Thompson's Poem "The Hound of Heaven", Honoring The Holy Spirit

"...When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.." John 16:8 KJV

Characteristic of the way God uses the weak to bring forth strong works, had it not been for the Holy Spirit convicting an English couple to take in an ailing obscure English Poet, the great poem "The Hound of Heaven" (1888) would probably have never been published.

The poet was Francis Thompson (1859-1907), who was living on the streets in poverty at the time and doing menial tasks for food. In addition, he had become an opium addict to counter physical pain.

This was the broken man whom the Holy Spirit* had inspired the kindly couple to read his poem "The Hound of Heaven" and then to decide to try and mend this talented poet. His work became what was probably the best known poem about the Holy Spirit.

By using the term "Hound", Thompson was comparing the extreme focus and the relentlessness with which the Holy Spirit pursues mankind to bring them to a personal awareness of sin, righteousness and judgment, with the relentless pursuit of the hunting hound until it had caught the animal. Both will set a adequate pace that will close in on their quarry and capture it.

"However, when he, thee Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth" John 16:13 KJV

In the 182 lines of verse of his poem, Thompson conveys that the Holy Spirit does indeed persue us until we give in to His conviction** and know that we are all sinners in need of a Savior, and that He will guide us to all truth.

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:33 KJV

With beautiful verses, the 182 line poem praises the Holy Spirit and is still a favorite among intellectuals and lovers of poetry alike. The pursuit of the "Hound of Heaven" is best described in the following excerpt:

From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with hurrying chase,
And unperturbed pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instance,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.’

A fine testiment to God's Spirit of Truth. Amen.

* The Holy Spirit does indeed find the lost and lifts them up. It is His work. Amen.
** "convict" in the Greek (elegcho) means rebuke, reprove, or convince.

Rik Charbonneaux is a retired NE Iowan who loves all of God's Word and all of His creatures.