Hound of Heaven

painting by Robert Hale Ives Gammell

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A poem from the early 20^th century holds many truths.

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Some do not seek YHVH God.

Others seek Him, and have not found Him yet.

Others found Him, and lost Him.

Others found Him, and went dry.

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Others cannot get away from Him !!!!!

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People should consider it a blessing if they feel God is pursuing them.

It does not matter whether it is because they are a sinner, and need to repent.

Or if they are a saint, and God wants them to do more for Him.

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Excerpt from the poem:

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;

I fled Him, down the arches of the years;

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways

Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears

I hid from Him, and under running laughter.

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Up vistaed hopes I sped;

And shot, precipitated,

Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,

From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.

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But with unhurrying chase,

And unperturbèd pace,

Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,

They beat–and a Voice beat

More instant than the Feet–

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"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."

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Rise, clasp My hand, and come!"

Halts by me that footfall;

Is my gloom, after all,

Shade of His hand, outstreched caressingly?

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"Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,

I am He Whom thou seekest!

Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me."

Francis Thompson (1859-1907)

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What one reference said about the divine chase in the poem.

‘The name is strange. It startles one at first. It is so bold, so new, so fearless. It does not attract, rather the reverse. But when one reads the poem this strangeness disappears. The meaning is understood.

As the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with unhurrying and imperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace.

And though in sin or in human love, away from God it seeks to hide itself, Divine grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever after, till the soul feels its pressure forcing it to turn to Him alone in that never ending pursuit.

—The Neumann Press Book of Verse, 1988

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The poem in its entirely can be found here:

http://www.houndsofheaven.com/thepoem.htm

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Is God hounding you?

My advice is to let Him “catch” you.

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For the sinner, it will bring deliverance and forgiveness.

For the saint, it will bring an anointing to serve Him more.

For both, it will bring an amazing, incredible opportunity to know Him in a powerful, intimate way.