Sacrificing to the Net
Bishop Cheney. Habakkuk 1:16 Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. There is a curious passage in the prophecy of Habakkuk which speaks of fishermen who "sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their drag." I think that sometimes very true and earnest Christians are in danger of doing that. They almost worship the visible Church, which, after all, is only a net "to catch men" for Christ. They delight in its historic character. They glory in its apostolic order. They venerate every feature of its organic structure. In one word, it becomes no more a spiritual Church, but a kingdom of this world. But by and by a terrible shock shakes them like an earthquake. Some iniquity appears in Zion. Wickedness shelters itself under the robes of piety. Political scheming creeps into ecclesiastical councils. The very law of the Church is made an instrument of oppression. They stand confounded and amazed. What means it all? Why, it means just this, that Christ is telling you that no earthly kingdom is the Church of Christ. This is not your rest. The marriage supper of the Lamb is not in the poor feast of a visible Church. The "New Jerusalem" is not yet let down from God Out of heaven. (Bishop Cheney.). Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. WEB: Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.