered in its course:
God rode not in the blast!
‘Twas but the whirlwind of His breath,
Announcing danger, wreck, and death.

It ceased: the air was mute.  A cloud
Came muffling up the sun:
When through the mountains deep and loud
An earthquake thundered on.
The frighted eagle sprang in air;
The wolf ran howling from his lair.
God was not in the stun!
‘Twas but the rolling of His car,
The trampling of His steeds from far.

It ceased again; and Nature stood
And smoothed her ruffled frame:
When swift from heaven a fiery flood
To earth devouring came.
Down to his depths the ocean fled;
The sickening sun looked wan and dead.
Yet God filled not the flame!
‘Twas but the fierceness of His eye,
That lightened through the trouble sky.

At last a voice all still and small
Rose sweetly on the ear;
Yet rose so calm and clear, that all
In heaven and earth might hear.
It spoke of hope; it spoke of love;
It spoke as spirits speak above;
And God Himself was here!
For, O, it was a father’s voice,
That bade His trembling world rejoice.

Speak, gracious Lord, speak ever thus;
And let thy terrors prove
The harbingers of peace to us,
The heralds of thy love!
Shine through the earthquake, fire, and storm,
Shine in thy milder, better form,
And all our fears remove!
One word of thine is all we cliam;
‘Tis “mercy” through a Saviour’s name.

I Kings xix. 11, 12

Henry Francis Lyte